Pabubu Basipae indigenous community evicted by government in East Nusa Tenggara – 23 homeless families live in the forest

On 20 October 2022, the East Nusa Tenggara provincial government evicted the residents of 19 Pabubu Basipae indigenous community houses in Linamutu village, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (Nusa Tenggara Timur – NTT). The area in question is known as the Basipae area. The Head of Assets, accompanied by POL PP, BRIMOB and policed from POLRES Kab. TTS led the eviction. The 19 houses that were demolished included 12 that the NTT Provincial Government had built for the community as compensation for evictions in 2020.

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Criminalisation and discrimination of Nagari Aia Gadang indigenous farmers – Conflict with PT Anam Koto

Five Minangkabau indigenous farmers in Nagari Aia Gadang (Aia Gadang Village), Pasaman District, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra Province, were sentenced to prison by the West Pasaman District Court on 19 September 2022. The court found them guilty of mistreating employees of the oil palm plantation company PT Anam Koto, as referred to in Article 351 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code. The court sentenced Ms Wisnawati, 32, to one month and 15 days. The other four, Mr Idamri, 39, Mr Safridin, 41, Mr Rudi, 31, and Mr Jasman, 45, were sentenced to two months and 15 days in prison.

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Awyu indigenous community sues Papua DPMPTSP Office over right to information about palm oil company’s permit

The Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office (DPMPTSP) in Papua seems to be restricting and blocking access to information by the indigenous community of Awyu regarding the company PT Indo Asiana Letari (PT IAL), specifically information related to the PT IAL’s Plantation Business license. The palm oil company operates in the Awyu’s customary land around Digoel and Mappi Rivers in Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Province. It is planning to replace customary forests with palm oil plantations. According to the community, the DPMPTSP is issuing permits without the knowledge of the public.

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Leading Papuan Independence Activist Filep Karma died allegedly in a diving accident

Filep Karma, one of the most prominent pro-independence West Papuan activists was found dead on 1 November 2022 at 7 am on a beach in Jayapura city. Initially, the police confirmed that a body has been found by a resident on the beach at Base G and identification was pending. Later on, Filep Karma’s family confirmed that the body belong to Filep and that he drowned in a diving accident. Reportedly, Filep had been on a diving trip with his brother-in-law and nephew but went diving alone after the two left the beach.

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President Jokowi establishes team to investigate the tragedy in Kajuruan and Komnas HAM plans to take case to the UN

To unearth the Kanjuruhan tragedy that killed 131 people, President Jokowi, on 4 October 2022, signed Presidential Decree Number 19 of 2022 concerning establishing an Independent Joint Fact-Finding Team for the Malang Kanjuruhan Stadium incident. TGIPF is formed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs as Chairman, the Deputy Chairman of the Minister of Youth and Sports, a secretary Nur Rochmad and nine members. The TGIPF was tasked with searching, finding, and revealing facts supported by reliable data and information on the Malang Kanjuruhan Stadium incident.

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Criminalisation of environmental activists – Fight against mining operations of PT TMS in Sangihe Islands

Mr Robison Saul, a fisherman and an islander of Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi Province, is allegedly being criminalised for being vocal against the operations of the company PT Tambang Mas Sangihe (PT TMS). Robison participated in community actions against the mining activities, including blocking PT TMS’s transportation of heavy equipment on 14 June 2022. Robison was accused of carrying sharp weapons during the action on that date. The case is currently before the Tahuna District Court. Fourteen other mining resisters are currently threatened with criminalisation. The police have begun summoning them on charges of alleged criminal acts of violence against goods,

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Military members torture three Papuan minors and their parents in Keerom Regency

Military personnel of the Kopasus Maleo special forces reportedly tortured three Papuan children and their parents inside a military post at the Yuwanain Village, Arso District, on 27 October 2022. The military police have launched an investigation into the incident. According to a spokesperson of the Pomdam XVII/Cenderawasih military command, 32 military members will be examined in relation to the case.

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Police officer kills man in Manado, North Sulawesi – victim’s family demands justice

On 23 July 2022, two police officers, Bripka SR and Bripka WL shot a man named Raymond Londok (RL) dead in Pandu Village, Bunaken District, Manado City. The police answered the call of a community resident concerned by a drunk man holding a dagger/ white object and screaming. The resident expected the police to calm down the drunken man, but allegedly the officers used excessive force and killed the victim. The police stated it was self-defence and tried to dissuade the family from reporting the victim’s death. On 18 August 2022, the North Sulawesi Regional Police held a press conference led by the Head of Public Relations of the North Sulawesi Police, Kombes Pol. Jules Abraham Abast.

