Indonesia, West Papua – Human rights organisations have condemned the trial process against Mr Rife Kerebea (see photo on top, source: Suara Papua) as unfair. Mr Kerebea was arbitrarily arrested and processed for the alleged murder of 13 gold miners in Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.
His lawyers criticised various procedural breaches in the legal process, saying that the case is emblematic of a broader pattern of criminalisation targeting indigenous Papuans. On 12 June 2025, Mr Kerebea was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Five expert witnesses called by the prosecution failed to produce autopsy reports. Additionally, several items presented as evidence, such as bullet shells, a burnt mobile phone, feathers, and cigarette packages, turned out to have no direct connection to Kerebea. Legal experts also criticised the application of Article 340 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (premeditated murder) in this case, asserting that the charges are excessive and unsupported by the evidence.
On 10 June 2025, two days before the verdict, Mr Rife Kerebea was interrogated by unidentified individuals and without the presence of his legal counsel. They showed him a series of photographs and questioned him regarding them. The correctional facility's security unit later confirmed that they had no prior knowledge of the external visit and interrogation underscoring the irregularity of the incident. This recent development further illustrates what his defence team describes as a deeply flawed and unjust legal process. Mr Kerebea was arrested on 17 August 2024 in Kenyam, Nduga, in a heavily militarised operation without a valid arrest warrant. According to consistent statements from his family and legal counsel, he was forcefully arrested, blindfolded, beaten, threatened with death, shot in the leg, and subjected to coercive interrogation while in custody.
Mr Kerebea, formerly a village secretary and small-scale miner, says he is innocent. Witnesses called during the trial did not place him at the scene of the murders, and no forensic or testimonial evidence links him directly to the killings. His legal counsel argues that the prosecution has failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and instead relied on a narrative that unfairly associated Mr Kerebea with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) based solely on his place of origin and presence in a volatile area.
From a human rights perspective, Mr Kerebea's case is emblematic of the broader pattern of criminalisation faced by indigenous Papuans accused of political or security-related offences. His arbitrary arrest, torture, prolonged pre-trial detention, and lack of access to timely legal assistance constitute violations of Indonesia's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), including the right to liberty, fair trial guarantees, and protection from torture. The judiciary must resist political pressure and base its ruling solely on the facts and principles of justice to uphold the fundamental democratic principle of separation between the judiciary, legislative, and executive powers.