On 12 August 2023, Police officers arrested 21 KNPB activists at the junction near Pasar Lama in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. The arrests occurred around 10:30 AM while the KNPB activists distributed leaflets inviting participation to a peaceful demonstration on 15 August 2023. All activists were later released after being interrogated by the police.
KNPB spokesperson Ones Suhuniap stated that the activists were distributing the leaflets to commemorate the 1962 New York Agreement and acts of racism experienced by Papuan students in Surabaya, Jawa Timur Province, in August 2019. The activists called upon the United Nations to review the New York Agreement, which regulated the transfer of the former Netherlands New Guinea from the Netherlands to Indonesia.
On 15 August 2023, police officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of the New York Agreement in the town of Sentani. Sixteen protesters were reportedly injured due to police violence. A video recorded during the protest shows fully armed police officers pushing back the crowd while a police truck shoots with water cannons into the crowd. According to information received, the officers beat protesters using shields, rubber batons, and rattan sticks. The sixteen injured activists, aged between 17 and 23 years, suffered severe head injuries, with some bleeding heavily. Mr Eko Passe had to be admitted to the Public Hospital in Doyo Baru, Sentani after the wound on his head did not stop bleeding.
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Pasar Lama Junction (-2.564711150001487, 140.5053373955395)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Jayapura Regency, Sentani
total number of victims: 21
period of incident: 12.08.2023-15.08.2023
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples, arbitrary arrest, torture
Sources:
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/series-of-arrests-of-knpb-members-in-jayapura-and-yahukimo-37-activists-arrested-16-tortured/
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Deni Esema | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Frangki Kogoya | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Imer Matuan | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Jack Amohoso | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Hason Esema | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Fero Walilo | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Yos Keroman | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Tius Passe | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Tia Felle | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Yongga Kogoya | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Nanis Tibul | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Pedi Malo | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Lukas Yaloka | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Hosan Peyon | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Tomiles Itulah | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Yosua Keroman | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Eko Passe | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Yan Itlay | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Steven Tengket | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Agus Passe | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Novis Esema | male | unknown | activist | freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention |
| 1 | Eko Passe | male | 21 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Immer Matuan | male | 20 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Deli Kahipmabin | male | 20 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Emis Telenggan | male | 21 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Yames Well | male | 21 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Rulex Esema | male | 19 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Frangki Kogoya | male | 16 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment, |
| 1 | Melons Bagau | male | 19 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Oktalen Kalakmabin | male | 18 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Keros Balingga | male | 18 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Nodi Tepmul | male | 21 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Erpon Heluka | male | 20 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment, |
| 1 | Natalius Pase | male | 19 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Fero Mangai Walilo | male | 17 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Tia Felle | male | 18 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
| 1 | Hosan Peyon | male | 21 | activist | freedom of assembly, ill-treatment |
