Alliance accuses security forces of unlawful violence, urges troop withdrawal and rights-based solutions.

Papuan student protesters in Jakarta are demanding accountability for alleged police killings in Dogiyai Regency, calling for justice, troop withdrawals from Papua and stronger protection of human rights.

Protest In Jakarta Over Dogiyai Violence
On May 11, 2026, about 50 Papuan students from the Anti-Militarism and Investment Front rallied outside Indonesia’s Ministry of Human Rights in Jakarta. They demanded that the government address an alleged case of police violence in Moanemani, Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, which they say left at least five indigenous Papuans dead at the end of March. Speaking from atop a command vehicle, field action coordinator Oktowimelek Gobay accused the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri) of killing, rather than protecting, Papuan civilians.

Deadly Easter Tension In Moanemani
Tensions in Moanemani flared on March 30 after the body of Second Brigadier Juventus Edowai, a member of the Dogiyai Police resort, was found in a ditch near Ebenezer Church, reportedly killed with a sharp weapon. According to a Tempo report titled “Paskah Mencekam di Dogiyai” (A Dreadful Easter in Dogiyai), police responded by sweeping residential areas, firing shots that killed at least three residents and injured several others. Among the dead were a 70-year-old woman, shot while cooking in her kitchen, and an 11-year-old boy, highlighting the impact on non-combatant civilians.

Disputed Civilian Death Toll And Rights Concerns
The Papua office of Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has recorded five civilians killed in the Moanemani incident, along with one police casualty. The Anti-Militarism and Investment Front, however, claims eight civilians died, and has condemned what it calls brutal actions by the security forces. Protest leaders question the humanity of the police institution and argue that such incidents violate the mandate of Human Rights Law No. 39 of 1999, which guarantees all Indonesian citizens, including Papuans, the right to protection of their basic rights.

Calls For Troop Withdrawal And Policy Rethink
Beyond justice for Dogiyai, the protesters are demanding the withdrawal of military and police forces deployed across Papua. Oktowimelek Gobay argued that the region’s core issues lie in economic inequality and political rights, not in security threats, and that militarised responses are worsening rather than solving local grievances. Students insist that rights-based, developmental and political solutions are needed instead of continued heavy security presence, which they say has repeatedly led to civilian casualties in various parts of Papua.

Direct Appeal To Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai
The students specifically called on Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, himself Papuan, to come out and meet them. Field action deputy coordinator Laban Jingga said Pigai “should come out in front of the Papuan people” and deliver concrete solutions, not just statements. The protesters view his role as crucial in pushing for a credible investigation into Dogiyai, ensuring transparency, and addressing broader patterns of alleged abuses by TNI and Polri in Papua. As of the time of the protest, there was no public indication that the minister had met the group.

The Jakarta protest by Papuan students over the Moanemani killings underlines long-standing tensions between Papuan communities and Indonesian security forces, as well as frustration over what activists see as weak accountability and over-militarised policies. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the case highlights the importance of transparent investigations, genuine engagement with local grievances and a shift toward inclusive, rights-based approaches if stability and trust are to be built in Papua over the long term.

Sources: EN Tempo (2026) , EN Antara (2026)

Keywords: Moanemani Dogiyai Case, Papuan Student Alliance, Anti Militarism And Investment Front, Police Violence Allegations, Natalius Pigai Protest, Human Rights Law 39 1999