Police arbitrarily detain 17 Papuan activists in Tambrauw Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province – Three remain in custody

Members of the Tambrauw District Police (Polres Tambrauw) arbitrarily arrested and detained 19 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in the Village of Sarwom (Syarwom), Bamusbama District, on 9 June 2023. The police reportedly charged Mr Urbanus Kamat, Mr Willem Yekwam, and Mr Yermias Yesnath with Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on treason. The Article carries a maximum punishment of 20 years imprisonment. The KNPB is a political civil resistance movement promoting the right to self-determination through peaceful action. Their members and supporters are frequently subjected to arbitrary arrest, intimidation, and criminalisation by the Papuan police.

According to information received, the local KNPB branch carried out a worship ceremony following the elections of the new local KNPB board. Around 4.14 pm, joint police and military members arrived with six police trucks at the KNPB office and dispersed the peaceful assembly with warning shots. The security forces searched the office and seized gardening tools, traditional weapons, clothes with political emblems, and documents. Nineteen KNPB supporters were arrested (see videos below) and temporarily detained at the Tambrauw police headquarters. Sixteen were released after signing statements that they would no longer engage in any action against the Indonesian unitary state (NKRI) ideology. The police officers carried out the arrests without providing warrants.

Human rights groups represent the view that the arrests constitute a violation of the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression as protected under international human rights law and the Indonesian constitution.

Table of nine KNPB members arrested on 9 June 2023

No	Name	Additional information
1	Urbanus Kamat	General Secretary of the KNPB branch in Maybrat Regency remains in custody
2	Niko Yekwan	KNPB supporter
3	Willem Yekwan	KNPB supporter remains in custody
4	Daud Yanggrem	KNPB supporter
5	Ruben Yekwan	KNPB supporter
6	Simson Yesnath	KNPB supporter
7	Wenan Yeblo	KNPB supporter
8	Keliopas Yesnath	KNPB supporter
9	Yermias Yesnath	KNPB supporter remains in custody
10	Sepi Syufi	KNPB supporter
11	Yakop Bame	KNPB supporter
12	Apolos Akmuri	KNPB supporter
13	Bernad Aifamas	KNPB supporter
14	Paulus Sasior	KNPB supporter
15	Paulus Syufi	KNPB supporter
16	Lamber Akmori	KNPB supporter
17	Lusiana Syufi	KNPB supporter

Videos: Arrested KNPB members being brought to Tanmbaruw District Police headquarters

Mr Urbanus Kamat, Mr Willem Yekwam, and Mr Yermias Yesnath have been charged with treason and remain in detention

Photos of the security force raid at that KNPB office in the Village of Sarwom

Detailed Case Data
name of the location: POLRES Tambrauw (-0.7551388225971898, 132.56585100481618)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Barat Daya Province, Tambrauw Regency, Bamusbama District
total number of victims: 17
period of incident: 09.06.2023
perpetrator: police, other security forces
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, indigenous peoples, arbitrary detention, arbitrary arrest
Sources:
Further HRM News:

Number	Name, Details	Gender	Age	Group Affiliation	Violation
1	Urbanus Kamat, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Niko Yekwan, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Willem Yekwan, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Daud Yanggrem, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Ruben Yekwan, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Simon Yesyan, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Wenan Yeblo, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Keliopas Yesnath, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Yermias Yesnath, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Sepi Syufi, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Yakop Bame, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Apolos Akmuri, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Bernad Aifas, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Paulus Sasior, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Paulus Syufi, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Lamber Akmori, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
1	Lusiana Syufi, KNPB	male	unknown	activist	freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention