Police officers reportedly prevented activists from distributing leaflets for the demonstration. carried out arbitrary arrests, and cracked down on protesters using teargas and batons at the road junction in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, and also near the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ), and the Perumnas III Waena residential area in Jayapura City. Two protesters, Mr Edison Tebay, 24, and Mr Yonas Magai, 24, sustained injuries after being hit by teargas grenades on the head as police officers dispersed the crowd of protesters in Waena, Jayapura City (see photos and videos below, source: FMRPAM).
According to information received, police officers arrested fifteen FMRPAM activists on 1 April while distributing leaflets in Sentani, Jayapura Regency. They were released on the same day. On 2 April 2024, police officers arrested 62 protesters while gathering at the Sentani Road junction and temporarily detained than at Jayapura District Police Station. Police officers reportedly beat protesters during the arrest. According to the protesters, the ill-treatment did not result in injuries.
FMRPAM Representatives registered the peaceful assembly following Indonesian Law on 31 March 2024 (see photos below, source: FMRPAM). Despite following legal procedure, police officers forcefully dispersed the protests (see video below, source: FMRPAM). Jayapura Resort Police Chief (Kapolres), AKBP Fredickus W.A Maclarimboen, stated in an interview with media the local platform Jubi that the protesters disrupted traffic and disturbed public order.
Protesters injured during police crackdown in Waena, Jayapura City, on 2 April
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Waena (-2.5779185691702584, 140.6463695055424)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Jayapura City, Waena
total number of victims: two
period of incident: 02.04.2024
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details:
Issues: freedom of expression, ill-treatment, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples
Sources:
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/police-prevent-peaceful-protests-against-torture-in-sentani-77-activists-arrested-at-least-two-ill-treated/(opens in a new tab)
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Edison Tebay | male | 24 | indigenous | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
| 1 | Yonas Magai | male | 24 | indigenous | ill-treatment, freedom of assembly |
