On 15 August 2025, Indonesian police and Brimob forces used excessive force against peaceful KNPB protesters in Sentani, Jayapura Regency. The demonstration, part of region-wide commemorations from Sorong to Merauke, was organised to mark the controversial 1962 New York Agreement that transferred Papua from Dutch to Indonesian control.
Despite KNPB's advance notice and emphasis on peaceful protest, security forces responded with violence, resulting in at least nine documented injuries and systematic violations of constitutionally protected rights.
Documented Violations
Use of excessive force
Beginning at 7:20 AM, security forces escalated tensions by deploying two Brimob vehicles, three police cars, and a personnel transport truck against peaceful demonstrators. After a 15-minute ultimatum, forces used water cannons and batons to violently disperse protesters, forcibly pushing them from Pos 7 intersection to GIDI Imanuel Church.
Documented injuries
Human Rights Defenders confirmed nine people injured by police batons, including five specifically identified victims:
- Nhofis Esema (23), KNPB Coordinator – head injuries
- Eko Passe (22), KNPB member – head trauma, materials destroyed
- Elky Matuan (25), KNPB member – head and body injuries during negotiations
- Alory Wenda (22), KNPB activist – head and right hand injuries
- Merontak Wallo (20), KNPB activist – head injuries near left ear
Four additional victims remain unidentified. All sustained injuries from police batons during what should have been protected peaceful assembly.
Destruction of property
Security forces systematically destroyed protest materials, cutting command ropes and tearing pamphlets carried by demonstrators.
Legal framework violations
The police response violated multiple Indonesian constitutional and legal protections:
- Constitution Article 28E: Guarantees freedom of association, assembly, and expression
- Law No. 9/1998: Protects freedom of public opinion expression
- Law No. 39/1999: Affirms individual rights to peaceful demonstration
- Police Regulation No. 7/2012: Mandates police protection rather than repression of lawful demonstrations
These violations were committed under the authority of Jayapura Police Chief AKBP Umar Nasatekay, whose forces acted contrary to established legal procedures for handling peaceful demonstrations.
Pattern of suppression
This incident exemplifies broader systematic suppression of democratic rights in West Papua. The violent response to peaceful commemoration of a historical agreement demonstrates Indonesian authorities' intolerance for Papuan political expression, even when conducted within legal frameworks.
The timing is particularly significant, occurring amid West Papua's ongoing humanitarian crisis where over 100,000 people remain internally displaced due to armed conflict between Indonesian forces and independence groups.
Demands for accountability
Based on documented evidence, we demand:
- Immediate investigation into excessive force used against peaceful protesters
- Accountability measures against Jayapura Police Chief AKBP Umar Nasatekay and responsible officers
- Medical assistance and compensation for injured demonstrators
- Cessation of repressive tactics against Papuan civil society
- Respect for constitutionally protected rights of assembly and expression
Conclusion
The 15 August crackdown represents a clear violation of international human rights standards and Indonesian constitutional law. The systematic use of violence against peaceful demonstrators exercising fundamental rights demands immediate investigation and accountability measures.
This case exemplifies the broader pattern of democratic space restriction in West Papua, where legitimate political expression is met with state violence rather than constitutional protection. International attention and pressure are essential to ensure Indonesian authorities respect basic human rights and democratic principles in Papua.