Pigai: Molotov Bomb Case at Papua Komnas HAM Must Be Investigated Objectively, Avoid Unfounded Accusations
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has requested law enforcement agencies to conduct a serious and objective investigation to uncover the perpetrators behind the alleged Molotov bomb attack on the Papua Representative Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Jayapura. Pigai emphasised that no party should be accused before the investigation results reveal the facts.
“I am asking the Papua Regional Police to seriously investigate until they identify who threw the Molotov bomb at the Papua Komnas HAM Representative Office,” Pigai said in Jakarta on Thursday (10/9).
Pigai also warned the public against speculating regarding the parties allegedly responsible for the incident. According to him, the identity of the perpetrators and those behind the action must be based on the findings of the authorities’ investigation.
“We cannot accuse any institution of being responsible, but that must be based on the results of an objective investigation by law enforcement,” he stated.
In addition to calling for an objective investigation, Pigai urged the state to provide protection to the leadership of the Papua Komnas HAM Representative Office following the alleged terror attack. Previously, the Papua Komnas HAM office in Jayapura was targeted by an unidentified individual throwing what is suspected to be a Molressov bomb on Wednesday (9/9) at approximately 10:15 WIT. The police have conducted a crime scene investigation and cordoned off the area.
The Head of the Papua Komnas HAM Representative Office, Frits Ramandey, stated that the incident occurred while office activities were underway. The perpetrator reportedly fled immediately after throwing the suspected Molotov bomb.
“At around 10:15 WIT, the perpetrator threw a Molotov bomb and immediately fled,” Ramandey said in Jayapura on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara.
Ramandey noted that the object thrown was a bottle containing petrol and equipped with a wick. The object was directed towards the motorcycle parking area in the courtyard of the Papua Komnas HAM Representative Office.
“From our observations, this bomb was intentionally thrown towards the parked motorcycles with the intention that the motorcycles would catch fire and subsequently spread to the office building,” he said.
However, the fire did not have the chance to grow or spread to the office building. Nevertheless, Ramandey assessed the incident as a form of terror and a serious crime that must be promptly uncovered by the police.
“This terror is a serious crime, so the police must be able to uncover the perpetrators because the incident occurred during the morning,” he said.
Demands for an investigation were also voiced by the Papua Law Enforcement and Human Rights Coalition. The coalition, which comprises several civil society organisations including LBH Papua, PAHAM Papua, LBH Kyadawun, Tong Pu Ruang Aman, KontraS Papua, Yadupa, LBH Papua Merauke, and LBH Papua Pos Sorong, has called upon President Prabowo Subianto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai to intervene.
The coalition believes that the alleged Molotov bomb attack meets the elements of a terrorist offence, specifically involving threats of violence and actions that create an atmosphere of terror or widespread fear.
“It can be concluded that the facts of the Molotov Bomb case at the Papua Representative Office of the Indonesian Komnas HAM on 9 September 2026 have met the elements of terrorism, particularly the elements of violent threats, the creation of an atmosphere of terror or widespread fear, and the element of security disturbance motives,” the coalition stated in a press release received on Wednesday night.
The coalition also urged the police to apply the provisions of Law Number 5 of 2018 regarding the amendment to Law Number 15 of 2003 concerning the eradication of terrorist crimes, should the investigation results prove the existence of terrorist elements in the case.