The Minister of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, has called for a strategic national-level step to resolve the root causes of the conflict in Papua. This statement comes in response to the rising escalation of violence recorded by Komnas HAM (National Commission on Human Rights), with data showing 97 incidents throughout 2025 and an additional 26 cases up to April 2026.
Pigai highlighted that information transparency in the digital era means every violent event in Papua is now widely monitored, both nationally and internationally. This poses a serious challenge for Indonesia in maintaining its human rights reputation globally, making the prevention of violence an urgent priority.
In his notes, Pigai mentioned that the escalation over the past month has claimed at least 20 lives in several areas such as Dogiyai, Yahukimo, Puncak, Timika, and Tembagapura. According to him, the conflict resolution approach which has been partial and only focused on individual cases is no longer relevant to address the complexity of the existing problems.
Furthermore, the Human Rights Minister emphasized that resolving the Papua conflict is a national strategic issue that requires cross-sector synergy. He urged for a joint political decision involving the executive, legislative, judicial branches, political parties, and national figures to formulate a more integrated peaceful solution.
The Ministry of Human Rights is committed to continuing to promote a more humane and justice-based approach. The ministry emphasized that the protection of citizens in all corners of Indonesia, including Papua, is a fundamental responsibility of the state that must be realized through sustainable peaceful solutions.
