News on the human rights and conflict situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Police officers dispersed civil unrest in the town of Enarotali, Panaiai Regency, using tear gas and live ammunition on 5 July 2022. The police justified the forceful intervention by claiming that protesters were damaging buildings at the Paniai Regent’s Office. A Papuan man named Donatus Nawipa was killed during the crowd control operation.
On 30 June 2022, the Indonesian parliament passed a controversial law for the formation of three new provinces in West Papua. The law makers agreed to the legislation regardless of ongoing protests against the Governments plan to establish three new provinces
Indonesian parliament passes law for the formation of three new provinces in West Papua Read More »
The relatives of the victims in the Paniai Massacre of 2014 have signed a joint statement letter in which they declared their rejection towards the law enforcement process at the human rights court in Makassar.
On 4 June 2022, a military member shot dead 16-year-old civilian, Rafael Ivan Balaweling in the Prafi District of Manokwari Regency, Papua Barat Province. The shooting occurred during a wedding ceremony in the Aimasi village. According to the military spokesperson, General Tatang Subarna, the shooting was triggered by an argument between Staff Sergeant AFTJ and Rafael Ivan Balaweling.
On 14 June 2022, police officers again dispersed a peaceful assembly in the Perumnas III residential area in Waena, Jayapura City, with teargas, wooden batons and rubber bullets. Eleven protesters were injured and 5 others arrested.
The Papuan People’s Petition (PRP) again called upon people in all major cities across West Papua to participate in peaceful protests against the formation of new autonomy regions in West Papua.
The Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) was subjected to an attack in the early morning of 9 May 2022. A motorcycle was set on fire inside the garage of the LBH Office in Jayapura City. LBH Papua is part of a coalition of human rights organisations in West Papua and provides legal and non-legal support to political activists and other victims of human rights violations.
Attack on Papuan human rights organisation – Perpetrators set a motorcycle on fire Read More »
Farmers around lake Poso in Sulawesi Tengah province, Indonesia, have gone on hunger strike to protest against the loss of their farming land due to the construction of an hydro-power plant. Four protesters cast their feet in cement and announced they would go on hunger strike until the provincial government had come up with a sustainable solution for the ongoing land conflict.
Hydropower plant in Poso causes flooding of farmland – Peasants go on hunger strike Read More »
Eight Papuan activists: Malvin Yobe, Devio Tekege, Ambros Elopere, Maksi You, Paul Sode Hilapok, Luis Sitok, Ernesto Matuan, and Melvin Waine were arrested for raising the Morning Star flag in front of the sports hall (GOR) in Jayapura on 1 December 2021. The police charged the activists with Articles 106 KUHP on treason and Article 110 KUHP on criminal conspiracy against the state. Allegedly the police is unnecessarily prolonging the detention because the evidence against the eight activists is not sufficient to submit the case to the public prosecutor. On 30 January 2022, the police extended the period of detention for another 30 days. Prior to the arrest, Melvin Yobe was undergoing a pulmonary treatment program, while Sode Hilapok was suffering from hemorrhoids. Their health condition of Mr Malvin Yobe and Mr Paul Sode reportedly deteriorated in late January 2022. Mr Hilapok was once permitted to see a doctor while Mr Yobe has not yet received any medical treatment. The trial started at the Jayapura District Court in April 2022 but the first court hearing was adjourned. The trial has finally started on 17 May 2022.
On 29 August 2022, judges at the Jayapura District Court found Mr Melvin Yobe, 29, Mr Melvin Fernando Waine, 25, Mr Zode Hilapok, 27, Mr Devion Tekege, 23, Mr Yosep Ernesto Matuan, 19, Mr Maksimus Simon Petrus You, 18, Mr Lius Kitok Uropmabin, 21, and Mr Ambrosius Fransiskus Elopere, 21, guilty of treason as regulated under Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) (see photo on top, source: Jubi). Previously, the public prosecutor demanded a sentence of one year while the lawyers had pleaded for acquittal for the defendants.
