Komnas HAM Records 59 Deaths from Papua Conflict in 2026, Majority Civilians

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is urging the government to prioritise civilian protection, accountable law enforcement, and the acceleration of internal refugee management as key steps in responding to the human rights situation in Papua. Atnike Nova Sigiro, Coordinator of the Team for Observing the Human Rights Situation Towards a Humanitarian Dialogue in Papua (Tim Papua) at Komnas HAM, stated that these measures are necessary to prevent the humanitarian impact from worsening due to the ongoing conflict. “Despite the government having implemented various policies and allocated resources, the security conditions and civil rights in Papua remain far from optimal. There were 42 recorded incidents of violence, mostly involving armed groups and security forces. This resulted in 59 fatalities, the majority of whom were civilians,” Atnike said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. During a media briefing on the observation results for the January–June 2026 period in Jakarta, Tuesday, 14 July, Atnike noted that the continuing armed conflict has increased the number of internally displaced persons, especially in Central Papua and Highland Papua provinces. This situation has created social and economic problems that require immediate attention to prevent the affected communities from experiencing prolonged vulnerability. Atnike stressed that the government must strengthen civilian protection, ensure accountability in law enforcement, and provide a rapid response to the needs of the displaced persons. These efforts are expected to minimise the humanitarian impact while opening space for a more sustainable resolution to the conflict. Amiruddin Al-Rahab, a member of Komnas HAM’s Papua Team, added that fulfilling the basic needs of refugees, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children, must be a primary government concern. “The government must pay more attention to the conditions of the refugees, especially mothers and children, particularly regarding health, education, and temporary housing. According to recorded data, there are more than 100,000 refugees, and we urge all government agencies involved in Papua to intervene immediately,” Amiruddin said. He noted that Komnas HAM has coordinated with several ministries and institutions, including the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs and the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, to push for the handling of various issues in Papua.