Police disperse peaceful assembly and arrest 54 protesters demanding justice for Victor Yeimo

The trial against Papuan activist and human rights defender Mr Victor Yeimo is getting closer to the verdict. Mr Yeimo was charged with treason and criminal conspiracy against the state for participating in a demonstration against racial discrimination against indigenous Papuans in Indonesia. A session on 11 April with the agenda of the prosecutor’s demands was adjourned to 17 April 2023.

Activists have been closely following the trial and repeatedly launched peaceful actions in support of Victor Yeimo in front of the district court in the city of Jayapura (PN Jayapura). Police officers arbitrarily arrested 54 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and supporters in the city of Jayapura and the neighbouring town of Sentani, Jayapura District, between 8 and 11 April 2023. The police personnel used rubber batons to forcefully disperse a peaceful assembly in front of the PN Jayapura on 11 April 2023. Nine protesters were reportedly injured.

Police arrest 13 KNPB members arrested while distributing leaflets in Sentani

Police officers of the Jayapura District police arrested 13 KNPB members at the old market in Sentani on 08 April 2023, at 3.00 pm (see table and photos below, source: KNPB). The police failed to show a warrant at the time of the arrest. They distributed leaflets for a peaceful protest in support of Victor Yeimo at the PN Jayapura. All were released on the same day at 5.50 pm.

Further arrests in Sentani and Jayapura

Activists documented additional 40 arbitrary arrests in Jayapura and Sentani Town on 9, 10, and 11 April 2023. Again, the police carried out the arrests without showing a warrant while KNPB members distributed leaflets for the protest demanding justice for Victor Yeimo. On 9 April 2023, the police reportedly arrested three activists in front of the Heram District Office at 5.15 pm. Police officers arrested 20 KNPB activists near the traffic light in the Kamkey area in Jayapura on 10 April 2023 at 10.00 am. The 17 arrests in Sentani on 10 April happened at the traffic light near the old market at 9.40 am, 3 of them were previously arrested and freed on 8 April. The officers seized the leaflets and temporarily detained the activists at the district police station (Polres Jayapura) in Doyo Baru and the Abepura Sub-District Police Station (Polsek Abepura).

On 11 April 2023, police officers forcefully dispersed a silent protest in front of the PN Jayapura. One protester was arrested. The protesters Ronal Mirin, Kurus Felle, Eko Passe, Kenias Payage, Kelaus Bay, Pumegen, Nodi, Anto, and Awe Gobai were reportedly injured as a result of the excessive force. The police officers seized banners and used rubber batons to disperse the crowd.

Table with activists arrested in Sentani and Jayapura between 08 and 11 April ’23

No	Name of the arrestee	Place/date of arrest
1	Wasuok Siep	Sentani, 08 April 2023
2	Kurus Felle	Sentani, 08 April 2023
3	Sadracks Lagowan	Sentani, 08 April 2023
4	Huber Bagau	Sentani, 08 April 2023
5	Melinus Bagau	Sentani, 08 April 2023
6	Yan Itlay	Sentani, 08 April 2023
7	Denny Esema	Sentani, 08 April 2023
8	Gaoulin Balingga	Sentani, 08 April 2023
9	Nodi Taplo	Sentani, 08 April 2023
10	Emis Telenggen	Sentani, 08 April 2023
11	Etap Kalakmabin	Sentani, 08 April 2023
12	Arkelaus Lokon	Sentani, 08 April 2023
13	Vero Manggi Walilo	Sentani, 08 April 2023
14	Bob Kogoya	Jayapura City, Heram District, 09 April 2023
15	N/A	Jayapura City, Heram District, 09 April 2023
16	N/A	Jayapura City, Heram District, 09 April 2023
17	Wasuok siep	Sentani, 10 April 2023
18	Kurus Felle	Sentani, 10 April 2023
19	Sadracks Lagowan	Sentani, 10 April 2023
20	Huber Bagau	Sentani, 10 April 2023
21	Denny Esema	Sentani, 10 April 2023
22	Ecko Passe	Sentani, 10 April 2023
23	Milex Itlay	Sentani, 10 April 2023
24	Maikel Siep	Sentani, 10 April 2023
25	Omes Esema	Sentani, 10 April 2023
26	Agus Passe	Sentani, 10 April 2023
27	Dortius Tengket	Sentani, 10 April 2023
28	Elison Pahabol	Sentani, 10 April 2023
29	James	Sentani, 10 April 2023
30	Ovvi	Sentani, 10 April 2023
31	Nando Passe	Sentani, 10 April 2023
32	Yosua Keroman	Sentani, 10 April 2023
33	Bartol Itlay	Sentani, 10 April 2023
34	Hiyong Suhuniap	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
35	Ropi Esema	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
36	Nonce Sabu	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
37	Pura Yahuli	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
38	Hason Bay	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
39	Lius Bay	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
40	Arki Enggalim	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
41	Amon Heluka	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
42	Wolex Heselo	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
43	Yali Sabu	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
44	Narius Yahuli	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
45	Bayam Heselo	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
46	Esano Giban	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
47	Asah Giban	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
48	Elly Hiluka	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
49	Gule Kalolik	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
50	Budi Hiluka	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
51	Amos Musi	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
52	Amenas Heluka	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
53	Erem Pagawak	Kamkey, 10 April 2023
54	Iman Kogoya	Biak Street, Jayapura, 11 April 2023

Activists being arrested in Sentani

Peaceful protest in Jayapura on 11 April 2023

Number	Name, Details	Gender	Age	Group Affiliation	Violations
1	Wasuok siep	male	unknown	indigenous	arbitrary detention
1	Kurus Felle	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Sadracks Lagowan	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Huber Bagau	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Melinus Bagau	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Yan Itlay	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Denny Esema	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Gaoulin Balingga	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Nodi Taplo	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Emis Telenggen	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Etap Kalakmabin	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Arkelaus Lokon	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Vero Manggi Walilo	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Bob Kogoya	male	unknown	indigenous
1	unknown	male	unknown	indigenous
1	unknown	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Wasuok siep	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Kurus Felle	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Sadracks Lagowan	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Huber Bagau	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Denny Esema	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Ecko Passe	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Milex Itlay	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Maikel Siep	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Omes Esema	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Agus Passe	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Dortius Tengket	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Elison Pahabol	male	unknown	indigenous
1	James	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Ovvi	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Nando Passe	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Yosua Keroman	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Bartol Itlay	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Hiyong Suhuniap	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Ropi Esema	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Nonce Sabu	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Pura Yahuli	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Hason Bay	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Lius Bay	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Arki Enggalim	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Amon Heluka	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Wolex Heselo	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Yali Sabu	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Narius Yahuli	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Bayam Heselo	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Esano Giban	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Asah Giban	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Elly Hiluka	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Gule Kalolik	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Budi Hiluka	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Amos Musi	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Amenas Heluka	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Erem Pagawak	male	unknown	indigenous
1	Iman Kogoya	male	unknown	indigenous