On 10 April 2025, members of the Student Executive Board of the University of Papua (BEM UNIPA), supported by Papuan students and civil society, conducted a peaceful protest against the revision of the Military Law and the expansion of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Manokwari, Papua Barat Province. The protest, themed “Repeal & Reject the TNI Law and Reject PSN Across All of Papua”, was met with excessive force by joint Indonesian security forces, including military and police. Two students, Mr Naikus Alua and Mr Mona Siep, were arrested without a legal basis, reportedly beaten during detention, and later released with visible injuries (see photos below, source: independent HRD).
The protest began with a long march from the UNIPA campus at 7:00 am and proceeded peacefully until it reached the Mansinam Dormitory area at around 7:40 am, where security forces had assembled in full gear. After hours of peaceful speeches and failed negotiations with the police, the protestors were violently dispersed with tear gas around 9:00 am. Mr Naikus Alua and Mr Mona Siep were arrested, detained, and subjected to beatings inside the Manokwari District Police Station (Polres Manokwari). By midday, protestors regrouped and were joined by members of the Papuan Parliament (DPR-PB) and the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRPB). The protesters called for the immediate release of both detainees. At 2:50 pm, the two students were released, visibly bruised. Speeches continued until the protest concluded peacefully around 3:00 pm.
The victims and organisers condemned the repression and demanded accountability from the police. The Chairman of PMKRI Manokwari Branch denounced the arrests as inhumane and undemocratic. Student leaders called for public apologies and guarantees of their right to peaceful protest. The protest aimed to express democratic dissent against militarisation and development policies imposed without local consultation, yet the authorities responded with intimidation, violence, and arbitrary detention.
From a human rights perspective, the incident constitutes a violation of the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a party. The arbitrary detention and physical abuse of the students also contravene protections against torture and ill-treatment. The case reflects a broader pattern of criminalising dissent in West Papua and underscores the urgent need for independent investigations and structural reform to protect civil liberties in the region.
Mr Naikus Alua and Mr Mona Siep testify about the arbitrary arrest and torture they experienced during police detention
Peaceful demonstration in Manokwari on 10 April 2025
