JAKARTA 20 April 2026 (The Capital Post) – Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights has strongly criticised the military following the reported killing of 12 civilians during a security operation in the restive Papua region, intensifying scrutiny over ongoing counter-insurgency actions in the area.
The commission said the civilians, including women and children, were killed by gunfire during an enforcement operation carried out last week in central Papua, with several others also injured in the incident.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the deaths, with the rights body stressing that any operation resulting in civilian casualties must be thoroughly examined and held accountable under national and international law standards.
Commission officials also stated there is a “strong suspicion” that state security forces may have been responsible, although they noted that the situation remains under investigation and details are still being verified.
The military has said it is checking reports of the incident and has not confirmed civilian fatalities, while also maintaining that its operations in Papua are targeted at armed separatist groups active in the region.
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Papua has long experienced intermittent clashes between Indonesian security forces and independence-linked armed groups, with repeated allegations of human rights violations, civilian displacement, and excessive use of force.
Rights groups have repeatedly called for greater transparency and independent investigations into security operations in the resource-rich region, which has remained a longstanding flashpoint for conflict.
The latest incident is expected to further heighten tensions and renew international attention on the humanitarian situation in Papua as investigations continue.-The Capital Post