Every year, West Papuans come together to commemorate the 2019 West Papua Uprising and the New York Agreement of 1962 signed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Indonesia regarding the administration of the territory of Western New Guinea under mediation of the United States of America. On 15 August 2024, police dispersed peaceful protests in the towns of Nabire, Wamena, and Sentani, as well as in Jayapura City with force. According to information received from local human rights groups, 222 protesters were arrested, and 41 injured as police forces dispersed the crowd with batons, teargas, and rubber ammunition. Many wounded protesters sustained head injuries, indicating that the officers targeted vital body areas. The protest in Nabire triggered outbreaks of occasional ethnic violence in the Bumi Wonoreja area. Acts of horizontal violence between Papuans and non-Papuans have significantly increased over the past years, resulting in a growing potential risk for the occurrence of atrocities in West Papua.
Officers blocked the demonstrations in Timika and Manokwari. The demonstrations proceeded without violent incidents and protesters were allowed to hold public orations under close observation of heavily equipped police forces. Other commemorations, like those in Indonesia’s largest city Jakarta, or Sorong, Papua Barat Daya Province, were held without attempts to prevent protesters or disperse the rallies.
The demonstrations were led by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a Papuan civil resistance and movement organisation demanding the repetition of an independence referendum in West Papua through peaceful action. KNPB representatives in all cities had registered the demonstrations following national law requirements (see photos below, source: KNPB), raising questions about the legality of the police intervention in Nabire, Jayapura, and Manokwari. Notification in writing must be submitted by a representative of the group holding the peaceful assembly. The notification must be received by the local police no later than 3 x 24 hours before the commencement of the activity, as stipulated in Article 10 (1), (2), and (3) of Law No 9/1998 on Freedom of Expression in Public.
Nabire, Papua Tengah Province
The protest in the town of Nabire gathered at Kali Bobo, Siriwini, Karang Market, SP I, and Jepara II. Police officers from Nabire District Police were present at all gathering points to disperse the crowd with batons, teargas, and rubber ammunition. According to information published by local media, 101 protesters were reportedly detained at the yard in front of the Nabire District Police headquarters. Police officers forced them to take off their shirts while exposed to the tropical midday sun (see photo on top, source: indpendent HRDs). One-hundred-one protesters were reportedly released in the evening, at 11.23 PM, while seven KNPB supporters remained in custody. It is not clear if they have already been released or whether the police will press charges against them.
Police officers dispersed the crowd with stun guns, batons, teargas, sharp weapons, and rubber ammunition, firing indiscriminately into the crowd (see photo of bullet shells below, source: independent HRDs). At least four protesters were injured, with three of them being hospitalized. One protester sustained a stab wound as a police officer allegedly stabbed him with a knife to the head (see photos below, source: independent HRDs). Two journalists were intimidated by police officers and reportedly prevented from covering the peaceful protest.
Following the dispersal, human rights defenders documented attacks of horizontal ethnic violence against Papuan protesters by non-Papuans in Bzumi Wonoreja, Nabire. A Papuan was recorded fleeing from dozens of non-Papuans chasing after him with stones and weapons (see videos below, source: independent HRDs). The incident illustrates racial notions and horizontal tensions between indigenous Papuans and Non-Papuans that have grown over past years as a result of racial discrimination, marginalisation, and social envy.
| No | Name | gender | Forms of ill-treatment |
| 1 | Oni Gobai | male | Sustained a bullet injury on the back of the left thigh as police officers opened fire at the protesters meeting at the Karang Market, Nabire |
| 2 | Yosua Pigome | male | Sustained a bullet injury on the right inner thigh as police officers opened fire at the protesters meeting at the Karang Market, Nabire |
| 3 | Andi Gobai | male | Sustained a bleeding head injury after officers beat him with a wooden stick on the head |
| 4 | Marselus Goo | male | Police officers electrocuted him and beat him with a wooden stick on the back, another officer stabbed him with a knife to the head causing a cut on top of the head (see video below, source independent HRD) |
| 5 | Sue Pahabol | female | Sustained a head injury after police officers beat her on the head |
| 6 | Meri Tebai | female | Sustained injury in the knee after being hit by a tear gas grenade |
| 7 | Ananias Douw | male | Police officers beat him with a baton, resulting in bruises on the head, hand, and left shoulder |
| 8 | Yance Pekei | male | Police officers beat him with a baton, resulting in bruises on the head, left hand, and the back |
| 9 | Ida Goo | female | Police officers beat her with a baton, resulting in bruises on the left knee |
| 10 | Delpin Goo | female | Police officers beat her with a baton, resulting in bruises on the right shoulder |
| 11 | Novir Pigai | male | Sustained injury on the right hand after being hit by a tear gas grenade |
Police forces dispersing protesters in Nabire with rubber bullets, teargas and batons, 15 August 2024
Protesters injured in Nabire on 15 August 2024
Migrants armed with stones and batons chase after an indigenous Papuan in Bumi Wonorejo, Nabire, on 15 August 2024
Sentani, Jayapura Province, and Jayapura City
Protests in the Jayapura area took place in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, and various locations in Jayapura city to commemorate the New York agreement and protest against racial discrimination. In both locations, the police dispersed the crowd without clear reason.
The KNPB protest in Sentani was blocked by about 300 police officers and additional military personnel around 8:00 am. Sixteen protesters reportedly sustained injuries as a result of police violence. Approximately one hundred protesters were detained at the Jayapura District Police headquarters (Polres Jayapura) after officers dispersed the demonstration near the traffic light at the Old Market in Sentani with batons and water cannons around 10:00 am. Jayapura District Police Chief, Commissioner Frederickus Maclarimbon, denied the use of excessive force against the KNPB protesters.
In Jayapura city, protesters gathered in various locations in Waena, Expo, the Cenderawasih University (UNCEN), and near the circle-way in Abepura. According to the police, about 700 officers were deployed to secure the protest in various locations. They prevented groups of protesters in Waena and Expo from walking towards Abepura to meet with the other KNPB supporters. At around noon, police officers also entered the UNCEN without providing a warrant and stopped peaceful orations held by Papuan students inside the campus. At 3.20 pm, crowd control police personnel dispersed the crowd at the Abepura circle-way with teargas and water cannons. A protestor named Mr Paskalis Ningmabin was beaten by police with rubber batons at Expo Waena, resulting in a serious cut of three stitches on the head.
Police forces dispersing protesters in Ekspo Waena, Jayapura City, 15 August 2024
Protesters in Sentani are being brought to Polres Jayapura
Injured KNPB members show the injuries they sustained during the protests in Sentani and Jayapura on 15 August 2024
Police officers entering the UNCEN campus, Jayapura City, 15 August 2024
Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province
Joint security forces prevented protesters in various gathering points across Wamena and dispersed the crowd with tear gas and rubber batons in the locations Sinakma, Woma, Hom-hom, Jibama Market, and Woken Ilekma. Fourteen KNPB supporters, including a thirteen-year-old minor, were reportedly injured as a result of police violence. Police officers arbitrarily detained 21 KNPB supporters in Sinakma, Jibama Market, and Hom-hom and brought them to the Jayawijaya Police Resort headquarters. They were detained for seven hours and released at 2:00 pm after KNPB members came to the police station and demanded their release. The officers reportedly failed to return seized objects, including two motorbikes and a mobile phone.
Police forces dispersing protesters at the Mission Market in Wouma, Wamena, on 15 August 2024
Injured KNPB supporters show the injuries they sustained during the protests in Wamena on 15 August 2024
KNPB Protesters holding üeaclena, 15 August 2025
Timika, Mimika Regency, Papua Tengah Province
Protesters in Timika gathered at the Timika Indah at 08:30 am and started walking while making orations along the way. Police officers blocked the crowd in Emeneme at 08:48 am. KNPB negotiated with the officers for almost one hour. At 9:40 am, police officers pushed back the protesters and dispersed the crowd at Koteka Road at 10:03 am, seizing flags and banners. One police officer reportedly snatched a cell phone from one of the protesters.
The Mimika Police chief, Commissioner Komang Budiartha, justified the police action, stating “we did not permit to carry out the protest”. The statement illustrates the false understanding among many law enforcement officials, that public protests need police permission. Law No 9/1998 on Freedom of Expression in Public only stipulates that authorities must be notified of the protest 3 x 24 hours before the commencement of the activity . Indonesian and international law stipulates that the police have the task of facilitating, protecting, and respecting the freedom of xpression and the freedom to peaceful assembly and association. Indonesian law requires demonstrators to inform the police beforehand but does not require a permit from the police.
Police officers blocking KNPB protest in Timika, 15 August 2024
Manokwari, Papua Barat Province
Protesters gathered in various locations across Manokwari, from where they wanted to meet in the Makalo area. Police officers blocked the demonstration at Bukit Doa, in front of Mansinam Dormitory. The crowd was not allowed to continue walking despite providing proof of notification to the officers in charge. Despite several attempts from police officers to escalate the situation, the protest remained peaceful, with protesters holding orations and reading poems in front of the dormitory.
KNPB supporters commemorate the New York Agreement in Manokwari, 15 August 2024
