Jayapura, Jubi – Dozens of young Papuans affiliated with Papuan Generation Z (Gen Z Papua) staged a Red-Cross march on Sunday (June 21, 2026), expressing their opposition to National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, as well as several other issues affecting Papua.

The participants gathered at Red Bridge in Jayapura at around 4:00 p.m. Papua Time. The march route passed through Tasangkapura, Polimak, Taman Imbi, Dok II, and ended in Dok V, North Jayapura District.

Participants carried a number of handwritten posters highlighting various issues in Papua, along with approximately 35 red crosses.

Among the messages displayed on the posters were: “Papuan Gen Z Rejects PSN in Merauke, Papua Is Not Empty Land,” “Papua Under Military Emergency,” “Papua Faces the Threat of Genocide,” “Reject the Biak Spaceport,” “Save Biak,” “Reject PSN,” “Save Mama Yasinta Moywend,” “Save Dandhy Laksono,” and “Papua Is Not Empty Land.”

A representative of Gen Z Papua, Aldy Hukubun, said the group was stopped by officers from the North Jayapura Sector Police (Polsek Jayapura Utara) at the Dok II traffic intersection and was prevented from continuing the march.

“The police blocked us on the grounds that it was Sunday, demonstrations were not allowed, and our action did not have a permit. This march was not intended to mobilize a large crowd. There were fewer than 60 participants,” Aldy said.

“We find it strange and confusing that World Cup victory parades involving hundreds of people are escorted by police, yet when people march to voice concerns about Papuan rights, humanitarian issues, and conditions in Papua, they are obstructed.”

According to Aldy, raising awareness about humanitarian concerns, Indigenous rights, environmental issues, National Strategic Projects in Merauke, deforestation, and other issues affecting Papua was more meaningful than the euphoria surrounding World Cup celebrations, which he said had even resulted in the loss of lives.

“Our hope is that amid the World Cup euphoria, Papua’s issues will not be forgotten. We should not lose awareness because Papua carries deep wounds that need to be voiced and brought to public attention, including the impacts of the PSN projects in Merauke on endemic wildlife habitats and Indigenous communities, opposition to the Biak spaceport project, and the military emergency situation in Papua,” he said.

Aldy explained that the Red-Cross march was intended as a symbol of opposition and concern regarding conditions in Papua, rather than a symbol of rebellion.

He said that Gen Z Papua simply wanted to convey that the situation in Papua is far from normal.

Another Gen Z Papua participant, Brush Wadi, described the Red-Cross march as an expression of collective awareness.

He said participants shared the concerns of Indigenous communities in Merauke, South Papua, who have been affected by National Strategic Projects, including the loss of customary land rights, land dispossession, and the loss of living space.

“We should not remain complacent because what is happening in Papua today is serious and threatens Papuan people. This march was simply intended to remind the public not to forget Papua’s issues amid the World Cup fever,” Wadi said.

According to Wadi, tensions briefly arose when police officers attempted to seize several posters and cloth banners carried by participants.

“The police seized some of our march materials, including cloth banners reading ‘Papua Under Military Emergency’ and ‘Reject PSN Merauke.’ The situation became tense, but we took them back and went home. Our final destination was the Papua Governor’s Office, but because we were blocked by police, we decided to end the march and return home,” he said. (*)