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
Location: POLRES Tambrauw
Region: Indonesia, Southwest Papua, Tambrauw, Bamusbama
Total number of victims: 17
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Urbanus Kamat, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
2.
1
Niko Yekwan, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
3.
1
Willem Yekwan, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
4.
1
Daud Yanggrem, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
5.
1
Ruben Yekwan, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
6.
1
Simon Yesyan, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
7.
1
Wenan Yeblo, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
8.
1
Keliopas Yesnath, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
9.
1
Yermias Yesnath, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
10.
1
Sepi Syufi, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
11.
1
Yakop Bame, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
12.
1
Apolos Akmuri, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
13.
1
Bernad Aifas, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
14.
1
Paulus Sasior, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
15.
1
Paulus Syufi, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
16.
1
Lamber Akmori, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
17.
1
Lusiana Syufi, KNPB
male
unknown
Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples