Jayapura – The Papua Law Enforcement and Human Rights Coalition (KPHHP) is urged the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, to immediately order the National Police Chief (Kapolri) to thoroughly investigate the Molotov cocktail attack on the Papua Representative Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Jayapura, Papua, as well as previous acts of terror targeting the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), the Jubi editorial office and journalist Victor Mambor.
The call was issued by KPHHP in press release number 021/SP-KPHHP/IX/2026 dated September 9, 2026.
The Coalition believes the Molotov cocktail attack on the Komnas HAM Papua office on Wednesday September 9 was a serious act that threatens the safety of human rights workers and the state institution responsible for monitoring, investigating and mediating cases of human rights violation in Papua.
Frits Ramandey, the head of Komnas HAM's Papua representatives office, stated earlier that the incident occurred around 10.15 local time while activities in and around the office were still underway.
"Earlier, around 10.15 local time, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the Komnas HAM Papua office by an individual who immediately fled the scene", said Ramandey.
According to Ramandey, a bottle filled with gasoline with a fuse was thrown toward several motorcycles parked in the office courtyard.
"From our observations, the bomb was deliberately thrown at the motorcycles parked in front of the office with the intention of setting them on fire so the flames would spread to the office building", he said.
In response to the incident, the KPHHP stated that the police must immediately conduct a professional investigation to identify the perpetrator and the motive, as well as to determine if any other parties were involved.
The Coalition also linked the case to a series of similar incidents that had previously occurred within the jurisdiction of the Jayapura Municipal Police (Polresta Jayapura). According to the Coalition, several cases involving Molotov cocktail attacks against human rights defenders and journalists have yet to see legal resolution regarding the perpetrators.
One of these was the Molotov cocktail attack on the LBH Papua office in 2022. During that incident, a motorcycle and a car parked in the LBH Papua office garage in Jayapura were set ablaze in the early hours of Monday May 9, 2022.
A similar act of terror occurred at the home of journalist Victor Mambor in 2023. That incident took place at around 4 am local time. An explosion occurred shortly after a motorcycle stopped in front of Mambor's house in the Angkasapura sub-district in North Jayapura district.
On October 16, 2024, the Jubi editorial office on Jalan SPG Taruna Waena in Jayapura city was also targeted by a Molotov cocktail bomb. Two Jubi operational vehicles reportedly sustained fire damage and the incident was reported to the Papua Regional Police (Polda).
The Coalition believes that this series of cases demonstrates the existence of a threat against human rights defenders and journalists carrying out their jobs in Papua.
"Since 2022 through to 2025, all of the Molotov cocktail terror incidents have targeted human rights defenders and journalists", stated the KPHHP.
In its press release, the Coalition also revealed that the Molotov cocktail attack on the Papua Komnas HAM office met several elements associated with the crime of terrorism, as stipulated under Law Number 5/2018.
However, classifying an event as an act of terrorism falls under the authority of law enforcement agencies, based on the results of inquiries and investigations as well as applicable legal provisions.
The coalition, which is made up of LBH Papua, the Papua Human Rights Lawyers Association (PAHAM Papua), the Democratic Alliance for Papua (ALDP), the Land of Papua Peace and Unity of Creation Synod of the Papua Injili Christian Church (KPKC Sinode Tanah Papua), the Papua Ordo Fratrum Minorum Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC OFM), the Papua Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (Elsham Papua), the Papuan Village Children's Foundation (Yadupa), the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), LBH Papua Merauke, the LBH Papua Sorong Post, the Papua Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Tong Pu Safe Space and LBH Kyadawun, asserted that the state has an obligation to provide a sense of security and protection to everyone, including human rights defenders and journalists.
The coalition cited Article 30 of Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights, which stipulates the right of every person to a sense of security and peace of mind, as well as protection against threats or intimidation over whether or not to take a specific action.
Furthermore, the Coalition referred to Article 17 of Law Number 39/1999, which guarantees the right of every person, without discrimination, to obtain justice through free and impartial legal proceedings.
On this basis, the KPHHP conveyed four demands to the government and law enforcement agencies.
First, asking the President of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately order the National Police Chief to lead law enforcement efforts regarding the Molotov cocktail attacks targeting human rights workers, journalists and the Komnas HAM Papua representative office.
Second, it asked the National Police Chief to immediately order the Papua Regional Police Chief to form an investigative team to thoroughly and professionally investigate the cases.
Third, it called on the Minister of Human Rights to establish a team to oversee law enforcement regarding the Molotov cocktail attacks against human rights defenders, journalists and the Komnas HAM Papua Representative office.
Fourth, it called on the national Komnas HAM chairperson to immediately coordinate with the National Police Chief and the Papua Regional Police Chief to ensure the fulfillment of the victims' right to justice.
The coalition considers the resolution of these cases crucial to ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions and to providing security guarantees for human rights defenders, journalists, and institutions that carry out human rights protection and enforcement functions in Papua.
"The State through the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia is obligated to carry out its core duties particularly regarding law enforcement, in the context of fulfilling every person's right to a sense of security and protection against threats and fear", asserted the Coalition in its press release.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Pegiat HAM dan Jurnalis Papua Diteror Bom Molotov, Koalisi Desak Kapolri Bertindak".]
