Papuan Students Protest Dogiyai Police Violence That Killed at Least 5

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papuan student alliance from the Anti-Militarism and Investment Front stages a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Human Rights office in Jakarta on Monday, May 11, 2026. About 50 protesters demanded the government address the alleged police violence case in Moanemani, Dogiyai Regency, which resulted in the deaths of at least five native Papuans at the end of last March.

The protesters reckon multiple cases of police and military violence that killed residents of Papua, with little effort from the Indonesian government to resolve the problem.

"The TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and the Polri (Indonesian National Police) are supposed to protect the people, but the reality in Papua is they're killing our friends!" says field action coordinator Oktowimelek Gobay, from atop a command vehicle.

On March 30, tension gripped Moanemani, Dogiyai Regency, after the body of a police member, Second Brigadier Juventus Edowai, was found in a ditch at Ebenezer Church, Moanemani.

The member of the Dogiyai Police Resort was allegedly killed by a sharp weapon.

Quoting Tempo's report titled 'Paskah Mencekam di Dogiyai' (A Dreadful Easter in Dogiyai) published on April 6, 2026, the police combed through residential areas in Dogiyai upon the discovery, firing shots that killed three residents and injured several others.

One of the deceased was a 70-year-old woman—who was shot while cooking in the kitchen—and an 11-year-old boy.

The National Human Rights Commission of Papua recorded five civilians killed in the incident, with one police casualty.

However, the Anti-Militarism and Investment Front recorded a higher number of civilian casualties with 8 individuals. The alliance condemns the brutal act and questions the humanity of the Indonesian police institution.

Oktowimelek Gobay emphasizes that the plight of Papua residents deviates from the mandate of Human Rights Law No. 39 of 1999, which states that every citizen, including the Papuan community, has the right to human rights protection.

The protesters also demand the withdrawal of military and police officers deployed in Papua. According to Gobay, the issue in the region located in eastern Indonesia is rooted in economic inequality and political rights, so military deployment is not the solution.

The students urge Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai to come out and meet them, and provide a real solution. "Natalius Pigai, as a Papuan, should come out in front of the Papuan people. Just like you, we demand justice!" says field action deputy coordinator, Laban Jingga, from atop a command vehicle.

Read: Indonesian Minister: Papua Conflict Needs National Political Decision

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