Jayapura – An Action Plan Workshop titled "Retracing the Footsteps of the Papuan Civil Society Movement", which was attended by non-government organisation (NGO) members from various regions in the land of Papua, has agreed to form the Civil Society Transformation Coalition in the Land of Papua, abbreviated as "KO MASI" in the land of Papua.

The workshop, organised by the Papuan Council of Churches (PCC) and Jubi media, was held in the Argapura area of South Jayapura district in Jayapura city, Papua, on Thursday and Friday February 19-20.

PCC moderator Reverand Professor Benny Giay said that the formation of KO MASI was important in order to create collaboration in advocating for various problems faced by indigenous communities in Papua.

"The situation in the land of Papua is currently not good. For this reason, we all need to collaborate in our work", said Giay.

Giay also agreed to the formation of this coalition, because according to him the position of Papuan indigenous people is now becoming increasingly difficult. They are increasingly caught in the various dynamics that are occurring.

Problems in Papua have been increasing recently. Not only regarding the security situation and sending troops to various regions, which continues to happen. There are also cases of alleged human rights violations that have not been resolved and are still continuing to occur.

The confiscation of customary land belonging to indigenous peoples for the benefit of government programs and national strategic projects or PSN, which removes the living space of indigenous peoples, and the unresolved education and health problems of indigenous Papuans.

Antoni Ibra from the Democratic Alliance for Papua (AlDP), who was involved in the formulation team, said that the KO MASI will play a role in mobilising NGOs in Papua for advocacy work.

"This coalition will play a role in advocating and mobilising the resources and needs of participants when working", he said on Friday.

According to Ibra, KO MASI will also act as a facilitator and later the driving force will be the PCC together with the participants.

"This team (KO MASI in the Land of Papua) will work flexibly if needed, and does not mean it will take over the functions or work of existing NGOs", he said.

The NGOs that agreed to form KO MASI in the Land of Papua are the AIDP, the Papua Peace Network (JDP), the Papuan Village Children's Foundation (YADUPA), the Secretariat of the Papua NGO Cooperative Forum (FOKER LSM), the Land of Papua Peace and Unity of Creation Synod of the Papua Injili Christian Church (KPKC Sinode GKI), the Papuan Traditional Council (DAP), the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) Law and Human Rights Department, the Papua Tabernacle Bible Church (KINGMI) Justice and Peace Department Synod, the Jayapura Women's Legal Aid Foundation for Justice (LBH Apik) and the Tiki Papuan Women's Human Rights Network.

Then the Papua Environment Foundation (YALI), the Village Community Development Foundation (YPMD) Irja, the Papua Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Papua Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM), the Papua Independent Consultation Foundation for People's Empowerment (KIPRa), the Papuan People's Working Network (JERAT), Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua (PAHAM Papua), the Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Papua), the Papua Ordo Fratrum Minorum Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC-OFM) Papua and the Association for the Assessment and Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples (PPMA Papua).

Jubi Media, Papua Democratic (PD) Institute, Legal Aid Research and Development Institute (LP3BH), the environmental NGO Perdu, the environmental NGO Panah Papua, the Petrus Vertenten MSC Papua Association, Yasanto, LBH Papua Merauke, AVAA, LBH Kaki Abu, Belantara Papua, ELSHAM Contact Post FakFak and the Gemapala Foundation.

And Yamiko, the Timika Diocese Peace and Justice Secretariat (SKP), Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, the Rumsram Foundation, Papua Community Welfare Development Foundation (YAPKEMA), Papua Compact, the Institute for the Study of Empowerment of Women and Children of Papua (LP3A-Papua), United for the Truth (BUK) Papua, the Land of Papua Press Legal Aid Association, Papua Without Borders Medical Community and the Teratai Hati Papua Foundation (YTHP).

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Lokakarya 'Rencana Aksi NGO' Sepakati Bentuk 'KO MASI' Di Tanah Papua".]

Source: https://jubi.id/mamta/2026/lokakarya-rencana-aksi-ngo-sepakati-bentuk-ko-masi-di-tanah-papua/