An Indonesian Human Rights Monitor has observed West Papuans protesting on the streets across its territory against a growing militarisation and ongoing expansion of armed forces in the Papuan central highlands region.

Residents in Jayapura - the territory's largest city - and towns of Nabire, Enarotali and Sugapa were protesting the central Jakarta government's approach to settling the long-standing conflict throughout West Papua through the expansion of its military presence and operations.

The militarisation of West Papua has allegedly been accompanied by extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment of mostly Indigenous Papuan civilians, which have been caught in the crossfire between the military and West Papua National Liberation Army.

Indonesian security forces have defended its actions, suspecting many Papuans of directly being associated with the separatist movement.

According to the Human Rights Monitor, Imparsial, the central government has ignored the people's call to put an end to the military expansion across Western New Guinea.

As a former military general under Indonesia's dictator Suharto, president Prabowo Subianto has continued the path of his predecessors in pursuing a "security-based approach to end the armed conflict in West Papua through violent means".

The Forum for Communication and Aspirations of the Papuan People - comprised of members from the regional representatives' council and its national parliament - have issued urgent calls for the Indonesian government to abandon its security-based approach to the ongoing armed conflict.

The Papuan People's Assembly has also urged the Indonesian president to enter a dialogue to prevent further civilian casualties following the recent deaths to 15 innocent people.

West Papuan churches have expressed similar demands, extending to the actions of Bishop Bernardus Baru, who has initiated nine consecutive days of mass for peace, while calling for an end to armed violence on both sides and the deployment of non-organic troops to the territory.

Meanwhile United Liberation Movement for West Papua president, Benny Wenda, has called for a celebration of West Papuan unity on December 1.

It marks the date West Papuans celebrated Independence Day in 196, soon after colonisation from the Dutch ended, marking the first liberated Melanesian state.

PNG's hope for independence lasted until what Wenda called an "Indonesia's invasion" exploded during the 2019 West Papua Uprising by Indonesian soldiers.

"The situation on the ground is worse than it has been since 2019," he said in a statement from exile in London.

"Every day brings a new massacre, a new killing, a new incident of torture or rape.

"In the past three months, we have seen the murder of 15 Papuans in Intan Jaya, the relentless bombardment of the Star Mountain, the killing of children and mothers, and riots triggered by racist abuse of Papuan students in Yalimo.

"At the same time, Indonesia's war criminal President Prabowo is continuing with the destruction of the Papuan rainforest.

"The National Strategic Project in Merauke is the biggest plantation in human history: it is a planet killer."

However, there has been some form of justice for West Papuans in an Indonesian law court.

A panel of judges at the West Papuan Wamena District Court sentenced a senior Indonesian police officer to 14 years' imprisonment for his role in the fatal shooting of Tobias Silak and the serious injury of Naro Dapla in Yahukimo regency in August last year.

Chief Brigadier Muhammad Kurniawan Kudu of the Gorontalo Police mobile brigade was convicted under article 338 of the Indonesian criminal code for murder after the courts found him guilty of shooting Mr Silak, an unarmed civilian.

Second Brigadier Fernando Alexander Aufa, Chief Brigadier Ferdinand Moses Koromath, both of the Yahukimo Police, and First Inspector Jatmiko, of the Merauke Police, were sentenced to five years under article 360 of the criminal code in conjunction with article 55 over their negligence that resulted in serious injury to Mr Dapla.

Despite the convictions, the victims' families ultimately expressed dissatisfaction with the final outcome, arguing that the sentences failed to reflect the gravity of the crimes committed.

The legal team representing the families claimed Kurniawan Kudu had fired eight direct shots at the victim and not warning shots, demonstrating premeditation which should have warranted charges under article 340 of the criminal code of premeditated murder, carrying a potential death penalty or a term of life imprisonment.

"We appreciate that the panel of judges found the first primary charge under article 338 of the criminal code to be legally and convincingly proven against defendant Kurniawan Kudu," Mersi Fera Waromi, a member of the victims' legal team, said.

"However, the 14-year sentence is still not commensurate with the loss of life of the victim."

The maximum penalty under article 360 is 15 years in prison.

The families expressed particular concern the three other officers were convicted only of negligence despite their participation that resulted in one death and serious injury to a 17-year-old.

Legal counsel also noted facts revealed in the court showed the officers provided false information about a supposed shootout, suggesting it was a coordinated cover-up attempt.