Manokwari, Jubi – The Central Highlands Students Association (IMPT) in Manokwari, West Papua Province, together with the Indonesia-wide Intan Jaya Students Movement (GPMI-I), has called on President Prabowo Subianto to deploy an independent investigation team to Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province.
The appeal was made during a peaceful demonstration held in Manokwari on Tuesday (7/7/2026).
Protesters marched from the Amban area to a gathering point at Makalow on Jalan Gunung Salju, carrying banners and placards.
Field coordinator Noak Miagoni said the demonstration reflected students’ concern over the ongoing suffering of civilians living amid the conflict.
“We hope the government will not ignore the suffering of civilians. The state must take concrete steps to protect human rights, ensure justice, and create space for dialogue as a dignified path toward resolving the conflict,” Miagoni said.
He said the demonstration was also intended to deliver demands to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the Minister of Human Rights, and the Minister of Defense, urging them to take concrete action to address humanitarian issues across Papua.
The demonstrators called on the central government to immediately establish an independent investigation team to examine conditions in Intan Jaya and other parts of Papua that, according to the groups, continue to experience armed conflict and humanitarian problems.
In a statement, IMPT Manokwari and GPMI-I said the conflict, which they said has continued since 2019, has had widespread consequences for civilians.
They said many residents remain internally displaced, while access to education and healthcare has been disrupted, livelihoods have been lost, and women, children, and older people continue to suffer psychological trauma.
According to the organizations, the situation requires a serious government response centered on dialogue, justice, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.
The student groups also raised concerns about the condition of schools and healthcare facilities, which they said require greater government attention.
They called on the government to ensure that people’s basic rights are fulfilled so that communities can live in safety, peace, and dignity.
Meanwhile, Deputy General Field Coordinator Theofilus Yogi said the demonstration was an exercise of citizens’ constitutional right to express their views peacefully.
He said the protest was not only intended to present demands but also to amplify the voices of Intan Jaya residents who have lived amid the armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
For that reason, the organizations urged the President, the Minister of Human Rights, and the Minister of Defense to immediately send an independent investigation team to Intan Jaya and other parts of Papua to assess conditions firsthand.
“We believe a just resolution can only be achieved through an objective investigation, meaningful dialogue, the rule of law, and respect for human rights,” Yogi said.
IMPT Manokwari chair Nando Kayame said the organization would continue to advocate for the aspirations of communities in the Central Highlands through peaceful and constitutional means.
He said IMPT would continue standing alongside local communities in advocating for justice, peace, and the protection of fundamental rights.
“We hope the government will take concrete steps to resolve the prolonged conflict so that people in Intan Jaya and other highland areas can live safely, access proper education and healthcare services, and enjoy a peaceful and dignified life,” Kayame said.
Among their demands, IMPT and GPMI-I urged Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and other independent institutions to investigate and pursue legal proceedings over the killings of Melkiana Duwitau and Elianus Agimbau in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner.
The groups also condemned violence against civilians and called for all perpetrators to be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
They further urged the Intan Jaya regional government and the local legislative council to facilitate an investigation by Komnas HAM into the Soanggama case and other alleged human rights violations in the regency.
The organizations also called on local authorities to facilitate direct dialogue between students, Intan Jaya community leaders, President Prabowo, and the Minister of Defense to discuss pathways toward resolving the conflict.
In addition, they urged the President, the Minister of Human Rights, and relevant ministries to take concrete measures to address humanitarian issues in Intan Jaya and other conflict-affected areas across Papua.
IMPT Manokwari and GPMI-I also called on the central and regional governments, state institutions, religious and customary leaders, civil society organizations, academics, the media, and the wider Indonesian public to pay greater attention to the humanitarian situation in Intan Jaya.
The organizations said they hope the conflict can be resolved through inclusive dialogue, fair law enforcement, respect for human rights, and measures that will bring lasting peace to communities across Papua. (*)
