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
Location: Polres Nabire
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Nabire
Total number of victims: 49

# Number of Victims Name, Details Gender Age Group Affiliation Violations
1. 1 Ando
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
2. 1 Peu Mee Tebai
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
3. 1 Kurus Sentani
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
4. 1 Noken
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
5. 1 Yosua Pigome
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
6. 1 Herman Agapa
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
7. 1 Hansel Yogi
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
8. 1 Cicak
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
9. 1 Sony Douw
male unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
10. 1 Immanuel Muyapa, student
male 12 Unknown ill-treatment
11. 39 unknown
unknown unknown Unknown freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 17/02/2025 – 18/02/2025
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police

Perpetrator details: unknown

Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples, women and children