On 13 August 2024, an incident of arbitrary arrest and intimidation against Papuan activists occurred in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. Members of the Jayapura District Police (Polres Jayapura) allegedly detained 50 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at the Doyo Baru Police Station. The incident illustrates the climate of repression in West Papua, which has particularly manifested in violations of civil and political rights in the region.
The events unfolded when KNPB activists came to the old market in Sentani to distribute leaflets. At 2:30 pm, police forces approached the activists. Following a discussion between the activists and officers, the police reportedly seized their motorcycles and forcibly brought them to the Doyo Police Station using a police truck (see photos below, source: KNPB). The detained activists were held for approximately two hours. They were released at 6:00 pm after lawyers of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) came to the police station to provide legal support.
The incident followed earlier confrontations on 12 August 2024, where police forcibly dispersed other KNPB members distributing leaflets. Police officers reportedly used excessive force against the activists resulting in injuries, including 15-year-old Meyus Wisal, who was reportedly punched in the face and sustained a bruise on the left eyebrow. The repeated suppression of peaceful political activities has sparked outrage and calls for more protection of human rights in West Papua.
The KNPB is a Papuan movement organisation promoting the right to self-determination through a referendum. Their members have committed to non-violent protest by organising peaceful demonstrations and political discussions. In the past decade, the Indonesian police have targeted the KNPB as a subversive pro-independence organisation. KNPB members and supporters are criminalised and have repeatedly become victims of police violence.
15-year-old Meyus Wisal was reportedly attacked by a police officer in Sentani on 12 August 2024
Police officers detain KNPB activists in Sentani on 12 August 2024
Police officers detain KNPB activists in Sentani on 13 August 2024
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Pasar Baru Sentani (-2.55460988847631, 140.49337536297463)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Jayapura Regency, Sentani District
total number of victims: dozens
period of incident: 13.08.2024
perpetrator: police, other security forces, judiciary
perpetrator details: Private Budi Herwanto and three other officers
Issues: freedom of expression, torture, extra-judicial killings, journalists, human rights defenders, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples
Sources:
Further HRM News:
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | indigenous | arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Meyus Wisal | male | 15 | indigenous | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
