Papua Church Council and Ko Masi Coalition Continue to Reject Military Operations and National Strategic Projects in Papua
The Papua Church Council together with the Coalition for Civil Society Transformation in Papua (Ko Masi) has urged the central government to halt its military approach and national strategic projects (PSN) in Papua.
The joint statement was delivered by the Papua Church Council and 44 organisations comprising Ko Masi during a meeting in Jayapura, Papua Province, on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Siti Akmianti, Director of the Papua Province Institute for the Study of Women's and Children's Empowerment (LP3AP) and Chair of Ko Masi, said the statement was issued in response to current conditions in Papua, which is beset by militarism, a humanitarian crisis, and the seizure of natural resources through national strategic projects.
The Papua Church Council and Ko Masi urged the government to immediately cease its military approach in civilian affairs, which they said violates the 1945 Constitution, human rights legislation, and Papua's Special Autonomy Law.
"We urge the TNI Commander to immediately withdraw all military personnel deployed in conflict areas as teachers, medical workers, and other roles under state policy, in accordance with the TNI Commander's statement of 21 March 2024," Akmianti said in a written statement received on Friday, 20 February 2026.
The TNI and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) are also obliged to uphold International Humanitarian Law in armed conflict zones across Papua.
Akmianti further demanded that the government open access for journalists and foreign media to Papua, including access for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct direct monitoring of human rights violations in the territory.
The Papua Church Council and Ko Masi also called on the government to halt all national strategic projects, arguing they are destroying and seizing the living spaces of Papua's indigenous communities. They further called on regional heads, the Papua People's Representative Council (DPRP), and the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) to declare their opposition to PSN and military operations across Papua.
The Papua Church Council and the coalition additionally demanded that the central government immediately cease all state policies that deprive civilians of their right to life and damage Papua's environment.
"We also call on the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately open a space for dialogue with the Papuan people to end the protracted conflict in Papua," Akmianti said.
The demands come amid continuing violence in Papua. Most recently, two Smart Air pilots were shot at Korowai Airstrip, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua, by the TPNPB on 11 February 2026. The shooting killed both pilots, Captain Egon Erawan and Captain Baskoro.
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) recorded 115 cases of violence during 2025, resulting in 130 deaths and 88 injuries. The majority of victims were civilians. In 2024, 85 cases were recorded with 71 fatalities.
Opposition to PSN had previously been voiced by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI). PGI General Chairman Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty said the PSN food estate project in Merauke, South Papua, was in fact sacrificing the food resources of indigenous Papuans.
He said indigenous Papuans live by foraging and hunting, and that the food estate project was causing extraordinary ecological degradation.
Jacklevyn said Papuan communities were being marginalised and disregarded. He said the government was demarcating and clearing land without the consent of the Papuan people. "Large-scale land acquisition is causing deforestation and marginalising indigenous communities," Jacklevyn told Tempo in Central Jakarta on 5 February 2026.
The joint statement was delivered by the Papua Church Council and 44 organisations comprising Ko Masi during a meeting in Jayapura, Papua Province, on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Siti Akmianti, Director of the Papua Province Institute for the Study of Women's and Children's Empowerment (LP3AP) and Chair of Ko Masi, said the statement was issued in response to current conditions in Papua, which is beset by militarism, a humanitarian crisis, and the seizure of natural resources through national strategic projects.
The Papua Church Council and Ko Masi urged the government to immediately cease its military approach in civilian affairs, which they said violates the 1945 Constitution, human rights legislation, and Papua's Special Autonomy Law.
"We urge the TNI Commander to immediately withdraw all military personnel deployed in conflict areas as teachers, medical workers, and other roles under state policy, in accordance with the TNI Commander's statement of 21 March 2024," Akmianti said in a written statement received on Friday, 20 February 2026.
The TNI and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) are also obliged to uphold International Humanitarian Law in armed conflict zones across Papua.
Akmianti further demanded that the government open access for journalists and foreign media to Papua, including access for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct direct monitoring of human rights violations in the territory.
The Papua Church Council and Ko Masi also called on the government to halt all national strategic projects, arguing they are destroying and seizing the living spaces of Papua's indigenous communities. They further called on regional heads, the Papua People's Representative Council (DPRP), and the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) to declare their opposition to PSN and military operations across Papua.
The Papua Church Council and the coalition additionally demanded that the central government immediately cease all state policies that deprive civilians of their right to life and damage Papua's environment.
"We also call on the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately open a space for dialogue with the Papuan people to end the protracted conflict in Papua," Akmianti said.
The demands come amid continuing violence in Papua. Most recently, two Smart Air pilots were shot at Korowai Airstrip, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua, by the TPNPB on 11 February 2026. The shooting killed both pilots, Captain Egon Erawan and Captain Baskoro.
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) recorded 115 cases of violence during 2025, resulting in 130 deaths and 88 injuries. The majority of victims were civilians. In 2024, 85 cases were recorded with 71 fatalities.
Opposition to PSN had previously been voiced by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI). PGI General Chairman Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty said the PSN food estate project in Merauke, South Papua, was in fact sacrificing the food resources of indigenous Papuans.
He said indigenous Papuans live by foraging and hunting, and that the food estate project was causing extraordinary ecological degradation.
Jacklevyn said Papuan communities were being marginalised and disregarded. He said the government was demarcating and clearing land without the consent of the Papuan people. "Large-scale land acquisition is causing deforestation and marginalising indigenous communities," Jacklevyn told Tempo in Central Jakarta on 5 February 2026.