LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA NUMBER 2 YEAR 2021 ON SECOND AMENDMENT TO LAW NUMBER 21 YEAR 2001 ON SPECIAL AUTONOMY FOR PAPUA PROVINCE BY THE GRACE OF …
On 18 January 2023, joint security forces carried out raids in the Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Province, and arrested Mr Aberham Fatem in the Aisa Village.
On 22 January 2023, police officers arbitrarily arrested thirteen activists of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at the old market in Sentani, Jayapura Regency.
A police officer shot dead Mr Yulianus Tebai near Tugomani, a village near the border between the regencies Nabire and Dogiyai, Papua Tengah Province, on 21 January 2023.
Unknown perpetrators have placed a bomb directly in front of a house in Jayapura, Papua Province, owned by Papuan journalist Mr Victor Mambor on 23 January 2023.
Two separate trials against six Indonesian army members responsible for killing of four indigenous Papuans in the town of Timika, Papua Tengah Province, on 22 August 2022 continue
The trial against human rights activist and international spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Mr Victor Yeimo, was continued on 12 January 2023.
On 9 November 2022, Indonesia was reviewed for a fourth time by the UN Human Rights Council’s (HRC) Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a review in which the members of the Human Rights Council discuss the overall human rights situation in Indonesia, including in West Papua. During the three hours session in Geneva, Indonesia presented its human rights record from the state’s perspective after it had submitted its national report for this review.
The arrest of Papuan Governor, Lukas Enembe, on 10 January 2023 was accompanied by civil unrest in Jayapura, Papua Province. Police officers dispersed the crowd with firearms and teargas. One protester, Mr Ameleki Enumbi, was shot dead. Nine others were reportedly injured.
As of December 2022, the government of Indonesia ignores the presence of more than 60,000 estimated internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the regencies Nduga, Puncak, Intan Jaya, Maybrat, Pegunungan Bintang and Yahukimo
A police officer and his son were caught on surveillance camera beating up multiple J&T employees in the town of Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, on 8 December 2022. The officer’s son beat at least four employees inside the J&T Express Office. The officer also punched one of the employees who defended himself against the attack and intimidated them with death threats.
The Indonesian office of the environmental organisation Greenpeace together with the Institute for Development and Finance (INDEF), launched a new report on deforestation in West Papua.
Police officers arrested two protesters participating in peaceful commemorations of the 1st of December in Sorong, Papua Barat Province. The protesters had raised Morning Star Flags in public places. The police had increased its presence across Sorong since the early morning hours of 1 December 2022. Police officers arrested two protesters with the initials NY and MI in front of the Ramayana Mall, Klademak 3, where the Papuan Peoples’ Petition (PRP) had organised the peaceful assembly. They dispersed the crowd of about 100 people with teargas after one protester raised a Morning Star Flag.
On 19 December 2022, officers of the Tolikaras District Police opened fire at a group of people who were allegedly trying to attack the police headquarters in Ampera, Karubaga town, Tolkara regency. Four people were wounded and one them died due to the bullet wound.
Eight Papuan activists of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the solidarity groups Indonesian Peoples Front for West Papuan (FRI WP) as well as Liga of Indonesian Students for Democracy (LMID) were arrested near the Jatiland Mall in the city of Ternate on 1 December 2022. Police officers brought Jack (FRI-WP), Hengky (AMP), Dino (AMP), Susan (AMP), Malo (LMID), Kama (LMID), Rino, and Gelombang to the Ternate District Police headquarters for interrogation. All protesters were released without charges at 12:00 am. Police officers reportedly forced the protesters to sign a statement according to which they would refrain from commemorating the 1 December again.
Police officers arbitrarily arrested and tortured two Papuan university students with the initials DT and ET at the Samabusa Harbour in Nabire on 17 December 2022. The police claimed that DT and ET carried illegal firearms. DT and ET were reportedly tortured inside the police car on the way from the harbour to the Nabire District Police Headquarters and again during interrogation at the station.
Police officers arrested ten protesters participating in peaceful commemorations of the 1st December in the cities Sorong, Papua Barat Province, and Ternate, Maluku Utara Province.
The police in Wamena tried to prevent a demonstration commemorating Human Rights Day already in the planning stage. On 8 December 2022, police officers in multiple locations arrested 23 members of the West Papua National Coalition (KNPB), a movement organisation promoting the right to self-determination through peaceful action. They were distributing leaflets for the commemoration of Human Rights Day. The activists were shortly detained and interrogated at the Jayawijaya District Police Station.
On 10 December 2022, protesters in Jayapura gathered in multiple locations, namely at the Abepura roundabout, Jayapura University for Science and Technology (USTJ), Expo Waena, and the Cenderawasih University campuses in Abepura and Waena. The police reportedly dispersed the protests with teargas, water cannons, and warning shots. The arrests occurred early in the morning as the activists prepared for the peaceful protest. Dozens of police officers blocked university campuses at UNCEN and USTJ, preventing the protesters from walking to the main road. Nine protesters, namely, Mr Enggel Ap You, Nando Boma, Okto Mote, Yoten Mirin, Hendrik Muyapa, Yabet Degei, Olison Package, and X Dogomo sustained injuries as a result of police violence as officers dispersed the crowd.
After already trying to prevent commemorations from taking place by arresting 23 activists on 10 December 2022, the police arrested again 30 KNPB activists on 10. They were intercepted in three locations in Wamena, namely in Pikhe, Sinakma, and Potikelek, all close to each other. The police arrested the activists around 8.00 am as they were preparing banners at the assembly points.
