West Papuan Civil Society Calls for UN and Pacific Access to Region

A recent report by international media outlet RNZ Pacific highlights the continued delay of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' visit to the region—a request first made by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in 2019—amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation on the ground.

Call for International Access

Responding to recent diplomatic discussions at the Pacific Islands Forum and the UN General Assembly, Elsham Papua's director, Paul Mambrasar, emphasized that international access is a concrete demand from civil society that Jakarta must urgently address.

Paul Mambrasar, the director of human rights advocacy group Elsham Papua.

"The first demand is unconditional international access by the UN body, and also from representatives from the MSG and PIF, as mandated in recent regional communiqués. It is an invitation which needs to be made openly by Indonesia," stated Paul Mambrasar

Displacement Reality and Deepening Militarisation

Nona Gae Luna, a Minister Counsellor at Indonesia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. UN TVWhile Indonesian diplomatic representatives at the UN maintain that human rights claims are continuously handled through national legal mechanisms like Komnas HAM, realities on the ground indicate a persistent humanitarian crisis. West Papuan human rights defender Rosa Moiwend highlighted that ongoing military operations continue to displace civilians

Rosa Moiwend, West Papuan researcher and human rights defender.

"The Indonesian government is always promoting a positive image of the human rights situation in West Papua, while the real situation on the ground is still getting worse, especially regarding military operations and their impact on the people. We now have around 127,000 IDPs waiting for the right time to go back home," said Rosa Moiwend.

Elsham Papua also draws attention to the evolving security landscape, which is increasingly marked by full military operations utilizing advanced warfare technology.

"They use more advanced military equipment to fight insurgencies. They now have drone units, and they use aircraft such as the Brazilian-made Super Tucano to conduct bombings. It is no longer just a police law-and-order issue, but the military is fully engaged," added the Elsham Papua Director.

This photo was shared by ULMWP on 10 February 2026, claiming a makeshift refugee camp in Puncak Regency of was bombed, and that many villagers have been displaced. RNZ Pacific has not independently verified the image.ulmwp.org

A photo of Indigenous West Papuan civilians in Distrik Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua, allegedly injured by use of excessive force by non-organic Indonesian military forces (TNI Satgas Habema). This image, alongside several more graphic ones, was shared on Facebook by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua leader Benny Wenda on 9 May 2026. RNZ Pacific has been unable to independently verify the picture. Facebook / Benny Wenda

Elsham Papua's Stance: Meaningful Political Dialogue

At Elsham Papua, we firmly believe that militaristic approaches will never resolve the root causes of the West Papuan conflict. As long as historical grievances and fundamental rights remain unaddressed, conflict will cycle through generations