Police crackdown on a peaceful protest in Jayapura – 41 protesters injured, 7 activists arrested

Student groups and the Papuan People’s Petition (PRP) organised Indonesia-wide protests on 10 and 11 May 2022 to voice their rejection of the planned formation of new provinces in West Papua, Indonesia. The PRP represents the view that the administrative partitions in West Papua have been forced on the Papuans by a small political elite in West Papua and the Central Government.

Police personnel forcefully dispersed the protest in Jayapura with water cannons and tear gas. They were also dispersing the crowd with wooden batons and rubber ammunition. Forty-one protesters were reportedly injured as they fell down after being hit by water cannons or ill-treated by police officers. Seven Papuan activists were arbitrarily arrested inside the office of the Papuan branch office of the NGO Commission of the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) shortly after the protest. They were released without charges within 24 hours.

Other protests took place in the Papuan towns of Amban in the Manokwari Regency, Wamena, Enarotali and Biak as well as in the cities Makassar in South Sulawesi Province and Manado in North Sulawesi Province. The police reportedly prevented protests from taking place in some locations. According to information received, police officers in Biak prevented protesters from attending the demonstrations. Human rights observers declared that police officers closely monitored public transportation vehicles and forced protesters living outside of Biak town to return to their villages. The protesters in the city of Makassar were reportedly attacked by pro-government civil militias. Police personnel securing the demonstration were accused of neglecting physical attacks by the government supporters against the Papuan protesters.

Thousands of protesters took part in the protests in the towns of Amban, Manado, Enarotali and Wamena. They were not restricted by the police. These are the latest of a series of protests against Jakarta’s plan to establish new autonomy regions in the Provinces Papua and Papua Barat. The first peaceful demonstrations took place in March 2022 right after the Indonesian house of representatives passed a draft law for the formation of the new provinces Anim Ha (Papua Selatan Province), Meepago (Papua Tengah Province) and Lapago (Pegunungan Tengah Province). Protests have taken place in early March,  mid-March 2022, early April 2022 and mid-April.

Dispersal of demonstration in Jayapura

Following previous announcements by student groups and the PRP, thousands of indigenous Papuans went on the streets in Jayapura on 10 May 2022 to protest against the formation of new provinces. Prior to the demonstration, the Jayapura Municipality police chief, Commissioner Gustav R. Urbinas, had announced his men would disperse the demonstration claiming that the notification letter for the protest submitted to the police did not meet formal requirements for the registration of a public protest.

The Jayapura-based human rights organisation Papuan Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (Elsham Papua) monitored the protests on the ground. The director of ELSHAM Papua, Rev Matheus Adadikam, assessed that the security personnel used unnecessary and excessive force against protesters during the crowd control operation in Jayapura.

Protesters began gathering at Ekspo Waena, Jayapura City, around 8.00 am. At 10.00 am, the joint security forces urged the protesters to disperse and return home. As the protesters refused to do so, security personnel dispersed the crowd with water cannons and teargas and rubber ammunition. The officers were chasing protesters with shields and wooden batons (see videos below). At least 41 protesters were injured. They fell down as the water cannons were aimed at the crowd or were hit by police officers with batons (see table below). According to media information, 1,181 joint police and military personnel participated in the crowd control operation.

Arbitrary arrest and detention of seven activists

Shortly after the crowd was dispersed, police officers arrested seven Papuan political activists (see table below) inside the KontraS Papua office in Padang Bulan, Jayapura City. All had previously participated in the demonstration and came to the KontraS Papua office to take a rest.  The police officers entered the office without showing an arrest or search warrant. They seized computers, mobile phones and other belongings, all of which were owned by KontraS.

Subsequently, police officers brought the activists to the Jayapura Municipality police headquarters where they were interrogated. A team of lawyers was allowed to provide legal support to the suspects. All suspects were released within 24 hours after the police could not present sufficient evidence for prosecution under the Indonesian Electronic Information and Transaction Act (UU ITE). The police officers reportedly questioned the activists about posts they had published on their social media accounts.

Human rights observers understood the arrests as an attempt to criminalise the seven Papuan activists for their political views. All of them are affiliated with civil resistance movements promoting the right to self-determination for West Papua through non-violent action.

Tables with protesters injured and arrested during a peaceful protest in Jayapura on 10 May 2022

