On 1 December 2024, 188 students gathered at the Kamasan 1 Papuan Dormitory in Yogyakarta to participate in a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of the 1st December. The protest began at 10:40 AM, with participants giving speeches as they departed the dormitory. The protest was heavily surveilled by plainclothes officers and intelligence personnel taking photos and videos. Along the route, large police contingents blocked key intersections, while negotiations between protest leaders, legal representatives, and police unfolded intermittently to secure passage for the march.
Tensions escalated as the protesters reached the Heroes’ Cemetery on Jl. Kusumanegara, where they were surrounded by police, Brimob units, and City Tiger forces. Despite repeated negotiations, the debate escalated into clashes. Violence broke out as police and allied forces attempted to disperse the crowd forcibly, leading to physical confrontations. One protester, named Melki, was arrested amid the protest, while several others were subjected to beatings and intimidation by security forces. The protesters eventually retreated to the Kamasan dormitory at 5:45 pm, where the students were barricaded by police and City Tiger forces. Negotiations resumed at the dormitory, with legal representatives from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) mediating between the protesters and security forces. By 7:40 pm, the situation de-escalated, and the combined forces withdrew from the area.
Detailed Case Data
Location: Asrama mahasiswa papua (kamasan 01 yogyakarta)
Region: Indonesia, Yogyakarta
Total number of victims: 1
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Melki
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples, Activist
freedom of assembly, arbitrary detention
2.
dozens
unknown
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples, Activist
freedom of assembly, ill-treatment
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Perpetrator details: Brimob, City Tiger
Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples