On 6 December 2025, Jayapura Resort Police (Polres Jayapura) officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful assembly organised by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)at the BTN Matoa Field, Sentani, Jayapura Regency. During the crackdown, officers intimidated and arbitrarily arrested six participants. Twelve activists were subjected to ill-treatment during the incident. The assembly was held to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and to distribute leaflets for a peaceful action for World Human Rights Day on 10 December 2025.
Between 08:20 am and 09:50 am, KNPB members and supporters arrived at BTN Matoa Field from various parts of Sentani to attend the ULMWP anniversary commemorations. At approximately 11:00 am, police officers approached the location. Some KNPB representatives attempted to engage in dialogue and clarify the nature of the activity.
Despite the attempt to de-escalate the situation, police personnel allegedly launched an indiscriminate assault, using rubber batons, bamboo sticks, rattan canes, boots, and physical force. Participants were beaten at the scene, including women and young adults. At least six individuals were forcibly arrested, while others fled the area in fear. By 11:2o pm, the police had transported the detainees and two confiscated motorcycles to the Jayapura District Police Station (Polres Jayapura) in Doyo Baru, Sentani. Victims reported that beatings continued during transport and that no access to legal counsel or medical assistance was provided while in custody.
The six detainees were released the following day, on 7 December 2025, due to public pressure from civil society organisations, churches, and human rights defenders. The police neither pressed criminal charges against the detainees nor did they present arrest warrants or clear legal grounds for the deprivation of liberty.
Human rights analysis
This incident reflects an ongoing pattern of shrinking civic and democratic space in West Papua, where peaceful political expression is routinely met with repressive policing. The conduct of the Jayapura Police raises serious concerns under international and Indonesian human rights law. The violent dispersal of a peaceful gathering constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as protected under Article 21 and Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 28E(3) of the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia.
The use of excessive and indiscriminate force against unarmed civilians, including beatings causing visible injuries, is inconsistent with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which require necessity, proportionality, and accountability. The reported assaults may also amount to ill-treatment under Article 7 ICCPR and Article 33 of Indonesia’s Human Rights Law (Law No. 39 of 1999).
Furthermore, the arbitrary arrest and short-term detention of six individuals without a clear legal basis, access to lawyers, or prompt judicial oversight violates Article 9 ICCPR and provisions of Indonesia’s Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). The confiscation of personal property without due process and the intimidation of participants further demonstrate a pattern of criminalisation of peaceful political expression in the Papuan provinces.
Table of victims
| No | Name | Age | Violation | Injuries / Treatment |
| 1 | Frengky Kogoya | N/A | Ill-treatment | Bleeding lip |
| 2 | Dortius Tengket | N/A | Ill-treatment | Bleeding lip |
| 3 | Lukas Deal | N/A | Ill-treatment | Injury to the back of the head |
| 4 | Thyna Lokon | N/A | Ill-treatment | Severe head wound with bleeding |
| 5 | Rambo Wenda | N/A | Ill-treatment | Injuries to the head and hands |
| 6 | Erson T. Kalaka | N/A | Ill-treatment | Arm injury |
| 7 | Elky Matuan | N/A | Ill-treatment | Arm injury |
| 8 | Meage Fernando Pase | 20 | Arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment | Beaten over the entire body |
| 9 | Alex Tepmul | 19 | Arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment | Injuries to the eye and body |
| 10 | Melky Pase | 18 | Arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment | Head, hand, and shoulder injuries |
| 11 | Ido Udam | 18 | Arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment | Head injuries |
| 12 | Demanus Deal | 24 | Arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment | Injuries to the forehead, temple, and wrist |
| 13 | Nesta Enambere | 17 | Arbitrary arrest |
Protesters show the injuries they sustained as a result of police violence in Sentani on 6 December 2025
Police members s entered the Matoa Field in Sentani to disperse the crowd on 6 December 2025
KNPB members and supporters gather at the Polres Jayapuraayapura to demand the immediate release of the six activists detained in Sentani on 5 December 2025
Detailed Case Data
Location: Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua, Indonesia (-2.5648168, 140.5056744) BTN Matoa Field, Sentani
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Jayapura Regency, Sentani
Total number of victims: 13
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Frengky Kogoya
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
2.
1
Dortius Tengket
male
0
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
3.
1
Lukas Deal
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
4.
1
Thyna Lokon
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
5.
1
Rambo Wenda
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
6.
1
Erson T. Kalaka
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
7.
1
Ido Udam
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
8.
1
Elky Matuan
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
9.
1
Meage Fernando Pase
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
10.
1
Alex Tepmul
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
11.
1
Melky Pase
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
12.
1
Demanus Deal
diverse
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
13.
1
Nesta Enambere
diverse
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
Perpetrator: POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polres Jayapura Officers
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence