Police officers arbitrarily arrested and tortured two Papuan university students with the initials DT and ET at the Samabusa Harbour in Nabire on 17 December 2022. They claimed that DT and ET carried illegal firearms. Both men were arrested on the ship, and their hands and feet were tied. DT and ET (see photo, source: Suara Papua) were reportedly tortured inside the police car on the way from the harbour to the Nabire District Police Headquarters. The torture continued during interrogation at the police station until the police discovered that the seized gun was a toy gun. Thereupon, DT and ET were released the following day at 2.00 pm. Law Talent Legal Aid Institute (LBH TK) assisted the two students in reporting the torture to the Profession and Security Division (Propam).
Human rights defenders called upon the police to refrain from arbitrary arrest without solid evidence for a criminal offence. LBH TK director, Mr Richardani Nawipa, declared,” I assisted the victims of police violence in conducting a medical examination. We ask that the perpetrators be processed”.
Photos of the arrest
Detailed Case Data
Location: Polres Nabire
Region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Nabire, Nabire
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Nabire, Nabire
Total number of victims: 2
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
DT, student
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention
2.
1
ET, student
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples