Jayapura, Jubi – Two Papuan student organizations in Malang, East Java—the Ikatan Pelajar dan Mahasiswa Papua Pania Raya (IPMAPAPARA) and the Papua Student Alliance of Kawanua Family (KK) Malang—have issued a formal statement in response to the recent violence in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua.
The statement, released on Saturday (April 4, 2026), addresses a number of violent incidents that occurred in Kamuu District between March 31 and April 2, 2026, resulting in casualties among both civilians and police personnel.
The unrest began following the killing of a police officer, Jufentus Edowai, on March 31. He was found dead in Kimupugi Village with severe machete wounds and mutilation, allegedly carried out by unidentified assailants.
In response, security forces conducted sweeping operations across the area from March 31 to April 2. During these operations, several civilians were reportedly killed and injured, with allegations that some victims were shot by security personnel.
Data compiled by Jubi as of April 2 recorded six civilian deaths and two critically injured victims. However, the student groups reported five civilian fatalities and additional injuries, citing discrepancies in the data.
The deceased were identified as Siprianus Tibakoto (25), who was shot in the head; Yulita Pigai (80), an elderly woman who had long been paralyzed, shot in the body; Martinus Yobe (14), a sixth-grade student, shot in the abdomen; Ankian Edowai (19), shot in the head; as well as Feri Auwe (20) and Yafet Tibakoto.
The two critically injured victims are Maikel Waine (12), also a sixth-grade student, who sustained a gunshot wound to the left chest with the bullet exiting through the shoulder, and Kikibi Pigai (20), who was shot in the thigh.
On the police side, two officers were reported injured, including one who sustained a gunshot wound during a patrol and another struck by an arrow during an attack on the Dogiyai Police headquarters.
In their statement, the student groups linked the incident to broader historical grievances.
“Since Papua was incorporated into the framework of the Republic of Indonesia on May 1, 1963, widespread gross human rights violations have continued to occur in the land of Papua and have never been resolved by the Indonesian state through applicable law,” IPMAPAPARA Malang and the Papua Student Alliance of Kawanua Family Malang wrote in their statement.
Responding to the situation, the groups outlined several demands, including the immediate formation of an independent investigative team involving the Ministry of Human Rights, National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM), legal aid institutions, civil society organizations, the Papua People’s Assembly (MRP) of Central Papua, and local and provincial governments, as well as regional police authorities.
They also called on the Dogiyai Regency Government and local police to halt operations targeting civilians and adopt a more humanitarian approach.
The students further demanded that any security personnel found responsible for human rights violations, to be prosecuted fairly and without special treatment.
“We urge the Dogiyai administration and police to conduct a transparent investigation into the shootings, without impunity,” the statement read.
Additionally, they called on the Dogiyai Police to stop requesting reinforcements from other regions, warning that further troop deployments could prolong the conflict. They also urged on the Central Papua Police to immediately dismiss the Dogiyai Police Chief dishonourably.
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