Papuan Student Protesters Label Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai as a Prabowo Toady
An alliance of Papuan students from the Anti-Militarism and Investment Front assessed Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai as having failed to resolve a series of human rights violations in Papua. Dozens of protesters who demonstrated at the Ministry of Human Rights office in Jakarta today, Monday, 11 May 2026, urged Pigai to meet them and accept their aspirations.
The protesters regretted Pigai’s stance, which they viewed as not siding with the interests of Papua’s indigenous people since he became Human Rights Minister. However, according to the protesters, Pigai had previously vocally defended Papuans when he served as a Commissioner of Komnas HAM from 2012 to 2017.
“Natalius Pigai, during his time at Komnas HAM, was quite vocal in discussing human rights issues occurring in Papua and even in Indonesia. But as time goes by, it seems as though he has no teeth,” said a protester named Veronica from atop the command vehicle.
Veronica stated that the longstanding problems in Papua are actually rooted in economic disparities and political rights to determine their own fate. She emphasised that a security approach through the deployment of TNI and Polri to Papua cannot serve as a solution. In fact, it triggers conflicts with indigenous communities, who become victims in armed conflicts and must flee from their ancestral lands.
The protesters urged Prabowo to withdraw the military and police from Papua because it has not proven effective in resolving issues and instead creates opportunities for further human rights violations. The Komnas HAM RI Representative in Papua recorded four prominent incidents of violence in Papua in early 2026, resulting in around 14 deaths.
Veronica viewed the state’s failure to protect the population from the recurring pattern of violence in Papua. She regarded Pigai, as a native Papuan, as showing no bias towards his people and instead drawing closer to the Prabowo government, which is deemed fascist.
As evidence, Veronica cited Pigai’s refusal to meet the protesters who were exercising their democratic right to demonstrate. She took aim at Pigai’s claim of understanding human rights since the age of five but showing no concrete proof.
“The fascist Prabowo-Gibran regime, which is reviving the Soeharto-era practices today with a military approach encroaching into civilian domains, through PSN, Koperasi Merah Putih, MBG, which squanders public funds. He is a toady to his mates! Natalius is a toady!” said this representative of Papuan students studying in Malang, East Java.
The protesters refused to hold an audience inside the Ministry of Human Rights office, deeming it futile. They had undertaken a series of efforts to summon Pigai out.
From pushing against the iron fence guarded by police, entering the main courtyard of the Ministry of Human Rights office, to burning used tyres and continuing to orate. The action, which began at 10:00 and continued until 15:00 WIB.