# Police fail to protect Papuan students during peaceful protest in Bali - 13 protesters injured

**Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org)
**Document ID:** HRM-CAS-026-2023
**Document Type:** Case
**Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/police-fail-to-protect-papuan-students-during-peaceful-protest-in-bali-13-protesters-injured/
**Issues:** security force violence | indigenous peoples
**Publication Date:** April 10, 2023
**Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua

## Summary
Thirteen Papuan students have sustained bruises and injuries after being attacked by Garuda Nusantara Patriots (PGN) members during a peaceful assembly on 1 April 2023 in the city of Denpasar, Bali Province. The PGN is one of many nationalist groups in Indonesia promoting pro-government values and state ideologies.

## Detailed Case Narrative
Thirteen Papuan students have sustained bruises and injuries (see table and photos below, source: AMP) after being attacked by Garuda Nusantara Patriots (PGN) members during a peaceful assembly on 1 April 2023 in the city of Denpasar, Bali Province. The PGN is one of many nationalist groups in Indonesia promoting pro-government values and state ideologies. The protest was launched by the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and aimed to raise awareness of the deteriorating human rights situation and the ruthless exploitation of natural resources in West Papua. The police failed to provide security for the Papuan protesters during the public assembly. According to AMP members, several plain-cloth police officers present did not take action to disperse the crowd or protect the Papuan students during the attack.

Papuan students gathered around 8.30 am and were met by dozens of PGN members near the [Udayana Tourism Faculty](https://www.google.de/maps/place/Faculty+Of+Tourism/@-8.6743208,115.2188344,922m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m10!1m2!2m1!1sFakultas+Pariwisata+Universitas+Udayana!3m6!1s0x2dd240ec5fbf7bbf:0x4077fd1ea5861021!8m2!3d-8.6716633!4d115.2199852!15sCidGYWt1bHRhcyBQYXJpd2lzYXRhIFVuaXZlcnNpdGFzIFVkYXlhbmEiA4gBAVopIidmYWt1bHRhcyBwYXJpd2lzYXRhIHVuaXZlcnNpdGFzIHVkYXlhbmGSARV1bml2ZXJzaXR5X2RlcGFydG1lbnSaASRDaGREU1VoTk1HOW5TMFZKUTBGblNVTkJOM05tUVd0UlJSQULgAQA!16s%2Fg%2F1pzrgkt7_) in Denpasar. According to the students, plain cloth police officers had monitored protesters gathering at the meeting point. The situation turned tense after negotiations between the protesters and the PGN did not bring results. Around 10.10 am, the PGN members began throwing stones and bottles at the protesters. Others were punching and kicking the Papuan students to push them back into the university campus (see videos below, source: independent HDRs). At 10.30 am, the Papuan students retreated and cancelled the protest.

The Bali Legal Aid Institute (LBH Bali) has documented ongoing obstruction, dispersal, and violence against Papuan students in Bali. These include the arrest and beating of protesters from Formalipa Bali in March 2021, the circulation of posters with terrorist messages aimed at Papuans in May 2021, and the [repression of peaceful demonstrations by Papuan students in November 2022](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/papuan-students-protesting-against-g20-summit-in-jayapura-and-bali-face-torture-ill-treatment-and-intimidation/) and December 2022. Additionally, advocates and legal aid providers accompanying Papuan students were subjected to intimidation and criminalisation.

The recurrence of these events violates human rights and manifests long-grown racist sentiments towards indigenous Papuans in some parts of Indonesian society. The circle of violence is perpetuated in the absence of law enforcement institutions to process the perpetrators of violence. In response, the AMP, LBH Bali, and the Indonesian Legal Institute (YLBHI) condemned the violence and obstruction of peaceful demonstrations in Bali. They called upon the police to fulfil their obligation to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people in Indonesia. 

Video of dispersal of the protest.

Video of the dispersal of the protest.

***Table of Papuan students injured in Bali on 1 April 2******023***

**No**
**Name**
**Injury sustained**

1
Wemison Enembe
Was hit by a stone and sustained a head injury

2
Gabriel Bunai
PGN members punched him; he was hit by a stone and sustained a head injury

3
Yohanes Hilapok
Was hit by a stone and sustained bruises on the hand

4
Yunus Tagi
Was hit by a stone and sustained a bleeding injury on the temple

5
Bolikam Kogoya
Was hit with a bamboo stick to the foot, causing injuries on multiple toes

6
Erik Waker
Was hit by a stone and sustained bruises on the leg

7
Fredy Agaki
Was hit by a stone and sustained bruises on the leg

8
Derimon Kepno
Was punched and hit by a stone on the calf

9
Daut Mote
Was splashed with chili fluid

10
Yan Wetipo
Was hit with a stick to the hand, causing bruises

11
Marbinus Pigai
Was punched to the head and hit by a stone in the back

12
Herry Meaga
Was splashed with chilli fluid to the eyes

13
Andi Pekey
Was splashed with chilli fluid to the eyes

## Incident Period & Location
- **Start Date:** April 1, 2023
- **End Date:** April 1, 2023
- **Period Type:** Single Day
- **Reference Date:** April 1, 2023 (used for chronological ordering)
- **Location:** - Udayana Tourism Faculty
- **Geographic Coordinates (WGS84):** -8.6714760793311, 115.21988308571
- **Google Maps:** https://maps.google.com/?q=-8.6714760793311,115.21988308571
- **Administrative Regions:**
  - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Bali (Province) > Denpasar (City)

## Victims
**Total number of victims:** 13

| Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations |
|-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------|
| 1 person | Wemison Enembe | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Gabriel Bunai | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Yohanes Hilapok | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Yunus Tagi | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Bolikam Kogoya | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Erik Waker | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Fredy Agaki | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Derimon Kepno | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Daut Mote | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Yan Wetipo | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Marbinus Pigai | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Herry Meaga | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 person | Andi Pekey | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |

## Perpetrators
**Perpetrator Category Paths:**
- **Category 1:** Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police

- **Perpetrator Description:** Garuda Nusantara Patriots (PGN)