# New police raids in Maybrat Regency in October 2022 – at least nine villagers arrested **Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org) **Document ID:** HRM-CAS-093-2022 **Document Type:** Case **Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/new-police-raids-in-maybrat-regency-in-october-2022-at-least-nine-villagers-arrested/ **Issues:** security force violence | indigenous peoples | women and children **Publication Date:** November 30, 2022 **Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua ## Summary On 14 October 2022, police officers arbitrarily arrested at least nine villagers in the districts Aifat, Aigat Timur Tengah, and Aifat Selatan. of Maybrat Regency. Some sources claim that the number of arrestees reached 24, including women, elderly persons, and children. All arrestees were detained at the Sorong Selatan Police headquarters. ## Detailed Case Narrative Human rights defenders documented the arbitrary arrest of at least nine villagers in the Maybrat regency, where the police carried out raids (see photo on top, source: independent HRDs) in the districts Aifat, Aigat Timur Tengah, and Aifat Selatan on 14 October 2022. While the number of arrests varies among sources, the Papuan Association of Human Rights Lawyers (PAHAM Papua) confirmed that most arrestees were released within 24 hours, while 14-year-old Manfret Ky, Mr Yanwaris Sewa, and Mr Jefry Aifat remained in custody. Some sources claim that the number of arrestees reached 24, including women, elderly persons, and children. All arrestees were detained at the Sorong Selatan Police headquarters. The spokesperson of the Papua Barat Regional Police, Officer Adam Erwindi, confirmed the arrest of only two persons, namely Mr Yanwaris Sewa and Mr Jefry Aifat. Mr Sewa is accused of being involved in an [armed attack against a military post in Kisor](https://humanrightspapua.org/news/2021/indigenous-peoples-flee-their-homes-in-fear-of-military-raids-in-maybrat-regency-papua-barat-province/) on 2 September 20221, which resulted in the deaths of four military personnel. Mr Yanwaris Sewa’s name was on a police search list, while Jefry Aifat was taken into custody because he allegedly resisted police officers during the arrest. It must be assumed that the police will continue to carry out raids in the Maybrat regency as the police are searching for ten more suspects in reaction to the armed attack. Following the incident, the [police compiled a list of 21 suspects](https://humanrightspapua.org/news/2021/human-rights-coalition-publishes-report-about-situation-of-idps-in-maybrat-at-least-2-086-internally-displaced/), mainly consisting of members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a movement organisation promoting the right to self-determination through peaceful means. As of late November 2022, the police arrested eleven suspects concerning the attack on the military post, [said officer Erwindi](https://www.republika.co.id/berita/rjuhsj436/polda-papua-barat-tangkap-satu-dpo-maybrat) during a media interview. Human rights organisations have widely criticised the trials against ten suspects concerning the case. A series of breaches, in[cluding torture, obstruction of lawyers, and other violations of the right to a fair trial, characterised the law enforcement process against them](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/whats-wrong-with-the-indonesian-justice-system-trials-in-maybrat-provide-an-insight/). Seven suspects, including at least one minor, have received long-term imprisonment sentences between eight and twenty years. Three other defendants are currently standing trial at the Sorong District Court. One of them, [Mr Abraham Mate, died on 2 November during detention at the correctional facility in Sorong](https://jubi.id/polhukam/2022/abraham-mate-terdakwa-penyerangan-pos-ramil-kisor-maybrat-meninggal-dunia-usai-sidang/) City, Papua Barat Province. The trial against him was still ongoing (see images below, source: [Jubi](https://jubi.id/polhukam/2022/abraham-mate-terdakwa-kasus-kisor-dimakamkan-di-kota-sorong/) and [Suara Papua](https://suarapapua.com/2022/11/18/abraham-mate-setelah-ditangkap-hingga-meninggal-dunia-di-lapas-sorong/)). The cause of his death remains unclear. According to relatives, Abraham Mate was not in Kisor Village at the time of the incident. ### ***Table of villagers arrested during a police raid in the Maybrat Regency on 14 October 2022*** **No** **Name** **Location of arrest** **Age** **Additional info** 1 Yanwaris Sewa**** Susumuk Village, Aifat District 29 years Police suspect for alleged involvement in the attack on Kisor military post in September 2021 2 Jonathan Assem Faan Kahrio Village, Aifat Timur Tengah Distict 40 years Employees of logging company PT Bangun Kayu Irian (BKI) 3 Gerardus Faan**** Faan Kahrio Village, Aifat Timur Tengah Distict 40 years Employees of logging company PT Bangun Kayu Irian (BKI) 4 Leonardus Kamat**** Faan Kahrio Village, Aifat Timur Tengah Distict 56 years Employees of logging company PT Bangun Kayu Irian (BKI) 5 Simon Kamat Faan Kahrio Village, Aifat Timur Tengah Distict 39 years Employees of logging company PT Bangun Kayu Irian (BKI) 6 Jefry Aifat Kisor Village, Aifat Selatan District 34 years Kisor villager 7 Zadrak Ayah Kisor Village, Aifat Selatan District 40 years Kisor Villager 8 Karel Saa Kisor Village, Aifat Selatan District 50 years Kisor villager 9 Manfret Ky Kisor Village, Aifat Selatan District 14 years Kisor villager ### ## Incident Period & Location - **Start Date:** October 14, 2022 - **End Date:** October 14, 2022 - **Period Type:** Single Day - **Reference Date:** October 14, 2022 (used for chronological ordering) - **Location:** - Polres Sorong Selatan - **Geographic Coordinates (WGS84):** -1.4460378750808, 132.02171169799 - **Google Maps:** https://maps.google.com/?q=-1.4460378750808,132.02171169799 - **Administrative Regions:** - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Papua Barat Province (Province) > South Sorong (Regency) - **Region 2:** Indonesia (Country) > Southwest Papua (Province) > South Sorong (Regency) ## Victims **Total number of victims:** 9 | Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations | |-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------| | 1 person | Yanwaris Sewa | 29 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Jonathan Assem | 40 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Gerardus Faan | 40 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Leonardus Kamat | 56 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Simon Kamat | 39 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Jefry Aifat | 34 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Zadrak Ayah | 40 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Karel Saa | 50 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | | 1 person | Manfret Ky | 14 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention | ## Perpetrators **Perpetrator Category Paths:** - **Category 1:** Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police - **Perpetrator Description:** unknown