Insight Papua (2025)

02/07/2025

Special Autonomy: From Criticism to Renewed Hope

Papua’s Special Autonomy (Otsus), initiated in 2001, initially faced criticism. Otsus funds were often considered non-transparent, and development was perceived as top-down, lacking the involvement of indigenous communities. Human rights issues and armed conflict also cast a shadow.

Now, Otsus is extended until 2041 with a new focus: human resource development and indigenous community participation. Affirmative action programs like the Putra-Putri Papua Berprestasi (Outstanding Papuan Sons and Daughters) provide opportunities for West Papuan youth to pursue higher education. The government is also involving local tribes in development planning discussions (Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan), while efforts for dialogue with separatist groups continue.

01/07/2025

Benny Wenda’s history is marked by controversy. On December 6, 2001, a separatist group attacked the Abepura Police Station in Jayapura, Papua. Indonesian authorities identified Benny and his brother, Matias Wenda, as key orchestrators of the attack. They allegedly mobilized around 500 Jayawijaya residents near the Papua New Guinea border. This group also carried out the massacre of six migrant woodworkers in December 2001.

In June 2002, Indonesian police arrested Benny for inciting violence and organizing secret meetings to target security forces. During his arrest, authorities confiscated several items, including multiple passports, TPNPB documents, homemade bomb-making materials, bows, and arrows. He was detained in Jayapura but managed to escape on October 29, 2002, by prying open a bathroom window. After fleeing to Papua New Guinea, he sought asylum in the United Kingdom.

30/06/2025

A quality product of Kampung Wasur is tea bags under the brand Sarang Semut. This unique name is given to the plant, which is then processed into herbal tea. This plant has another name Myrmecodia which is taken from the Greek word meaning ant’s nest. This plant is called ant nest because it is hollow and is often used as an ant nest. The habitat of ant nests is in the forests of Papua.

At first, the ant plant had little economic value because when it was still traded and herbal tea was not yet made, the price was very cheap. Ignorance of the processing of ant nests led the villagers of Wasur to immediately send them to the market in pieces. There is no filtering process, let alone drying, so it can be processed into other products that can increase its economic value.

After learning that ant nests can be processed into herbal tea, the people of Wasur village became interested and learned about processing and business methods. Ant nests abound and are considered a great boon to the Marori tribe living in Wasur village. The abundant supply of ant nests was immediately used to produce herbal tea under the brand name Sarang Semut.

28/06/2025

A research team from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has discovered seven new species of freshwater lobster in Indonesia’s West Papua region.

Their findings, the result of a biodiversity exploration carried out in collaboration with independent researchers from Germany and a Berlin-based research institute, were published on June 6, 2025, in the international Q2 journal Arthropoda Selecta.

The newly identified species are: Cherax veritas, Cherax arguni, Cherax kaimana, Cherax nigli, Cherax bomberai, Cherax farhadii, and Cherax doberai.

Their specimens were located in remote freshwater ecosystems with minimal human activity in Misool, Kaimana, Fakfak, and Bintuni Bay.

26/06/2025

Bridging the Gap: President Prabowo’s Education Initiative in Papua

Despite Indonesia’s 62 years of independence, Papua continues to lag significantly behind in educational development. Limited infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and difficult access to schools create substantial barriers to education for Papuan children. This disparity highlights decades of educational inequality between Papua and other regions of Indonesia.

President Prabowo’s campaign and policy agenda emphasize the importance of equitable education across Indonesia, particularly in underdeveloped regions like Papua. This focus aims to cultivate a globally competitive workforce and improve the quality of human resources.

The educational challenges are particularly acute in Papua’s interior, where geographical isolation, limited transportation, and inadequate educational facilities pose significant obstacles. These areas, largely inhabited by indigenous Papuan communities, rely heavily on government support for progress.

24/06/2025

One interesting fact is that the languages in Papua are not just dialects of one language, but truly different languages in terms of structure and vocabulary. These languages mostly belong to the Trans–New Guinea language family, but some do not have any linguistic kinship with each other, demonstrating a unique level of isolation and development.

There are three main factors that cause Papua to have such a large number of regional languages. First, the extremely rugged terrain of high mountains like the Jayawijaya Mountains, remote valleys like the Baliem Valley, tropical rainforests, and coastal areas. These geographical features caused many communities to live in isolation and separated from one another, so each community developed its own language without much outside influence.

23/06/2025

Papua Edelweiss Flower: A Beautiful Bloom with Plastic-like Traits

The city of Wamena in the Papua Highlands harbours a stunning natural wonder, namely a flower with a plastic-like trait. This flower is known as the ice flower or Papua edelweiss, which blooms and thrives at the heights of the Jayawijaya mountains.

Its unique beauty often makes anyone who sees it wonder about the authenticity of the flower. The petals feel stiff and shiny, resembling synthetic material made by humans.

19/06/2025

The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) carried out a terror attack at Aminggaru Airport, Ilaga District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, Wednesday (06/18/2025) morning.

The KKB fired two shots towards Aminggaru Airport.
The perpetrators of the shooting were the Omukai KKB led by Jeki Murib.

There were three KKB members from Jeki Murib's group carrying 2 long-barreled fi****ms of the M16 and AK47 types and one short firearm.

18/06/2025

Papuan children, you are all the next generation of the nation. Therefore, it is important for you to continue to be enthusiastic about learning and achieving. You are the ones who will develop Papua in the future.

17/06/2025

One of the well-known methods is Snapmor, the practice of catching fish when the sea recedes, which is carried out in mutual cooperation as a form of gratitude and respect for nature.

The Snapmor procession also marks the opening of the relaxation period, which is a certain period when the use of marine products is again permitted after the prohibition period as a form of conservation of natural resources. This tradition shows people’s concern for the balance of marine ecosystems that are a source of their livelihood.

14/06/2025

Bihewa Waterfall is a stunning natural wonder located in Makimi District, Nabire Regency, Papua. Its remote location makes the journey to this waterfall like an adventure through the wilderness. However, the beauty of this waterfall is very enchanting and can eliminate fatigue and lethargy.

Bihewa Waterfall has a height of about 40 meters and consists of seven levels. The second level is the most easily accessible and frequently visited by tourists. From here, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the trees and hear the soothing sound of the roar of the water.

Although the second level already offers comfort and beauty, the seventh level is believed to have a more beautiful view and fresher air. However, reaching the seventh level requires a struggle because you have to pass giant trees and large rocks that block the path.

The journey to Bihewa Waterfall starts from Nabire by renting a car to Makimi District, where the next journey must be continued by trekking. This journey can be difficult, especially for those who are not experienced in trekking. The road is rocky and slippery, so alertness and caution are required.

13/06/2025

In Papua, there is a centre for producing bark paintings that hold high artistic and cultural value. Its location is in Asei Besar village, in the East Sentani District.

The bark paintings from Asei Besar village have their own uniqueness, both in terms of motifs and techniques, which distinguish them from other forms of painting

many tourists and art collectors from both domestic and international locations are interested in purchasing this artwork, both as souvenirs and for their personal collections

Insight Papua