The space for the freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly keeps shrinking in Indonesia’s eastern-most provinces Papua and Papua Barat. On 14 June 2022, members of the Jayapura police dispersed a peaceful assembly in the Perumnas III residential area in Waena, Jayapura City, with teargas, wooden batons and rubber bullets. Eleven protesters were reportedly injured (see table below) as police officers released shots indiscriminately into the crowd using rubber ammunition while others were beating protesters with wooden batons. The incident is only one in a series of forceful dispersals taking place in Jayapura City in the past three months.
The protesters, mostly sympathizers of the pro-independence movement organisation ‘West Papua National Committee (KNPB) had come together to commemorate the death of former KNPB leader Mako Tabuni, who died during police detention on 14 June 2012 shortly after his arrest.
Around 10.00 am, KNPB sympathizers gathered near the final bus stop in the Perumnas III residential area in Waena, where the police members had arrested and shot down Mako Tabuni ten years ago. They brought banners and played music on the side of the road in order not to disturb the traffic.
Around 1.00 pm, four vehicles of the police crowd control unit Dalmas and one additional police truck arrived at the location. Police officers jumped off the vehicles and forcefully dispersed the crowd. Two protesters were hit by rubber projectiles. Nine others sustained injuries as a result of police violence during the dispersal (see photos below).
The officers arrested five KNPB sympathizers in the Perumnas 3 residential area in Waena, Jayapura, around 2.30 pm and subsequently detained them at the Jayapura City Police Headquarters. All were released on the same day at 9.00 pm (see table below).
The director of the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), Mr Emanuel Gobay, provided legal support to the five arrested KNPB during police detention. He expressed serious concerns regarding the professionalism of the Jayapura Police. Gobay underlined that the police have the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the freedom of peaceful assembly as guaranteed under the Indonesian Constitution and international human rights law. He added that the facts surrounding the dispersal indicate violations regarding the procedural use of firearms by law enforcement officials.
Tables with protesters arrested and ill-treated
| No | Name | Additional information |
| 1 | Wene Wandikbo | Was arrested in the Perumnas 3 residential area in Waena, Jayapura, around 2.30 pm and subsequently detained at the Jayapura City police headquarters; he was released at 9.00 pm without charges |
| 2 | Manu Iyaba | Was arrested in the Perumnas 3 residential area in Waena, Jayapura, around 2.30 pm and subsequently detained at the Jayapura City police headquarters; he was released at 9.00 pm without charges |
| 3 | Edi Tabuni | Was arrested in the Perumnas 3 residential area in Waena, Jayapura, around 2.30 pm and subsequently detained at the Jayapura City police headquarters; he was released at 9.00 pm without charges |
| 4 | Jefri Molama | Was arrested in the Perumnas 3 residential area in Waena, Jayapura, around 2.30 pm and subsequently detained at the Jayapura City police headquarters; he was released at 9.00 pm without charges |
| 5 | Emani Pahabol | Was arrested in the Perumnas 3 residential area in Waena, Jayapura, around 2.30 pm and subsequently detained at the Jayapura City police headquarters; he was released on 15 June 2022 at 5.00 pm without charges |
| No | Name | Gender | Age | Additional information |
| 1 | Coswin Tabyor | male | 21 years | Sustained a rubber bullet injury in the right buttocks |
| 2 | Yuber Kalakmabin | male | 20 years | Sustained a rubber bullet injury in the right hip |
| 3 | Jhon Kadepa | male | 21 years | Sustained bruises on the forehead |
| 4 | Kikibi Pigai | male | 21 years | Sustained injury on the foot |
| 5 | Manu Tinal | male | 26 years | Sustained injuries on the foot and the eyebrow |
| 6 | Benediktus Tebai | male | N/A | Sustained injury in the palm |
| 7 | Nopen Tulama | male | N/A | Sustained injury in the palm |
| 8 | Jendri Wanimbo | male | N/A | Sustained injury on the cheek |
| 9 | Natan Pigai | male | N/A | Sustained bruises on the head and hand after police officers beat him with a baton |
| 10 | Fransiskus Petege | male | N/A | Sustained bruises on the back after police officers beat him with a baton |
| 11 | Jefri Pigai | male | 24 years | Sustained bruises on the right hand and left leg after police officers beat him with a baton |
Photos of protesters ill-treated as police dispersed the crowd
Photos of rubber ammunition projectiles used to disperse the crowd
Video taken at the protest location shortly after police dispersed the crowd
Protesters arrested on 14 June 2022
Pingback: Police officers kill Papuan man in Paniai Regency – Relatives demand independent investigation -