Merauke, Indonesia – Indonesian police used force against a peaceful protest in Merauke City, South Papua, on January 25, 2026, detaining 11 Papuan demonstrators, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch. The incident highlights growing tensions surrounding the Indonesian government’s ambitious Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate project, a large-scale initiative aimed at boosting national food production but criticized for its potential impact on Indigenous land rights, and livelihoods. The protest, organized by members of the Voice of Catholic People of Papua, centered on calls for greater protection of Indigenous communities and opposition to the local Catholic bishop’s support for the project.
The demonstrators gathered at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral, seeking to raise concerns with church officials about the effects of the food estate project on local populations. According to Human Rights Watch, police arrived and forcibly dispersed the group, arresting 11 individuals. Protesters allege they were subjected to unnecessary force during the dispersal and subsequent detention. Stenlhy Dambujai, 30, stated that officers “choked and beat” him, and that two other protesters, Maria Amote, 24, and Angel Gebze, 22, were struck on the head with batons. The group was initially held at the Merauke Traffic Police Station, where they reportedly endured further abuse before being transferred to the Merauke police precinct for questioning.
Concerns Over Land Rights and Project Expansion
The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate project, initiated in 2010 by then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and later revitalized and expanded under Presidents Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, aims to convert nearly three million hectares of forest and swampland into agricultural land for crops like rice and sugarcane. The project’s stated goal is to achieve national food self-sufficiency, but it has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and Indigenous communities who fear displacement and the loss of traditional ways of life. President Subianto has publicly stated his ambition to transform Indonesia into the “granary of the world,” accelerating the expansion of the food estate.
Human Rights Watch estimates that the project risks the customary land rights of over 40,000 people from the Indigenous Malind, Maklew, Yei, and Khimaima communities. These communities rely on the forests and swampland for their livelihoods and cultural practices. Reports from the Indonesian civil society organization Pusaka detail alleged fraudulent land acquisitions and threats to ancestral lands. The government maintains that the project complies with national laws and regulations, including those related to Indigenous rights and environmental protection, and asserts that no applications have been made for the designation of customary forests in the project area.
Allegations of Police Abuse and Evidence Tampering
Following their release after midnight, the 11 protesters were not formally charged, but their legal counsel, Arnold Anda of the Merauke Legal Aid Institute, reported that police refused to provide a legal basis for their detention. Stenlhy Dambujai also alleged that police seized a smartphone belonging to one of the protesters, deleting photos and videos before returning the device. “I feel unsafe due to the fact that it feels like I am constantly being monitored by the authorities,” Dambujai said.
The incident has prompted condemnation from international human rights advocates. Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the right of Indigenous Papuan communities to protest without fear of violence. “Police and military personnel who commit abuses against local communities should be held to account and appropriately punished,” Ganguly stated. The Communion of Churches in Indonesia, representing 105 Protestant denominations, issued a statement on February 5 calling for an end to “land grabbing of Indigenous Papuans” and urging “honest, equal, and dignified dialogue” with affected communities.
Military Deployment and UN Concerns
Concerns have also been raised regarding the deployment of the Indonesian military to support the Merauke food estate project. President Subianto has authorized the military’s involvement in agricultural programs, including planting and harvesting, but critics allege this is also intended to discourage protests. Norton Kamuyen, a resident of Nakias village, described being forced to flee his home in January due to a land dispute, stating that disagreement with the project has led to fear of military intimidation.
In March 2025, nine United Nations special rapporteurs expressed concerns in a letter regarding potential human rights and environmental violations linked to the project, including the denial of customary land rights, deforestation, and intimidation of Indigenous peoples. The UN rapporteurs reported that approximately 40 villages within and around the project area could lose their livelihoods and traditional rights.
The Indonesian government views Merauke as a symbol of national unity, embodied in the national anthem “From Sabang to Merauke,” which references the country’s westernmost and easternmost points. However, protests by Indigenous Papuans are rare in Merauke due to the heavy military presence, with one Malind tribal leader noting that “Bulldozers here are always guarded by soldiers with semi-automatic weapons.”
Human Rights Watch maintains that while improving food production is a legitimate goal, it should not come at the expense of the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous Papuan communities. The organization calls for a prompt and impartial investigation into the January 25th incident and for authorities to consult with Indigenous communities to address longstanding grievances.
The Indonesian government has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations raised by Human Rights Watch regarding the January 25th incident. Further updates on the investigation and potential disciplinary action are expected in the coming weeks, as pressure mounts from international organizations and local advocacy groups to address the concerns of Indigenous communities affected by the Merauke food estate project.
If you are interested in learning more about the situation in Merauke and the concerns of Indigenous communities, you can find additional information on the Human Rights Watch website: https://www.hrw.org/asia/indonesia.
