Source: Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
Statement 19 October 2026
Starting on the 12 October and ending on the 20 October, approximately 1000 ADF personnel with a similar number of Indonesian personal are taking part in Exercise Keris Woomera 26, which is this year’s largest overseas joint training activity for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The joint Keris Woomera 26 exercise between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Banyuwangi, East Java, aims to strengthen bilateral defense and security cooperation. (ANTARA FOTO/HO-Kedubes Australia). (Photo ANTARA 13 Oct)
Joe Collins of AWPA said, “we get the usual mantra/statements from Government of, the exercise will reinforce the strength of Australia’s security relationship with Indonesia, Indonesia is an essential and enduring partner for Australia and it is significant that we share our largest overseas training activity for the year with the TNI and our ability to work together on this exercise reinforces our deep and longstanding partnership with Indonesia, underpinned by trust, mutual respect and close cooperation etc.
“Yet, not so far away, the Indonesian security forces are conducting military operations against Papuan civilians and Australia says nothing”.
The Evangelical Christian Church (KINGMI) has called on the Indonesian Government and humanitarian organisations to address reports of civilians fleeing their homes amid alleged military operations in the Korowai region. The church’s Department of Justice and Peace (DKP) said it had received reports of increased military activity between October 12 and 14 in Danowage village, Yaniruma district, Boven Digoel Regency, and areas bordering Yahukimo Regency. (Jubi Oct17)
In a Jubi report (Oct 17) The Head of the GIDI Department of Law and Human Rights, Reverend Jimmy Koirewoa, stated that, according to information from the indigenous Korowai people and other Papuan residents living in the area, the local population is in a state of panic and has begun to flee, fearing the prospect of military operations in the vicinity of civilian settlements.
Joe Collins said, “during military operations, local people flee because of their fear of the Indonesian security forces. The flee to the forest and can face starvation because they are afraid to go back to work in their food gardens. Each military operation creates more internal refugees”.
Korowai residents living in the border area between Boven Digoel Regency (South Papua Province) and Yahukimo Regency (Highland Papua Province) – Doc. GIDI Department of Law and Human Rights (In Jubi 17 Oct)
In its August update Human Rights Monitor reported that there are more than 127.031 civilians across multiple regencies in West Papua that remain internally displaced due to military operations and armed conflict.
Women from Korowai, Yahukimo Regency, Ppaua Highlands, shelter at a displacement site in the forest in July 2026. – Courtesy of Jubi
Calls to halt military operations
The GIDI Department of Law and Human Rights urged the Government of Indonesia and all relevant authorities to immediately halt the movement of troops—who are allegedly preparing for military operations within the civilian settlements of the Korowai people—and to withdraw forces from civilian areas where their presence is not required for legitimate operations.
They further demand that no military actions be taken that could endanger the safety of the community, incite fear, force residents to abandon their homes, or disrupt the daily lives and activities of the indigenous people. “We emphasize that places of worship, residential homes, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, and other public amenities must be protected,” he stated.
The church has also urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), national humanitarian agencies and relevant international organisations to explore ways to provide assistance, in accordance with their mandates and humanitarian principles.
Humanitarian crises
There are also increasingly difficult conditions facing local people due to drought and smoke from forest and land fires, which are affecting areas spanning from Yahukimo and Boven Digoel to the Pegunungan Bintang (Star Mountains) regency.
In such a situation, explained Reverend Jimmy Koirewoa, the community requires protection, healthcare services, access to basic necessities, and security guarantees.
The pressure and fear resulting from the movement of troops near residential areas are considered likely to further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis already confronting the local residents.
In a media release the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) reported from Danowage Village that following an Indonesian military’s deployment on October 12 and 13, the authorities immediately began a military operation on Wednesday October 14. The operation traumatized civilians, who began fleeing on Wednesday night to forests in the Boven Digoel, Oksibil, Mappi, and Yahukimo areas.
The Central High Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) also appealed to President Prabowo Subianto and his staff to immediately allow access for the International Red Cross, foreign journalists, and international human rights organizations to enter the armed conflict zone in Papua to address the humanitarian crisis and displacement of indigenous peoples in various regions of Papua.
The situation in the territory is seriously deteroriating.
HRM reported (14 Oct) that Indigenous civilians were trapped by a military deployment in Tolikara.
It reported that an estimated 8,251 civilians in three districts of Tolikara Regency had been confined to their homes, cut off from gardens, schools and health services, since non-organic Indonesian military (TNI) troops entered the area on 5 October 2026. Nearly 100 residents of Gundagi District, including young schoolchildren, have fled into the forest without food.
It has also been reported that the Indonesian security forces have increasingly used military drones to drop grenades and explosives in the Central Highlands of West Papua, targeting Indigenous communities and members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
Joe Collins said, “with all the appeals for help from church and civil society groups in West Papua, we hear nothing from the Australian Government. Its time Australia showed concern for the ongoing conflict in the territory and joined with the Pacific leaders, church and civil society groups to push Jakarta to allow the UN human rights chief to visit Papua”.