Indonesia - Between 27 and 30 August 2025, security forces carried out a series of arbitrary arrests and home searches linked to protests against the transfer of four Papuan political prisoners in Sorong City, South West Papua.
Key arrests occurred on 27 August 2025 at around 4:30 pm and on 29 August 2025 at Sorong Raya Pro-approximately 4:30 pm. Detainees and victims include activists from Solidaritas Rakyat Papua – emocracy Solidarity. Among the victims are Mr Dominggus Wafom, Mr Musa Susim, Mr Elisa Bisulu, Mr Dedi Goram, and Mr Yance Manggaprouw, as well as seventeen others detained on 27 August, including the minors Yeheskiel Korwa, 15, and Riknal Drimlol, 17. Reported violations comprise arbitrary arrest and detention, unlawful searches without presenting warrants, excessive and indiscriminate use of force and firearms, ill-treatment, intimidation of children, and criminalisation of peaceful dissent.
According to various sources, heavily armed police surrounded and forced entry into the home of activist Sayang Mandabayang (Jalan Kelapa Dua) on 27 August 2025, arresting her husband Yan (Yance) Manggaprouw without presenting a warrant (see video below, source: independent HRD). He was transported to Sorong City Police Headquarters, allegedly beaten with a firearm butt, strangled, and his telephone seized. An interrogation followed at around 5:30 pm. He was subsequently notified of charges under Article 170 of the Indonesian Criminal Code on Assault.
Throughout 27 August, police reportedly dispersed protests against the prisoner transfer using tear gas and live ammunition, and pursued residents into homes. By approximately 8:00 pm, 17 people had reportedly been detained, including two minors (see photos below, source: independent HRDs). On 28 August 2025, 100 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers were flown in on "BKO/operational assistance" to "secure" demonstrations.
On 29 August 2025 at 4:30 pm, Brimob officers allegedly conducted a forced raid on the home of Abraham Goram Gaman, arresting Aves Susim, Dedy Goram, Maikel Wafom, and Elisa Bisulu, whose whereabouts were initially unknown. Around 5:00 pm, officers reportedly entered and arrested the wife of political prisoner Bram (Abraham) Goram at the Kld III/Worcit complex, triggering further protests. The same day, TNI personnel were observed moving to raid the home of activist Sayang Mandabayan. On 30 August 2025, civil society coalitions reported that several activists remained detained at Sorong City Police Headquarters.
Human rights analysis
From a human rights and rule-of-law perspective, the policing of these protests contravenes Indonesia's obligations under domestic and international law. Warrantless entries and searches of private homes, as reported, are inconsistent with Articles 18 and 33 of Law No. 8/1981 (KUHAP/Criminal Procedure Code). The use of tear gas and live fire to disperse protests and the pursuit of residents into homes are incompatible with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which require legality, necessity, precaution, and strict proportionality; firearms may only be used against an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and never as a means of routine crowd control.
The involvement of TNI (armed forces) in search and investigative functions raises serious legality concerns, given the separation of military and civilian law-enforcement roles under Indonesian law (including Law No. 3/2025 amending Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI) and international standards limiting military engagement in domestic policing.
The arrest and ill-treatment of a child (15-year-old Yeheskiel Korwa) breaches Indonesia's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Law No. 35/2014 on child protection, including the child's right to liberty, protection from violence, and best-interests considerations. More broadly, the measures described undermine rights protected by the International Covenant on Civil on Political Rights (ICCPR), including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly (Articles 19, 21) and liberty and security of person, and protection against arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 9), as well as the right "to feel secure and be protected from fear" reflected in Article 30 of Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights.
The criminalisation of peaceful dissent, coupled with reports of ill-treatment (beatings with a rifle butt, strangulation) and coercive interrogation, raises concerns of arbitrary detention and ill-treatment contrary to ICCPR Articles 9 and 7 and CAT standards. The cumulative pattern of massive force deployment, home invasions, child trauma, and ongoing detention of activists indicates disproportionate and punitive policing incompatible with necessity and proportionality principles under both domestic law and international human rights law.