The Indonesian government’s ‘Free Nutritious Food’ Project (Makanan Bergizi Gratis, MBG), spearheaded by President Prabowo Subianto, has reached West Papua. The program aims to reach 2 million pupils nationwide, with a large-scale rollout scheduled for 17 February 2025. In the Paniai Regency, thousands of students held a peaceful demonstration on 24 February 2025. Students in the Deiyai Regency protested Prabowo’s lunch program again on 26 February 2025. Despite its implementation, the program has faced civil society opposition in West Papua. The students demanded free education instead of free meals to address the education crisis that West Papua has been facing for decades. Moreover, the students raised concerns regarding the involvement of the military or police in the national lunch program. In conflict-affected West Papua, the free lunch meals have been cooked and distributed by members of the military.
On 3 February 2025, hundreds of pupils in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, staged a protest against Prabowo’s free lunch project. Two weeks later, students across West Papua held peaceful demonstrations in rejection of the program on 17 February 2025. Protests took place in Wamena, Jayapura, Sentani, Nabire, Timika, Yalimo, and Dogiyai. The protest in Dogiyai was allowed to proceed but was closely monitored by security forces. Other locations experienced violent crackdowns by security forces, raising serious human rights concerns. In total, police officers arbitrarily arrested 78 protesters and ill-treated at least six pupils in Jayapura and Nabire that day.
Security forces violently suppressed protests in Wamena, Yalimo, Timika, Jayapura, Sentani, and Nabire, including the use of tear gas, beatings, mass arrests, and intimidation of students inside schools. Police officers in Wamena and Yalimo released warning shots. However, HRM did not receive reports of protesters injured by bullets in both locations. The Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) denied that officers had used firearms during demonstrations against President Prabowo Subianto’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG). Polda Papua spokesperson Commissioner Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo said that photos of bullet shells circulating on social media were deliberately distributed by the West Papua National Coalition (KNPB) to corner the government.
The crackdowns on the demonstration and the mass arrests of pupils and student protesters in the Papuan provinces violate the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Moreover, human rights organizations call for an independent investigation into the excessive use of force and torture against students in Jayapura and Sentani, upholding democratic freedoms and human rights in West Papua.
Wamena Town, Jayawijaya Regency
According to the information received, the protest in Wamena was attended by a few thousand students. The protesters wanted to walk to the Jayawijaya local parliament but were reportedly blocked by security forces in the Hom-Hom area. Security forces forcibly dispersed the protesters using tear gas and warning shots. The protesters responded, throwing stones at the police personnel (see videos below, source: independent HRD). The officers seized banners and pamphlets.
Student protest in Wamena, 17 February 2025
Crackdown on student protest in Wamena, 17 February 2025
Elelim Town, Yalimo Regency
Students began gathering in Elelim around 7.00 am in various locations, from where the protesters began walking towards the Education Office and the Yalimo Regent’s Office. At 8:30 am, a dozen Yalimo Resort Regional Police members and the Yalimo Police Chief arrived in a black Hilux. While the police chief initially negotiated for passage through the protest, tensions escalated when police personnel in the vehicle allegedly provoked students, leading to a confrontation between officers and protesters.
During the chaos, police reportedly fired 12 live bullets, smoke grenades, and tear gas. Many demonstrators suffered from tear gas exposure. The protesters responded by throwing stones at the police personnel. Despite the escalation, the demonstration continued, with government representatives from the Regional People’s Representative Council (MRP), the Education Office, and the Health Office arriving to hear the students’ demands. By noon, student representatives delivered speeches and formally submitted their rejection of the Free Nutritional Food Program. Three students were reportedly detained and later released. The protest continued peacefully until it concluded around 2:00–3:00 pm.
Student protest in Elelim, 17 February 2025
Crackdown on student protest in Elelim, 17 February 2025
Jayapura City and Sentani Town, Jayapura Regency
Acts of intimidation had already occurred before the demonstration. Police officers prevented the students from distributing leaflets for the protest. On the morning of 17 February 2025, authorities intimidated students at SMK Negeri 1 Sentani (see video below, source: independent HRD) and of SMA Negeri 7, blocking the gates to prevent the students from attending the peaceful assembly. The police forcibly dispersed a student protest at Jalan Sosial Sentani.
Joint security forces collectively ill-treated four students named Habel Fauwok, Ello Narek, Linus Yando, and Daud Penggu in Sentani and arrested another student named Ayup Murib, who had recorded the ill-treatment with his mobile phone. In Jayapura, the protesters were intercepted at the Perumnas 3 Waena. Fifteen students were reportedly arrested at Expo Waena and arbitrarily detained at Heram Sub-District Police Station. Several protesters, including one of the organizers named Sero Kisan, were reportedly beaten by police during arrest All were later released after the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) provided legal support for the students.
HRM is particularly concerned about reports indicating that members of the Jayapura District Police detained students and forced them to incriminate the KNPB as instigators of the protest. Police officers recorded and disseminated the video statements on social media, claiming that the KNPB manipulated the students to organize the demonstrations. The students later recorded video statements in which they clarified that the police forced them to record the false testimonies incriminating the KNPB.
Students protesting at the Abepura Roundabout, Jayapura on 17 February 2025
Police officers prevent pupils of SMK Negeri 1 Sentani from attending the protest on 17 February 2025
Four students sustained injuries after police officers ill-treated them in Sentani
Nabire Town, Nabire Regency
Police officers responded to the demonstration by carrying out mass arrests. According to media sources, 48 protesters were arbitrarily detained at the Nabre District Police Station (see videos below, source: independent HRDs). The police released the majority of students in the late afternoon. Nine protesters named Ando, Peu Mee Tebai, Kurus Sentani, Noken, Yosua Pigome, Herman Agapa, Hansel Yogi, Cicak, and Sony Douw remained in custody. They were released on 18 February 2025, at 9.30 pm without charges. A 12-year-old junior high school student, Immanuel Muyapa, was kicked by the head of the Nabire Education Office who later publicly apologized for the ill-treatment.
Papuan Students being detained at the Nabire District Police Station on 17 February 2025
Timika Town, Mimika Regency
Authorities conducted intimidation and terror inside schools. Security personnel prevented students at Petra Mimika Vocational High School and State High Schools from attending the student rally in Timika Town. Police officers coerced students at Petra Mimika Vocational High School to record a video in support of Prabowo’s MBG program (see video below, source: independent HRD)
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