West Papuan leaders call for inquiry after claims of civilian deaths in Dogiyai, as Australia flags security risk in Papua

West Papuan political leaders and advocacy groups are calling for an independent investigation after alleging Indonesian police killed civilians in Central Papua’s Dogiyai Regency, amid renewed warnings for Australians to reconsider travel to parts of the region because of security risks.

A statement published by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) this week alleged police retaliated after a shooting that killed an officer in Moanemani village on 31 March. The group said it was not known who killed the officer but claimed the security response led to civilian deaths, describing the incident as a “colonial rampage”.

In the ULMWP account, police actions in Dogiyai resulted in “murdering at least five Papuan civilians”, including a minor, with other people injured. Similar allegations were reported by the National Indigenous Times, which said the violence occurred as West Papuans approached the Easter period.

The Free West Papua Campaign also published an update repeating the call for urgent international attention, detailing claims about the timing and location of the incident near Moanemani, and arguing the alleged killings are part of a broader pattern of repression against Indigenous Papuans.

For Australian readers, the escalating security environment in Papua is reflected in official travel advice. The federal government’s Smartraveller site advises people to “Reconsider your need to travel” to the provinces of Highland Papua and Central Papua, citing the risk of serious security incidents and demonstrations that may turn violent.

Human rights groups have long raised concerns about violence and discrimination in Papua. Amnesty International Australia has pointed to findings from the 2024 Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on state and environmental violence in West Papua, which alleged land dispossession and “violent repression” including unlawful killings and displacement. Human Rights Watch’s latest World Report on Indonesia also notes a broader environment of militarisation and rights concerns under the country’s current leadership.

Independent verification of events in Papua can be difficult, and the Indonesian government’s response to the latest allegations was not included in the ULMWP and advocacy updates. However, the claims add to persistent calls from West Papuan leaders for transparent investigations and international monitoring of security operations.

With Papua geographically close to northern Australia and regularly raised in regional human rights discussions, advocates say the stakes extend beyond travel warnings: they include the safety of Indigenous communities and the long-running push for accountability over the treatment of West Papuans.