Arrests and torture of KNPB members in Sentani – 21 arrested and 16 tortured

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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
Location: Pasar Lama Junction
Region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Jayapura Regency, Sentani
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Jayapura Regency, Sentani
Total number of victims: 37

# Number of Victims Name, Details Gender Age Group Affiliation Violations
1. 1 Deni Esema
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
2. 1 Frangki Kogoya
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
3. 1 Imer Matuan
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
4. 1 Jack Amohoso
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
5. 1 Hason Esema
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
6. 1 Fero Walilo
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
7. 1 Yos Keroman
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
8. 1 Tius Passe
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
9. 1 Tia Felle
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
10. 1 Yongga Kogoya
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
11. 1 Nanis Tibul
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
12. 1 Pedi Malo
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
13. 1 Lukas Yaloka
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
14. 1 Hosan Peyon
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
15. 1 Tomiles Itulah
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
16. 1 Yosua Keroman
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
17. 1 Eko Passe
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
18. 1 Yan Itlay
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
19. 1 Steven Tengket
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
20. 1 Agus Passe
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
21. 1 Novis Esema
 male unknown Activist freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
22. 1 Eko Passe
 male 21 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
23. 1 Immer Matuan
 male 20 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
24. 1 Deli Kahipmabin
 male 20 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
25. 1 Emis Telenggan
 male 21 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
26. 1 Yames Well
 male 21 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
27. 1 Rulex Esema
 male 19 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
28. 1 Frangki Kogoya
 male 16 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
29. 1 Melons Bagau
 male 19 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
30. 1 Oktalen Kalakmabin
 male 18 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
31. 1 Keros Balingga
 male 18 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
32. 1 Nodi Tepmul
 male 21 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
33. 1 Erpon Heluka
 male 20 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
34. 1 Natalius Pase
 male 19 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
35. 1 Fero Mangai Walilo
 male 17 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
36. 1 Tia Felle
 male 18 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
37. 1 Hosan Peyon
 male 21 Activist freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
Period of incident: 12/08/2023 – 15/08/2023
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police

Perpetrator details: unknown

Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples, women and children