Indonesia has launched deadly air attacks on civilians in West Papua, killing at least one child and severely injuring others Wednesday in the latest military operation under President Prabowo’s administration.
ULMWP President, Benny Wenda confirmed that 18-year-old Deris Kogoya was killed by a rocket fired from a helicopter while riding his motorbike near Kelanungin Village in Puncak Regency.
His friend, Jemi Waker, suffered critical injuries to his legs and remains in his village due to fears of further attacks if he seeks hospital treatment.
“These are innocent young men – not TPNPB fighters, as Indonesia inevitably have claimed,” according to a statement by Benny Wenda, Interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)
“This is what they said about Enius Tabuni, Tonda Wanimbo, Dominus Enumbi, and Pemerintah Murib. It is the same lie they tell over and over again to justify their murder of civilians.”
Wenda drew a direct connection between current military operations and atrocities from his own past.
“This brutal attack reminds me of my childhood: the genocidal military operations in 1977-78, when Indonesian soldiers bombed, tortured and raped their way across the central highlands. Over 11,000 West Papuans were murdered then, including many members of my own family. I was forced to live in the bush for five years while soldiers occupied my village. When I see the image of Deris Kogoya’s mutilated body, it brings me back to those terrible years.”
Wenda described a pattern of escalating violence under President Prabowo.
“It is very clear that indiscriminate bombing, rocket, and drone attacks of this kind are increasing in both frequency and brutality under Prabowo’s Presidency.”
He cited similar attacks in Intan Jaya in March, where Indonesia used fighter jets to strike villages.
Wenda accused Prabowo of reviving Suharto-era tactics, militarising civilian life and consolidating authoritarian control.
He also condemned the international silence.
“Where is the attention of the media and the international community? How many children must be killed before they notice we are dying?” he asked.
“West Papua has been under siege for six decades. Indonesia has banned the media for the entire period of occupation, in order to prevent journalists from telling the world what is really going on.”
“West Papuans are a forgotten, voiceless people suffering a hidden genocide. So I say this very clearly to the world: if states do not support our peaceful, diplomatic struggle for self-determination, we will be wiped out as a people,” said Wenda.
He issued three key demands to the Indonesian government on behalf of the ULMWP:
*Allow all journalists, foreign and domestic, to report freely from West Papua.
*Immediately allow a visit to West Papua by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
*Withdraw all military forces and allow displaced persons to return home.
