Papuan female activist Michelle Kurisi Doga became a victim of murder by West Papuan Separatists. The body of Michelle Kurisi Doga was found injured in Kolawa District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Pengunungan Province, West Papua, Indonesia, on August 31 2023. Indonesian police found that there were wounds caused by sharp weapons on the body of the Papuan female activist. Before the discovery of the body, a video circulated from West Papuan Separatists claiming to have killed the female activist.

Who is Michelle Kurisi Doga?

Michelle Kurisi Doga is 31 years old. Michelle studied at the London School of Public Relations (LSPR) Jakarta, Indonesia.

Michelle Kurisi is an activist who focuses her struggle on the rights of women, children and refugees from the armed conflict in the Papua region. He is known as a brave figure who dares to speak on behalf of the Papuan people. Michelle Kurisi is an activist who often helps refugees in Nduga.

Michelle Kurisi is also known as a female figure from La Pago, a traditional region in the Papua Mountain Province. Michelle is the granddaughter of the Chief of the Silo Tribe, a community leader in Jayawijaya, Papua Mountain Province. Silo, whose full name is Silo Sukarno Doga, is the head of a large tribe in the Central Mountains region, Jayawijaya Regency, as reported on the Indonesian National Army website. Silo and other tribal chiefs stated that Papua joined Indonesian territory during the 1969 Popular Opinion Determination (Pepera).

Michelle Kurisi Is Not Part of Intelligence

West Papuan Separatists killed Michelle Kurisi, accusing the victim of being a member of Indonesian military intelligence who wanted to collect data about West Papuan Separatists.

West Papuan human rights activist Theo Hesegem said Michelle’s activities had nothing to do with intelligence activities. According to Theo, Michelle is a native Papuan who cares about the social situation and conditions of the people in Nduga.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Army security authorities and the Indonesian Police, said Theo, denied that Michelle was part of an intelligence mission.

Indonesian Army Major General Izak Pangemanan revealed that Papuan female activist Michelle Kurisi was registering refugees in Nduga before being killed by West Papuan Separatists. Izak revealed that it was not yet known who the victim worked for. He deeply regrets that West Papuan Separatists killed a humanitarian activist who cared about refugees. “It is very unfortunate that the shooting case that killed Michele Kurisi Doga is because the victim was a humanitarian activist,” said Izak.