West Papuans Rise Against Indonesian Colonialism on National Farmers’ Day

Press Release from KNPB

West Papuans Rise Against Indonesian Colonialism on National Farmers’ Day

Jayapura, West Papua – September 24, 2025

Today, thousands of West Papuans led by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) marched in Jayapura to mark Indonesia’s National Farmers’ Day. For West Papua, this day exposes not progress, but colonial exploitation, land grabbing, and militarized occupation.

Since Indonesia’s occupation in 1963, Papuan land has been stolen, forests destroyed, rivers poisoned, and communities displaced for the benefit of corporations like Freeport, palm oil companies, and mega-projects backed by Jakarta and foreign investors. The latest tragedy—7 Freeport workers trapped underground—is yet another reminder that profit is valued above both human life and indigenous rights.

The Prabowo–Gibran regime continues this legacy of colonial rule: militarizing indigenous lands, silencing journalists, and denying democratic space.

Prabowo’s attempt to speak of “peace” at the UN is hypocrisy. He is a war criminal whose bloody record in East Timor and West Papua disqualifies him from any international platform.

People’s Demands:

1. Shut down all colonial companies (mining, palm oil, and investment projects) that destroy Papuan forests, poison rivers, and displace local communities.

2. Stop the militarized land grabbing of indigenous territories.

3. End the deployment of organic and non-organic troops to guard corporate interests.

4. End the colonial military approach to conflicts, and hold the Indonesian state accountable for systematic human rights violations.

5. Resolve the armed conflict between TNI–POLRI and TPNPB, which has forced more than 100,000 Papuans into displacement.

6. Immediately release all West Papuan political prisoners and prisoners of war across Indonesia.

7. End systemic colonial racism against the Papuan people.

8. Open democratic space, allow foreign journalists and independent monitors full access to West Papua.

9. Recognize that a referendum on self-determination is the only democratic and peaceful solution for the people of West Papua.

10. Reject Prabowo Subianto’s appearance at the United Nations, as he is a war criminal and human rights violator attempting to whitewash Indonesia’s colonial crimes.

11. Demand that PT Freeport Indonesia immediately evacuate the 7 workers trapped underground, with full guarantees of safety and medical care.

12. Call for widespread resistance against PT Freeport and all multinational corporations exploiting West Papua’s land and people.#

Reference: Victor Yeimo, KNPB International Spokesperson

Land clearing already started to make way for sugarcane plantation in Merauke, South Papua, Indonesia. Image courtesy of Yayasan Pusaka.