Massacre in Intan Jaya

More than 200 villagers have been newly displaced in Intan Jaya, #WestPapua, due to a recent Indonesian military operation. Indonesian Military operations killed 3 West Papuan and heavily injured 2 more, all civilians. This clash with Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat – Organisasi Papua Merdeka (West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Organization) occured early morning of June 18 in Bulapa Village, Yuparu District, Sugapa, Intan Jaya.

In Bulapa Village, three civilians were shot to death including Isak Kobogau (43) and Johanes Tipagau (40) from Mimitapa Village, and Alphon Kobogau from Bulapa Village; and heavily injured Ones Kobogau and Aner Kobogau.

Why Intan Jaya?

Indonesia’s economic development heavily depends on natural resource extraction, especially minerals like gold, copper, and nickel.

The government’s National Strategic Projects (Proyek Strategis Nasional / PSN) aim to accelerate infrastructure and mining ventures that are deemed essential for national growth and investor confidence.

Intan Jaya Regency is one of the regencies in the province of Central Papua.

Intan Jaya, with its rich gold deposits (Wabu Block), is targeted as a future site for large-scale mining.

• GOLD. Located near the Wabu Block mining area, Intan Jaya holds millions of ounces of gold, making it one of the richest undeveloped gold deposits in Southeast Asia. Gov’t company PT Antam (subsidiary of MIND ID) & Freeport Indonesia have shown interest there. The gold deposit is said to be bigger than the Freeport McMoran in Timika which had been mined since 1967.

• COPPER. Often found alongside gold in porphyry deposits, geological surveys suggest copper potential in the same mineral belts.

• FOREST RESOURCES. Intan Jaya’s vast forests are part the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world wc includes hardwood timber (e.g., merbau) and non-timber forest products; now threatened by logging concessions and military presence to secure extractive zones.

• WATER RESOURCES. Rivers like the Dagoa River are crucial for local communities but now at risk from contamination due to mining runoff and militarization.

Community members gather around three killed civilians in fear of Indonesian miitary.

According to Human Rights Monitor:

Military raids such as those recently reported from Sugapa District are no isolated incidents.

Over the past months, armed violence in Puncak, Nduga, and Intan Jaya regencies has increased significantly, amid intensifying armed conflict and counterinsurgency operations against the TPNPB.

Security forces, particularly the military, have increased repression against civilians, leaving residents vulnerable to arbitrary detention, torture, and unlawful executions.

The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has reached a new peak in June 2025, leaving more than 97,000 indigenous Papuans internally displaced as a result of the intensifying armed conflict.

The incident constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, including the prohibition of extrajudicial killings and the principle of distinction, which requires parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The use of lethal force in civilian areas without warning or the presence of active hostilities violates the right to life and security under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a State party.

The military presence and restriction of access further impede humanitarian relief and accountability efforts.

West Papuan activists and advocates demands for the immediate stop of the cruelty by Indonesian military towards civilians.

The Merdeka West Papua Support Network call for everyone's supports and solidarity; to amplify the call to stop all Indonesian military operations until and unless all cases of human rights violations are thoroughly, independently and transparently investigated, and all perpetrators held accountable.#