On 15 August 2024, police dispersed peaceful protests in the towns of Nabire, Wamena, and Sentani, as well as in Jayapura City with force. According to information received from local human rights groups, 222 protesters were arrested, and 41 injured as police forces dispersed the crowd with batons, teargas, and rubber ammunition. Many wounded protesters sustained head injuries, indicating that the officers targeted vital body areas. The protest in Nabire triggered outbreaks of occasional ethnic violence in the Bumi Wonoreja area. Acts of horizontal violence between Papuans and non-Papuans have significantly increased over the past years, resulting in a growing potential risk for the occurrence of atrocities in West Papua.
Protesters gathered in various locations across Manokwari, from where they wanted to meet in the Makalo area. Police officers blocked the demonstration at Bukit Doa, in front of Mansinam Dormitory. The crowd was not allowed to continue walking despite providing proof of notification to the officers in charge. Despite several attempts from police officers to escalate the situation, the protest remained peaceful, with protesters holding orations and reading poems in front of the dormitory.
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Asrama Mansinam (-0.8443825422849313, 134.0672312934236)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Barat Province, Manokwari Regency, Manokwari Town
total number of victims: dozens
period of incident: 14.08.2024
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples
Sources:
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/police-crackdown-on-commemorations-for-new-york-agreement-across-west-papua-222-arrested-41-injured/
Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
dozens | unknown | unknown | unknown | indigenous | freedom of assembly |