Papua Post

  Throughout the history of global conflict, one fundamental lesson repeatedly emerges: modern wars are not won solely on the battlefield, but also in the fields that produce food. States that fail to secure their domestic food supply inevitably face social instability, extreme inflation, and heightened national security vulnerabilities. It is within this context that Indonesia’s food estate policy should be understood—not merely as an agricultural project, but as an instrument for mitigating the risks of protracted warfare and global crises. Modern Warfare and a New Weapon: Food The Russia–Ukraine war since 2022 provides a clear example of how armed conflict directly affects the global food system. FAO data indicate that prior to the war, both countries accounted for more than 28% of global wheat exports . Disruptions to production and distribution immediately triggered double-digit increases in global food prices across many developing countries. Similar dynamics can be observed ...

  The food estate program in South Papua, including initiatives involving the Ministry of Defense and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), forms part of the Indonesian government’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen national food security, expand the agricultural production base, and improve the welfare of communities in underdeveloped regions. 1. State Responsibility in Ensuring Food Security Food security is one of the fundamental pillars of national sovereignty. Indonesia, with a population exceeding 280 million people, faces significant challenges in ensuring sufficient food supplies for all its citizens. To address this, the government has designated the food estate program as a National Strategic Project (PSN) aimed at supporting the long-term objective of food self-sufficiency. The government views the diversification of food production through the development of new food hubs across various regions—including South Papua—as a means to stabilize the production of ric...

YAHUKIMO, PAPUA HIGHLANDS — Indonesia’s military said on Thursday it had recaptured key strongholds of the separatist group Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, following a security patrol that escalated into armed clashes in the early hours of the morning. The operation, carried out by the Habema Joint Task Force, targeted OPM’s Kodap XVI/Yahukimo headquarters located along Jalan Gunung in Dekai District. Military officials said the patrol was launched late Wednesday night in response to repeated armed attacks attributed to the separatist group, including shootings at aircraft, attacks on security vehicles, arson against schools, and assaults on civilians. According to the military, troops conducted a covert infiltration into two OPM bases—known as the Sisibia and Yalenang camps—before engaging an armed OPM patrol at dawn on Thursday. Several OPM fighters were reported killed in the firefight, including one figure described as a senior operative within...

Yahukimo, Highland Papua — The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) have firmly denied a claim by the armed group known as the West Papua National Liberation Army–Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), which alleged that it had shot at an aircraft purportedly carrying Indonesia’s Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, over Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua, in mid-January 2026. Government officials and security authorities stated that the allegation is unfounded and constitutes misleading propaganda. Separately, TNI forces reportedly conducted an overnight strike on an OPM command base in Yahukimo, during which firearms were seized. A spokesperson for the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command emphasized that flight plan records and official state agendas confirm the Vice President did not pass through Yahukimo on the date claimed by the armed group. The TNI further noted that the circulated videos and narratives lack verifiable location details and credible evidence, and do not align with pu...