President Probowo’s free lunch program triggers protests in West Papua: Nabire

Police officers responded to the demonstration on 17 February by carrying out mass arrests. According to media sources, 48 protesters were arbitrarily detained at the Nabire District Police Station (see videos below, source: independent HRDs).  The police released the majority of students in the late afternoon. Nine protesters named Ando, Peu Mee Tebai, Kurus Sentani, Noken, Yosua Pigome, Herman Agapa, Hansel Yogi, Cicak, and Sony Douw remained in custody. They were released on 18 February 2025, at 9.30 pm without charges. A 12-year-old junior high school student, Immanuel Muyapa, was kicked by the head of the Nabire Education Office, who later publicly apologised for the ill-treatment.

Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Polres Nabire (-3.3602322460806158, 135.49939482482537)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Tengah Province, Nabire Regency, Nabire Town
total number of victims: 49
period of incident: 17.02.2025-18.02.2025
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples, il-treatment, arbitrary arrest
Sources:
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/president-probowos-school-lunch-program-triggers-protests-in-west-papua-police-officers-intimidate-arrest-and-ill-treat-protesters/