On 15 August 2024, police dispersed peaceful protests in the towns of Nabire, Wamena, and Sentani, as well as in Jayapura City with force. According to information received from local human rights groups, 222 protesters were arrested, and 41 injured as police forces dispersed the crowd with batons, teargas, and rubber ammunition. Many wounded protesters sustained head injuries, indicating that the officers targeted vital body areas. The protest in Nabire triggered outbreaks of occasional ethnic violence in the Bumi Wonoreja area. Acts of horizontal violence between Papuans and non-Papuans have significantly increased over the past years, resulting in a growing potential risk for the occurrence of atrocities in West Papua.
The protest in the town of Nabire gathered at Kali Bobo, Siriwini, Karang Market, SP I, and Jepara II. Police officers from Nabire District Police were present at all gathering points to disperse the crowd with batons, teargas, and rubber ammunition. According to information published by local media, 101 protesters were reportedly detained at the yard in front of the Nabire District Police headquarters. Police officers forced them to take off their shirts while exposed to the tropical midday sun (see photo on top, source: independent HRDs). Ninety-four protesters were reportedly released in the evening, at 11.23 PM, while seven KNPB supporters remained in custody. It is not clear if they have already been released or whether the police will press charges against them.
Police officers dispersed the crowd with stun guns, batons, teargas, sharp weapons, and rubber ammunition, firing indiscriminately into the crowd (see photo of bullet shells below, source: independent HRDs). At least eleven protesters were injured, with three of them being hospitalised. One protester sustained a stab wound as a police officer allegedly stabbed him with a knife to the head (see photos below, source: independent HRDs). Two journalists were intimidated by police officers and reportedly prevented from covering the peaceful protest.
Following the dispersal, human rights defenders documented attacks of horizontal ethnic violence against Papuan protesters by non-Papuans in Bzumi Wonoreja, Nabire. A Papuan was recorded fleeing from dozens of non-Papuans chasing after him with stones and weapons (see videos below, source: independent HRDs). The incident illustrates racial notions and horizontal tensions between indigenous Papuans and Non-Papuans that have grown over past years as a result of racial discrimination, marginalisation, and social envy.
Further information, photos and videos: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/police-crackdown-on-commemorations-for-new-york-agreement-across-west-papua-222-arrested-41-injured/
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Pasar Karang (-3.3807983133196764, 135.50672648387493
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Tengah Province, Nabire Regency, Nabire Town
total number of victims: 112
period of incident: 15.08.2024
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, torture, extra-judicial killings, journalists, human rights defenders, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples
Sources:
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/police-crackdown-on-commemorations-for-new-york-agreement-across-west-papua-222-arrested-41-injured/
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Oni Gobai | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Yosua Pigome | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Andi Gobai | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Marselus Goo | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Sue Pahabol | female | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Meri Tebai | female | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Ananias Douw | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Yance Pekei | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Ida Goo | female | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Delpin Goo | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Novir Pigai | male | unknown | indigenous, activist | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 101 | unknown | unknown | unknown | indigenous, activist | arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly |