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Mpur tribe in Papua Barat demands that PT BAPP stops operating on its customary land

In January 2022, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, through SK 01/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/1/2022 concerning Revocation of Forest Area Concession Permits, revoked 192 forestry permits/concessions. One was PT Bintuni Agro Prima Perkasa’s (BAPP) concession area of ​​19,368.77 ha in West Papua. The Mpur tribe of indigenous people, whose customary land is affected by the concession, had urged to revoke PT BAPP’s permit in West Papua since 2017. The Mpur have tried to discuss this with the regent of Tambrauw and the relevant agencies. Still, the regent and representatives of the appropriate offices object to meeting directly with the customary land rights holders.

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Woman arrested for social media comment in Wuring, East Nusa Tenggara Province

A 42-year-old woman named Sumiarti Masry was arrested by the Sikka Polres on 1 September 2022 in Wuring, Wolomarang Village, Alok District, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. She was arrested for saying through her Facebook account that “traffic police (Polantas) is like ‘Ferdy Sambo”. The Sambo case is a high-profile story that has caught the public’s attention across Indonesia since July 2022. Sumiarti’s case began with her comments on Ryna Nhozee’s Facebook account status: “Ngerii ew polisi tilang sampai masuk di Wuring” (It was terrible, the traffic police inspect in Wuring). At that time, the Traffic Police Unit of the Sikka Police was conducting a vehicle inspection in the Wuring T-junction area.

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Police officers tortured a student for criticising the actions of police in North Halmahera, North Maluku

On 20 September 2022, four members of the North Halmahera Polres in North Maluku Province in Indonesia tortured an activist and student at the University of Halmahera, Yulius Atu (also called Ongen) for criticising how the police handled the demonstration against the rise in fuel prices that took place earlier a day before. Police dragged, kicked, beat, and forced the victim to apologise to police sniffer dogs. During the protest, Yulius took photos of police officers using sniffer dogs to keep the protest under control. After the rally, the victim uploaded a photo with a WhatsApp status that said, ‘unable to use hands, use sniffer dogs’ (tidak mampu pake tangan, pake anjing pelacak).

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Extra-judicial killing case in North Sulawesi in 2020- still many open questions

It has been more than two years since the extrajudicial killing of a 22-year-old man named Exel Djunaidi (ED) by the police in North Sulawesi. The legal process against the perpetrator has not been carried out. ED died after being arrested by members of the Directorate of Drug Detection (Ditresnarkoba) of the North Sulawesi Regional Police on 13 September 2020 at his house in Lolah Satu Village, East Tombariri District, Minahasa. The family found ED dead with several gunshot wounds on his body, including one in the back of the head. The case was reported to the police on 14 September 2020. However, the police stopped the preliminary investigation of this case four months after the incident in January 2021.

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Update law enforcement process – 18 military personnel suspected of collectively torturing six Papuans

On 30 August 2022, military personnel tortured Mr Bruno Anonim Kimko and Mr Yohanes Kanggum inside a military post in the Bade Village, Mappi regency. Komnas HAM revealed that the military personnel had tortured four more victims prior to the incident on 28 August 2022. The four victims were identified as Mr Amsal Pius Yimsimen, Mr Korbanius Yamin, Mr Lodefius Tikamtahae and Mr Saferius Yame. As of the end of October 2022, the military police have identified eighteen suspects. All are members of the Raider 600/Modang infantry battalion.

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Update on law enforcement process: Police officers arrest last suspect involved in mutilation of four Papuans in Mimika

Police officers arrested Mr Roy Marten Howay in his parent’s house in the Wania District, Mimika Regency, on 8 October 2022. Mr Howay is accused of being involved in the mutilation of four indigenous Papuans in the Town of Timika on 22 August 2022.

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Police arbitrary arrest and detain two Papuan intellectuals in Wamena

Members of the Jayawijaya District Police arbitrarily arrested two Papuans from the Nduga regency, Papua Province. Mr Titus Koranue and Mr Yance Kerebea have been detained at the Jayawijaya District police station since late June 2022. The police have not explained the reason for the arrest but stated both men were “secured to prevent unwanted things from happening“.

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Attacked by nationalist groups, police fail to protect Papuan students in Makassar

On 8 June 2022, Papuan and non-Papuan students in Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan Province, were prevented and attacked by members of a militant group as they wanted to protest against the formation of new provinces in West Papua. As the students wanted to leave the dormitory, BMI members attacked them injuring five students.

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Military members in Nduga torture teacher to death

Members of the Quari Atas Yonif R 431/SSP military post in the Kenyam Distrct, Nduga regency allegedly tortured a 40-year-old high school teacher, Mr Musa Nawipa on 27 April 2022. According to information received from local sources, the military personnel tortured Mr Nawipa inside the military post for one day until he succumbed to the injuries sustained as a result of the torture.

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