No	Name	Gender	Affiliation	Injuries sustained
1	Salmon Gobai	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on the left hand
2	Natalis Dogomo	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on the left shoulder
3	Feri Mote	Male	Yapis University Student	Injury on the thumb of his right hand
4	Selpianus Dogopia	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on the right shoulder
5	Jhon Fredy Tebai	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on the right hand
6	Eliaser Auwe	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Injury on the thumb of his left hand
7	Daniel Waine	Male	Technical University student	Bruises on his left hand
8	Tomas Yohanes	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on the back
9	Yabet Degei	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Injury on the thumb of his right hand
10	Selpianus Tekege	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on the right hand
11	Oktopianus Mote	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Injury on the index finger of his right hand
12	Riko Pekey	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Head injury
13	Alfin Meage	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Bleeding nose after the officer punched his face
14	Hosana Peyon	Female	Cenderawasih University student	Bruises on both knees
15	Bong O Wenda	Female	N/A	Bruised knee
16	Meki Naibyal	Male	N/A	Bruised knee
17	Falen Gobay	Male	N/A	Injury on the foot
18	Hosea Yeimo	Male	West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Chairman	Head injury
19	Ricko Pigai	Male	N/A	Head injury
20	Otofret Nawipa	Male	Cenderawasih University student	Fainted, sustained bruises on the chest after an officer kicked him with combat boots, Bruised arm after an officer hit him with a wooden baton
21	Bertinus Kobak	Male	N/A	Bruises on the foot after an officer kicked him with combat boots
22	Kanip Kobak	Male	N/A	Bruised knee
23	Esman Keroman	Male	N/A	Bruised arm
24	Thia M. Felle	Male	N/A	Bruises on the chest after an officer punched him; bruises on the stomach after being hit by a tear gas container
25	Anike Mohi	Female	N/A	Bruises on both knees
26	Aatias Bob Kwambu	Male	N/A	Bruises on the heel
27	Ricky Lepi	Male	N/A	Head injury
28	Eno Uspyal	Male	N/A	Bruised hand
29	Abrani Salawa	Male	N/A	Bruised knee
30	Kelubur Tabo	Male	N/A	Bruised foot
31	Rio P. Tulyanuk	Male	N/A	Bruised knee
32	Irfando Miotti	Male	N/A	Bruises on the foot and back after a police officer hit him with a wooden baton
33	Lius Boi	Male	N/A	Injury on the hand
34	Lover Magai	Male	N/A	Head injury
35	Arkilaus Loko	Male	N/A	Several fingers injured
36	Mince Enumbi	Female	N/A	Bruises on the back near the spine
37	Elek Tepmul	Male	N/A	Head injury
38	Utina Pase	Female	N/A	Bruises on the leg and back after police officer hit him with a wooden baton
39	Nopi Pahabol	Male	N/A	Bruised back after a police officer hit him with a wooden baton
40	Bertus Bagau	Male	N/A	Bruised leg after police officer hit him with a wooden baton
41	Nain Wahla	Male	N/A	Bruised arm after police officer hit him with a wooden baton

No	Name	Affiliation	Time of release
1	Jefri Wenda	Spokesperson of the Papuan People’s Petition (PRP)	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 5.00 pm
2	Omikson Balingga	Diplomatic coordinator of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 5.00 pm
3	Ones Suhuniap	Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 5.00 pm
4	Bintang Boma	KNPB member	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 3.10 am
5	Iman Kogoya	KNPB member	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 3.10 am
6	Marthen Manggaprouw	Member of the West Papua National Authority (WPNA)	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 3.10 am
7	Esther Haluk	Papuan People’s Movement for Democracy (Garda Papua)	Was released on 11 May 2022 at 3.10 am

Videos and images of crowd control operation in Jayapura, 10 May 2022

Images of protesters injured as a result of forceful dispersal of demonstration in Jayapura on 10 May 2022

Videos and Photos of protests against the formation of new provinces in West Papua

Photos of seven Papuan activists during police detention at the Jayapura Municipality Police Headquarters

Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Jayapura
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Kota Jayapura
total number of victims: 48
period of incident: 10.05.2022
perpetrator: police, other security forces
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, torture, arbitrary detention, human rights defenders, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, indigenous peoples
Sources: Jubi, ELSHAM
Further HRM News:

Number	Name, Details	Gender	Age	Group Affiliation	Violations
1	Salmon Gobai, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Natalis Dogomo, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Feri Mote, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Selpianus Dogopia, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Jhon Fredy Tebai, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Eliaser Auwe, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Daniel Waine, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Tomas Yohanes, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Yabet Degei, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Selpianus Tekege, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Oktopianus Mote, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Riko Pekey, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Alfin Meage, student	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Hosana Peyon, student	female	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Bong O, Wenda	female	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Meki Naibyal	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Falen Gobay	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Hosea Yeimo, KNPB member	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Ricko Pigai	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Otofret Nawipa	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Bertinus Kobak	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Kanip Kobak	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Esman Keroman	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Thia M. Felle	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Anike Mohi	female	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Aatias Bob Kwambu	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Ricky Lepi	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Eno Uspyal	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Abrani Salawa	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Kelubur Tabo	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Rio P. Tulyanuk	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Irfando Miotti	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Lius Boi	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Lover Magai	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Arkilus Loko	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Mince Enumbi	female	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Elek Tepmul	male	unknown	activists	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Utina Pase	female	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Nopi Pahabol	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Bertus Bagau	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Nain Wahla	male	unknown	activist	torture, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Jefri Wenda, Papuan Peoples’s Petition (PRP) spokesperson	male	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Omikson Balingga, KNPB coordinator	male	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Ones Suhunia, KNPB spokesperson	male	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Bintang Boma, KNPB member	male	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Iman Kogoya, KNPB member	male	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Marthen Manggaprouw, West Papua National Authority (WPNA) member	male	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
1	Esther Haluk, Papuan People’s Movement for Democracy (Garda Papua)	female	unknown	activist	arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly
hundreds	unknown	unknown	unknown	activist	freedom of expression, freedom of assembly