Police Actions Against Protesters Detailed in HRW Report
Indonesian police allegedly unlawfully dispersed, beat, and detained 11 Papuan protesters in Merauke City, South Papua, on January 25, 2026. The incident was brought to light by a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on February 13, 2026, which condemned the police's actions and called for an impartial investigation into the alleged abuses.
The protesters, identified as members of the Voice of Catholic People of Papua (Suara Kaum Awam Katolik Regio Papua), had gathered at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral. Their demonstration aimed to urge church officials to protect Indigenous populations affected by the government's large-scale Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) project. They also voiced opposition to the bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Merauke for his support of the government initiative.
Allegations of Excessive Force and Unlawful Detention
According to HRW, police arrived at the cathedral and forcibly dispersed the gathering without prior warning or attempts at dialogue. Witnesses reported that officers allegedly 'choked and beat' demonstrators, with some protesters, including Maria Amote, 24, and Angel Gebze, 22, reportedly struck on the head with batons.
The 11 detained protesters were initially taken to the Merauke Traffic Police Station, where further beatings were reported, before being transferred to the Merauke police precinct for questioning. All were released without charge after midnight. However, their legal counsel, Arnold Anda of the Merauke Legal Aid Institute, stated that authorities failed to provide any legal basis for the arrests. Additionally, police allegedly seized a smartphone from one protester, deleting photos and videos before returning it.
Context: The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) Project
The protest was directed against the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) project, a government initiative designed to convert millions of hectares of forest and swampland in South Papua into plantations for rice, sugarcane, and other crops. The Indonesian government frames this project as crucial for achieving national food and biofuel self-sufficiency.
However, human rights organizations and Indigenous communities have raised significant concerns. HRW warns that the project risks the customary land rights of over 40,000 Indigenous people from communities such as the Malind, Maklew, Yei, and Khimaima. These communities allege that the project is leading to displacement, forced seizure of ancestral lands, deforestation, and the use of military force to suppress dissent.
Calls for Accountability and Protection of Rights
Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that 'Indigenous Papuan communities have the right to protest the government's Merauke food project without having to worry about being beaten, arrested, and jailed.' She called for police and military personnel who commit abuses against local communities to be held accountable and appropriately punished.
The broader context includes concerns raised by nine United Nations special rapporteurs in March 2025 regarding systematic human rights and environmental violations linked to the project. President Prabowo Subianto has reportedly deployed the Indonesian military to support agricultural programs in the Merauke regency, which also serves to discourage protests.
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