Interim President: Further Intan Jaya massacre shows West Papua needs MSG membership

June 19, 2025

I am deeply saddened to learn of the murder of three West Papuans by Indonesian troops in Intan Jaya.

The deadly incident occurred on 18th June, after soldiers conducted raids in the Sugapa district. Isak Kobogau, aged 43, Alphon Kobogau, aged 20, and John Tipagau, aged 40, were all shot dead while sheltering in their yard near the village’s Catholic Church. Many villagers fled to the forest after the raids, adding to the 100,000 currently displaced across West Papua.

This is just one to the many military escalations that have killed dozens of West Papuan civilians – men, women, and children – in the last months alone. Many of these victims died in horrific ways, victims of the brutal and racist Indonesian occupation. Abner Karet was tortured to death by 40 soldiers. Alex Sondegau had a mental disability. Hetina Mirip was buried in a shallow grave and soldiers put bombs around her body, trying to kill her family when they found her. Yulius Abugau was only 16 years old.

These deaths demonstrate more clearly than any speech why all West Papuans need the ULMWP to upgrade its membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). More than ever before, West Papua needs a voice. We need a seat at the table to defend ourselves, our identity, our human rights, our very lives. Without it, we are finished.

I call on all Melanesians to support the MSG upgrading our membership status at the upcoming leaders’ summit. 

Benny Wenda
Interim President
ULMWP