Franciscans in Papua condemned a drone blast near a church in Indonesia’s conflict-hit easternmost region, warning that escalating militarization is worsening the suffering of Indigenous civilians and deepening fear among communities already displaced by violence.
A bomb exploded on May 17 in the courtyard of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mbamogo village in Intan Jaya regency, Central Papua province, shortly after Sunday Mass, according to the Vatican’s Fides News Agency.
Four civilians identified as Indigenous Papuan Catholics were injured in the explosion while worshippers were gathered outside the church compound.
“The recent drone attack on a Catholic church in Intan Jaya has claimed civilian lives and severely traumatized the local population,” Father Alexandro Rangga, head of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Friars Minor of Indonesian Papua, told Fides.
“As Friars Minor of the Justice and Peace Commission, we express our deep concern about the increasing violence against places of worship and unarmed residents,” he said.
Eyewitnesses said the explosive device was detonated by a drone. The explosion triggered panic among residents, with hundreds of civilians reportedly fleeing into nearby forests.
The Indonesian military denied involvement in the incident, calling it a possible “provocation” aimed at creating chaos and heightening tensions between security forces and civilians. Police in Central Papua have launched an investigation.
Father Yanuarius Yance Yogi, parish priest of the local Catholic community, coordinated the evacuation of the injured and expressed concern over the safety of worshippers.
Tino Mote, president of the Catholic Youth of Central Papua, called for a transparent investigation and appealed to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to intervene “with serious peace measures.”
The attack has shaken Catholics in the Diocese of Timika, where church leaders say civilians continue to bear the brunt of the decadeslong conflict in Papua’s central highlands.
“Shootings, security operations against civilians, the deaths of children, women, students, and members of indigenous communities, as well as the recent bombings near places of worship, have not only triggered a wave of refugees but have also caused deep wounds and pain,” Rangga said.
“This situation shows that Papua is trapped in a cycle of suffering and has not yet found a path to true peace,” he added.
Rangga said the prolonged conflict has stripped many Indigenous Papuans of security and dignity.
The Franciscans also criticized the militarization of civilian communities in Papua.
“The excessive presence of armed forces in civilian areas,” Rangga said, “has so far caused trauma, fear, displacement, and new vulnerabilities for the communities.”
Conflict in Papua has intensified in recent years as fighting continues between Indonesian security forces and armed separatist groups seeking independence or greater autonomy.
More than 105,000 internally displaced persons have been recorded since the beginning of 2026, most of them Indigenous Papuans forced to flee into forests amid military operations and recurring violence.
