On 8 June 2022, Papuan and non-Papuan students in the city of Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan Province, organised a peaceful protest against the formation of new provinces in West Papua. About twenty members of the nationalist group, Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI), equipped with stones and wooden batons were waiting in front of the Papuan student dormitory at Jl. Lanto Daeng Pasewang Street, and prevented the students from leaving the dorm premises.
As the students wanted to leave the dormitory at 9:40 am, BMI members attacked them throwing stones and beating them with wooden sticks. Five students sustained injuries as a result of the violent attacks (see photos and table below). The students finally decided to read aloud their demands inside the dormitory front yard (see photos below).
According to the students, the police were present but failed to protect them against the attackers. About fifteen plain cloth officers already monitored the student dormitory since 8:30 am, while twenty police officers approached the location approximately one hour later. Moreover, the police called upon the Protesters to go back into the dormitory instead of pushing back the BMI members in order to ensure the student’s freedom to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Table with protesters injured during the attack
| No | Name | Age | Injury sustained |
| 1 | Nagen Byage | 21 | Wound on the pointing finger |
| 2 | Walfer | 22 | Cut on the lower lip, bruises |
| 3 | Andi | 24 | Bruised eye, bruised temple, and forehead |
| 4 | Eli Yaki | 21 | Bruises on the back |
| 5 | Kemy Telenggen | 21 | Wound on the thumb |
Photos of protesters injured by BMI members
Photos of protesters in front of the Papuan student dormitory
Detailed Case Data
Location: Asrama Papua
Region: Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Makassar
Total number of victims: 5
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Nagen Byage, student
male
21
Activist
freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
2.
1
Walfer, student
male
22
Activist
freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
3.
1
Andi, student
male
24
Activist
freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
4.
1
Eli Yaki, student
unknown
21
Activist
freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
5.
1
Kemy Telenggen, student
unknown
21
Activist
freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Perpetrator details: About twenty members of the nationalist group, Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI), police and police in plain clothes
Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples