On 25 March 2024, a plain cloth police officer wanted to attend a student discussion organised by the Papuan Anti-Militarism and Human Rights Solidarity regarding the torture of three indigenous Papuans in the Puncak Regency (see photo on top, Source: independent HRDs). The other participants refused to have the debate monitored by a police member. Thereupon, the officer and five uniformed police officers observed the discussion from a nearby convenience store on the opposite side of the street across the road (see photos below, Source: independent HRDs), creating an atmosphere of intimidation.
The officers stayed at the store from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, raising suspicions of ongoing surveillance by intelligence units nearby. The incident exemplifies the suppression of freedom of assembly and expression in West Papua as guaranteed by the Indonesian Constitution and international human rights treaties.
Police officers monitoring the discussion in Sorong, 25 March 2024
Detailed Case Data
Location: Sorong
Region: Indonesia, Southwest Papua, Sorong City
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
dozens
students
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples, Activist
freedom of assembly, intimidation
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: indigenous peoples, human rights defenders