Trial against 8 Papuan activists accused of treason launched in Jayapura Read More »
Forty-one protesters were injured as police officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful demonstration against the formation of new Papuan autonomy regions in Jayapura on 10 May 2022. Shortly after, police officers arbitrarily arrested seven Papuan activists who partcipated in the demonstration. They were released on the same day.
Seven members of the military border security unit Yonif 711/RKS/Kampung Mosso tortured five Papuan students in the village of Mosso, Muara Tami District, Jayapura city on 6 May 2022. The students informed the military of their fishing activities. When they were done fishing, they went to the military post. They were ill-treated by military personnel for allegedly passing by other posts and not reporting their activities.
Soldiers allegedly tortured five Papuan students in Mosso Village, Jayapura city Read More »
A police officer lost control of his police vehicle in the early morning of 4 May 2022 and ran over four road workers in the city of Jayapura, Papua Province. One of them died as a result of the crash while the others were injured. The head of the Papuan Regional Police’s professionalism and security affairs division (Propam Polda Papua), Mr Sanchez Napitupulu, suspects that the driver was intoxicated as the incident occurred. The police are looking for the perpetrator who fled the crime site without providing assistance to the victims. Two of his colleagues, EN and YN, who were inside the police vehicle as the accident occurred, surrendered to the police shortly after the accident.
Intoxicated police officer ran over four road workers in Jayapura – one victim dies Read More »
On 4 April 2022, 8 supporters of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were ill-treated and 5 others arrested as the activists wanted to discuss the legal process of the five KNPB members who had been charged the police. Instead of meeting with the activists, the Jayapura police chief gave the order to disperse the crowd. According to information received, police officers used excessive force against the protesters. Eight KNPB activists were ill-treated and sustained injuries (see photos below, source: independent HRDs) while five others were reportedly arrested.
Thousands of protesters in the regencies Mimika and Dogiyai expressed their opposition to the formation of new provinces in West Papua. In Timika, police officers prevented the protesters from walking toward the local parliament building. Police personnel forcefully dispersed the crowd with tear gas ammunition around 9.00 am. The officers reportedly ill-treated at least four protesters and arrested and detained at least three, who were released hours later.
The Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV), comprising former heads of state, US congresspersons and regional figures, has issued an urgent call regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and Papua Barat.
Pacific Elders issue urgent call on the human rights situation in West Papua Read More »
In late March 2022, the victims’ relatives received information that the trial against the suspects Lieutenant Gabriel Bowie Wijaya, Staff Sergeant Vicente de Oliviera Santos, Private Bahari Muhrim, Private Sugi Harnoto is planned to be launched in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province.
Police officers have shot indigenous Papuan Mr Petrus Tebay in the Bapouda Village, Paniai Timur District, Paniai Regency, on 5 April 2022. The victim was admitted to the public hospital in Madi, where he is receiving medical treatment. Earlier that day, the internet cafe owners in Bapouda had reported a theft to the local police. Mr Tebay was outside the cafe when he was suddenly shot. Allegedly the police suspected him to be the thief. Still, he was shot with no warning. Mr Tebay denies having committed any crime.
Police officer shot and injured an indigenous Papuan in Paniai Regency Read More »
On 6 April 2022, the Indonesian parliament adopted a new draft law on the formation of three new provinces in West Papua.
Indonesian parliament passes draft laws on the formation of new provinces in West Papua Read More »
Indonesian security forces executed seventeen-year-old Parunus Lokbere outside his home in the Nogolaid Village in Kenyam District, Nduga Regency, on 5 April 2022. His body was buried on 7 April 2022. The shooter has not been identified. The situation in Kenyam remains tense. All indigenous Papuans are under close surveillance by the police and military. Local informants declared that multiple houses of local residents in Kenyam were damaged by security force members with mortar grenades and bullets.
Minor executed by security forces during armed clashes in Nduga Regency Read More »
Joint security forces dispersed further protests against the division of the Provinces Papua and Papua Barat into new autonomy regions in the cities Jayapura and Nabire. In Tiom, Lanny Jaya Regency, the protest took place without interference but under close surveillance by security forces. In Jayapura, one protestor was injured by a bullet, and at least three were arbitrarily arrested and ill-treated.
