Jayapura: protest against formation of new provinces dispersed on 14 July 2022, four injured

The PRP submitted a formal registration letter for a peaceful protest march from Ekspo Waena to the provincial parliament on 11 July 2021. The following day, Jayapura Police Chief Mackbon publicly declared that he will not allow the protest march but would facilitate a group of PRP representatives to meet with parliament members. The PRP supporters rejected this proposal, insisting the police respect and protect the freedom of peaceful assembly and their rights as Indonesian citizens.

According to media sources, the Jayapura police chief mobilized 2,000 police officers to prevent the protest. Police officers and crowd control vehicles too were positioned in strategic locations across Jayapura City (see photos below) since 6.00 am.

Dozens of police officers dispersed a group of about 30 students at the entrance gate to the Cenderawasih University campus in Waena, Jayapura. A video of the crowd control operation (see video below) shows police officers wearing helmets and heavy gear beating the protesters with wooden batons. They pushed back the protesters into the university campus after they insisted on walking towards the parliament building in Jayapura. Four protesters were injured (see table below) as a result of police violence.

A group of PRP supporters succeeded to meet with local lawmakers in front of the Papuan provincial parliament in Jayapura City (see photos below).

NoNameAdditional information
1Wilinus Walianggen22 years, sustained a head injury as police officers beat him with a wooden baton
2Habel Rufus Fauwok sustained bruises on the hip and the right hand as police officers beat him with a wooden baton
3Ebenius Tabuni 20 years, sustained bruises on the right shoulder and the right hand as police officers beat him with a wooden baton
4Nias Asso 20 years, sustained bruises on the shoulder as police officers beat him with a wooden baton
Protesters injured during a crowd control operation at the Cenderawasih University (UNCEN) entrance gate in Waena, Jayapura, on 14 July 2022

Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Gate of Cenderawasih University Campus (-2.5805993512240555, 140.6469677482442)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Jayapura city
total number of victims: four
period of incident: 14.07.2022
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, torture, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples
Sources: https://jubi.id/tanah-papua/2022/polresta-jayapura-tak-izinkan-petisi-rakyat-papua-gelar-long-march/, https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20220714165825-12-821636/aparat-bubarkan-pedemo-petisi-rakyat-papua-di-abepura-hingga-heram
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/police-disperse-new-protests-against-formation-of-new-provinces-in-west-papua-at-least-six-protesters-injured/

NumberName, DetailsGenderAgeGroup AffiliationViolations
1Wilinus Walianggenmale22indigenous, activistill-treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1Habel Rufus Fauwokmaleunknown indigenous, activistill-treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1Ebenius Tabunimale20indigenous, activistill-treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1Nias Assomale20indigenous, activistill-treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
dozensunknown unknownunknownactivist, student freedom of expression, freedom of assembly