On 28 July 2026, police officers apprehended approximately 31 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) near the Old Market traffic lights on Jalan Pasar Lama Yahim, Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, while they were distributing leaflets for a nationwide protest planned for 3 August 2026. The detentions reportedly occurred at 2:07 pm, after police officers intercepted and dispersed the activists. The detainees were forcibly taken to the Sentani Police Station and held for approximately 30 to 50 minutes before being released following negotiations. Witnesses alleged that at least five were subjected to excessive pushing or punching during the police intervention. The incident raises serious concerns regarding arbitrary deprivation of liberty, unnecessary or excessive use of force, and unlawful interference with the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
According to the information received from local human rights defenders, KNPB activists areas began assembling at approximately 1:40 pm to distribute leaflets near the Old Market traffic lights. The arrival of police officers at the scene triggered a confrontation lasting for approximately five minutes. At approximately 2:07 pm, the activists were reportedly forced into police vehicles and transported to the Sentani Police Station (see video below, source: KNPB). Police officers reportedly confiscated three KNPB flags, approximately 600 protest leaflets and several mobile phones. The mobile phones were returned following negotiations, while the flags and leaflets reportedly remained in police custody.
At the police station, KNPB representatives reportedly questioned the legal basis for the dispersal and detention. According to the activists, officers stated that the Jayapura District Police Chief had permitted KNPB activities but failed to provide a specific statutory basis for the restriction. The police subsequently released the activists around 3: pm without criminal charges. Following their release, the activists reportedly returned to the Pasar Lama area and continued distributing leaflets until approximately 7:00 pm.
Human rights analysis
The available information raises substantial concerns regarding violations of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Distributing political leaflets and encouraging members of the public to participate in a peaceful protest are activities protected under Article 19 and Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Restrictions on these rights must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate purpose recognised under the Covenant, and meet strict requirements of necessity and proportionality. A blanket instruction prohibiting political leafleting or KNPB activities, without an individually articulated and legally substantiated justification, is not reconcilable with these requirements.
The incident also engages Article 9 ICCPR, which protects every person against arbitrary arrest and detention. Even a brief detention constitutes a deprivation of liberty when individuals are compelled by State agents to accompany them and are not free to leave. Accordingly, the short duration of detention does not in itself remove the authorities’ obligation to demonstrate a lawful and non-arbitrary basis for the detention. If the activists were detained solely because they were peacefully distributing political material, without reasonable suspicion of a recognisable criminal offence, the detention may amount to arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
The reported pushing and striking of activists further raise concerns regarding the necessity and proportionality of police force. Law-enforcement officials policing an assembly must seek to facilitate the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights and may employ force only where it is strictly necessary and proportionate to the threat confronted. The reported deployment of officers carrying loaded rifles during a leaflet-distribution activity may also have had an intimidating or chilling effect on peaceful political participation, particularly where no serious threat of violence had been identified.
The police intervention must equally be assessed against Indonesian constitutional and statutory guarantees. Article 28E(3) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia guarantees freedom of association, assembly and expression. Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom of Public Expression protects peaceful demonstrations, marches, public meetings and other forms of public expression, while Articles 23(2) and 25 of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights protect the right to hold, express and disseminate opinions and to express opinions publicly. Administrative or police instructions cannot lawfully extinguish rights guaranteed under superior legislation merely because the political message expressed is considered controversial.
Police officers arbitrarily apprehended 30 KNPB activists who had distributed leaflets in Sentani on 28 July 2026
Yunison Kogoya
Victims of detention in Sentani on 28 July 2026
| No. | Name | Gender |
| 1 | Nasman Malo | Male |
| 2 | Mendanus Wisal | Male |
| 3 | Yeri Onong | Male |
| 4 | Ruben Epkin | Male |
| 5 | Eko Pase | Male |
| 6 | Aten Siep | Male |
| 7 | Yustinus Wisal | Male |
| 8 | Doki Uopmabin | Male |
| 9 | Erikson Yando | Male |
| 10 | Sem Nalcedoman | Male |
| 11 | Manu Hisage | Male |
| 12 | Asa Giban | Male |
| 13 | Epanus Malo | Male |
| 14 | Stepen Malo | Male |
| 15 | Ernan Mirin | Male |
| 16 | Basus Wim | Male |
| 17 | Maikel Mahuse | Male |
| 18 | Agus Pase | Male |
| 19 | Ipenus Kwem | Male |
| 20 | Kaptakan Taplo | Male |
| 21 | Yanes Milu | Male |
| 22 | Alex Tepmul | Male |
| 23 | Fernando Pase | Male |
| 24 | Frans Wasini | Male |
| 25 | Yondis Wandik | Male |
| 26 | Frengki Kogoya | Male |
| 27 | Jispan Kasipmabin | Male |
| 28 | Damian Malo | Male |
| 29 | Beni Esema | Male |
| 30 | Sadraks Lagowan | Male |
| 31 | Yustinus Kogoya | Mal |
Detailed Case Data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-119-2026
Location: CGJ3+FW5, Jl. Ps. Lama Sentani, Dobonsolo, Kec. Sentani, Kabupaten Jayapura, Papua 99359, Indonesia (-2.568861, 140.5048707) Old Market traffic lights
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura Regency > Sentani
Total number of victims: 31
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Nasman Malo
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
2.
1
Mendanus Wisal
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
3.
1
Yeri Onong
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
4.
1
Ruben Epkin
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
5.
1
Eko Pase
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
6.
1
Aten Siep
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
7.
1
Yustinus Wisal
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, ill-treatment
8.
1
Doki Uopmabin
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
9.
1
Erikson Yando
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
10.
1
Sem Nalcedoman
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
11.
1
Manu Hisage
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
12.
1
Asa Giban
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
13.
1
Epanus Malo
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
14.
1
Stepen Malo
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
15.
1
Ernan Mirin
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
16.
1
Basus Wim
male
adult
Activist, Human Rights Defender (HRD)
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
17.
1
Maikel Mahuse
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, ill-treatment
18.
1
Agus Pase
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
19.
1
Ipenus Kwem
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
20.
1
Kaptakan Taplo
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
21.
1
Yanes Milu
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
22.
1
Alex Tepmul
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
23.
1
Fernando Pase
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
24.
1
Frans Wasini
male
adult
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, ill-treatment
25.
1
Yondis Wandik
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
26.
1
Frengki Kogoya
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
27.
1
Jispan Kasipmabin
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
28.
1
Damian Malo
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
29.
1
Beni Esema
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
30.
1
Sadraks Lagowan
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, ill-treatment
31.
1
Yustinus Kogoya
male
unknown
Activist, Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, ill-treatment
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police > POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polres Jayapura
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violenceRelated Cases:
Arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of five Papuans at Old Sentani Market in Jayapura Regency
Arbitrary detention of three Papuan youth at Sentani Airport, Jayapura Regency
Arrests and torture of KNPB members in Sentani - 21 arrested and 16 tortured
Police arrest 30 protesters demanding justice for Victor Yeimo in Sentani, Jayapura Regency
Police detain KNPB activists distributing leaflets in Sentani Town – One minor ill-treated
Police disperse peaceful protest in Sentani amid reports of beatings – 33 protesters injured as a result of excessive police violence