Mrs Lamberti Faan, a Papuan human rights defender and internally displaced woman from the Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province, and her relatives have been subjected to a series of intimidations following her testimony at the 56th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 21 June 2024. The statement brought attention to the condition of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Maybrat Regency. Since delivering her statement, Mrs Faan and her family have experienced harassment and threats, creating a climate of fear and insecurity. This intimidation includes constant surveillance, direct threats, and attempts to gather personal information, affecting not only Mrs Faan but also her relatives in Sorong and Maybrat.
The intimidation began on 25 June 2024, when the Maybrat Police Chief contacted Mrs Faan’s brother, asking about her whereabouts. The following day, Mrs Faan’s sister received a similar call from the Maybrat military chief (Dandim), inquiring about Mrs Faan’s location. On 27 June 2024, an individual suspected to be an intelligence officer contacted Mrs Faan’s sister, seeking personal information about her, including her full name, nickname, religion, occupation, and residence. This surveillance pattern continued as, on 1 July 2024, Mrs Lamberti Faan noticed a familiar police officer from Maybrat on her flight, indicating she was being closely monitored.
The threats escalated in early July 2024, after Maybrat government officials took notice of the statement at the UNHRC. On 3 July 2024, Mrs Faan was advised by a friend to move away from Maybrat to a safe place for a month. Meanwhile, Mrs Faan’s relatives in Sorong and Maybrat reported visits from unknown individuals and ministry officials, attempting to gather information about her family under the pretext of offering housing and scholarships. On 5 July 2024, an intelligence officer contacted Mrs Faan’s sister again, asking detailed questions about her and her family. This was followed by an unknown man visiting Mrs Faan’s house in Sorong on 7 July 2024, under the guise of searching for vegetables.
The harassment reached a peak with multiple incidents in mid-July. On 13 July 2024, Mrs Faan’s sister received another call from an intelligence officer asking to meet and inquire about her children. On 15 July 2024, a close relative reported being approached by two men at a restaurant in the town of Kumurkek, who showed a video of Mrs Lamberti Faan’s UN statement while asking questions about her. On 16 July 2024, drones were spotted flying around Mrs Faan’s house in Sorong. on 17 July 2024, a vendor parked his vehicle suspiciously outside her house for an extended period, adding to the family’s distress.
In response to these events, Mrs Lamberti Faan and her children have relocated to a different town for safety. Despite the ongoing threats, she remains committed to her advocacy work and calls for the protection of human rights defenders. Mrs Faan urged international bodies and local authorities to investigate the acts of intimidation and ensure the safety of her and her family. The continuous harassment underscores the urgent need for greater protection for those speaking out against human rights abuses in West Papua.
Mrs Lamberti Faan, speaking during the 56th regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Maybrat (-1.3363649038936447, 132.1814478798144
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Barat Daya Province, Maybrat Regency
total number of victims: one
period of incident: 25.06.2024 – 17.07.2024
perpetrator: police, other
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples
Sources:
Further HRM News:
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Lamberti Faan | female | unknown | indigenous, activist | freedom of expression, intimidation |
