Papuan Students Slam Minister Pigai as Prabowo Sycophant

Dozens of Papuan students gathered outside the Ministry of Human Rights in Jakarta on Monday, May 11, 2026, to demand a direct meeting with Minister Natalius Pigai.

The protesters, organized under the Front Against Militarism and Investment coalition, accused the minister of failing to address ongoing human rights violations in Papua. During the demonstration, the group characterized Pigai as a “Prabowo sycophant,” alleging that he has abandoned the interests of Indigenous Papuans since taking office.

Shift in Human Rights Advocacy

The coalition expressed disappointment over what they describe as a decline in Pigai’s advocacy. Protesters contrasted his current performance with his tenure as a commissioner at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) from 2012 to 2017, a period during which he was widely regarded as a vocal defender of human rights across Indonesia and specifically within Papua.

“Natalius Pigai, when he was a commissioner at the National Commission on Human Rights, was highly vocal about human rights issues in Papua and across Indonesia,” said Veronica, one of the protesters, while speaking from a command vehicle. “But over time, it seems he has lost his edge.”

Security Strategy and Regional Instability

Veronica stated that the persistent instability in Papua is driven by economic inequality and a lack of political self-determination. She argued that the Indonesian government’s reliance on a security-based approach—characterized by the deployment of military and police forces—has failed to stabilize the region. According to the protesters, this strategy has instead escalated tensions with Indigenous communities, resulting in armed conflict and the displacement of people from their ancestral lands.

The coalition further urged President Prabowo Subianto to withdraw security forces from Papua, asserting that the presence of the military and police has created an environment conducive to further human rights abuses rather than resolving the underlying conflict.

Violence in Early 2026

The demonstrations follow reports of increased volatility in the region. The Papua representative office of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) recorded four major violent incidents during the early months of 2026, which resulted in approximately 14 deaths.

The protesters remained outside the ministry, urging Minister Pigai to meet with them and listen to their demands directly.