Source: United Liberation Movement for West Papua
31 August 2026
A West Papan leader in exile in Australia who is one of the Executive of the ULMWP group is calling on Pacific leaders at the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Island Forum to condemn the recent increased military violence and to call for an immediate end to this violence in civilian areas and address other urgent issues related to land the environment. Her call is being supported by several Pacific based organisations.
“The letter sent today to Pacific leaders calls for immediate action because the humanitarian situation has reached a critical juncture, underscored by devastating casualties reported in recent weeks” Ms Makabory said,
She listed the following recent incidents as examples of many since mid 2025 until this day in 2026 which show escalation of extra judicial killings and use of drones and land mines in by the Indonesian military in civilian areas.
- The Drone Strike in Intan Jaya (Thursday, 18 June 2026): At approximately 1:00 PM local time, an elderly Papuan woman was killed, and two other women were severely injured in an attack involving explosive materials deployed by Indonesian military drones. Local sources indicate an alarming escalation in military tactics, including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and landmines placed along civilian footpaths.
- The Fatal Shooting in Dekai, Yahukimo (Wednesday, 17 June 2026): At 4:05 PM local time, a young Papuan man was shot and killed in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan. Eyewitness accounts from the victim’s family directly implicate members of the Indonesian Marine Task Force.
She also noted the incident on 2 July 2026, American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin of Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) was killed after landing in Yahukimo. The West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed responsibility, alleging the aircraft was supporting Indonesian military operations, while Indonesian authorities stated it was conducting a civilian humanitarian mission.
“Regardless of the competing accounts, this tragic incident demonstrates the urgent need for independent international monitoring, transparent investigations, and renewed efforts to de-escalate the conflict and promote human rights.” Paula Makabory said,
“Under the internationally recognized doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the global community—and neighbouring sovereign states in particular—has a duty to step in when a state fails to protect its population from systematic human rights violations.
The continuous deployment of heavy tactical forces has turned residential areas into active conflict zones, where indigenous Papuans are treated with inherent suspicion and lethal force. There have been 24 extra judicial killings in 2026 so far.
Severe human rights violations are rarely met with independent investigations or genuine justice, leaving civilian populations entirely defenceless and more than 125,00 people displaced and homeless in the Highlands.
The indigenous people of West Papua are an integral part of the Melanesian family. Their ongoing suffering directly weakens the security and solidarity of the entire Pacific region.”
She urged Pacific Island Forum Leaders to break the silence and take collective diplomatic action by issuing a formal condemnation of recent killings in Intan Jaya and Yahukimo, issue a collective call an immediate cessation of military operations in civilian areas, and demand a unimpeded United Nations access to investigate human rights abuses. She also called for condemnation of drone strikes, the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for aid for displaced people in the Highlands, a moratorium on mega projects in West Papua and an independent evaluation of Special Autonomy in terms of pathways to indigenous West Papuan self determination.
“The report also calls on the PIF leadership to challenge the crushing of peaceful dissent and the widespread destruction of indigenous land with resulting acceleration of deforestation and regional climate change risks.” Said Catherine Delahunty, spokesperson for “West Papua Action Aotearoa”.
She said that New Zealand and Australian Government were failing in their critical leadership roles by their silence on all these of the issues.
“The Pacific Island Forum has called or years for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to be granted immediate, unrestricted access to West Papua to conduct an independent investigation, but this has been ignored and the PIF needs to ensure Indonesia can’t expect status at Pacific meetings while ignoring the PIF requests. The PIF Special Envoys Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Merape, (whether at the Palau meeting or not) need to negotiate a firm timeline for a UN fact finding mission with Indonesia.” Paula Makabory said.
“The PIF and MSG must bring the West Papuan human rights crisis and land crisis to the forefront of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and relevant international human rights forums to ensure global oversight. The survival of our Melanesian brothers and sisters depends on leaders who are willing to champion human rights and regional stability over political convenience” Ms Makabory said.
Paula Makabory
Executive Member Of United Liberation Movement for West Papua
Head of Pacific Islands Mission
Undersigned by
Teanau Tuiono Green MP for Pacific Affairs Aotearoa /NZ
Catherine Delahunty National Spokesperson for West Papua Action Aotearoa
James Bhagwan – Pacific Council of Churches