Indonesia, West Papua – On 22 May 2025, a peaceful protest organised by students of Cenderawasih University (Uncen) in Jayapura City, Papua Province, was met with violent repression by joint forces of the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
The protest, held at the main gate of the new Uncen campus in Waena, was directed against the proposed increase in the Single Tuition Fee (UKT). The demonstration escalated into a violent clash when authorities forcefully dispersed the crowd with physical force and tear gas, subsequently entering the academic premises without consent. One student, Mr Tenis Aliknoe, 25, was injured by a rubber bullet. Police officers deliberately damaged dozens of motorcycles belonging to students, and the property of the Uncen Student Council was also destroyed.
The protest began peacefully in front of the Uncen campus, with students calling for the reduction of UKT. Around 10:20 am, security forces attempted to disperse the gathering by pushing demonstrators, leading to a physical confrontation. As tensions escalated, police fired tear gas into the crowd and stormed the campus, a clear violation of the academic sanctuary principle. During the chaos, one police vehicle was reportedly set ablaze. In response, motorcycles parked within the campus belonging to at least 36 named students were deliberately damaged (see video below, source: Independent HRD) or seized by security force members. Police officers also broke the gate of the Student Executive Board (BEM) secretariat and seized laptops and identification cards.
Legal analysis
This incident represents a serious violation of fundamental human rights enshrined in both national and international law. The students were exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, protected under Article 28E(3) of the Indonesian Constitution and international human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Articles 19 and 21, to which Indonesia is a party. The forced entry of armed forces into a university campus without a legal mandate contravenes academic freedom as outlined in Article 6 of Indonesian Law No. 12/2012 on Higher Education.
Moreover, the use of disproportionate force, including rubber bullets and tear gas, and the destruction of personal property potentially violates the right to security of person and protection from arbitrary interference with property (Articles 17 and 9 of the ICCPR). The lack of prior dialogue and sudden resort to force contradicts Police Chief Regulation No. 8 of 2009, which obliges law enforcement to respect human dignity and use force only under strictly regulated conditions.