Papuan human rights activists and civil society organisations have called for the protection of Mr Karel Fatem (see photo on top, source: LBH Kaki Abu), a Papuan prisoner allegedly affiliated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), following a death sentence imposed during cassation proceedings before Indonesia's Supreme Court in early August 2026. On 12 August 2026, demonstrators gathered outside Sorong Class IIB Prison, where Mr Fatem was being held, demanding that prison authorities guarantee his safety, prevent intimidation, facilitate family visits and refrain from transferring him to a prison outside West Papua.
According to Suara Papua, Mr Fatem was prosecuted in connection with two separate incidents: an attack in Kisor Village, Maybrat Regency, on 2 September 2021, and the shooting of an Indonesian military member in Fankahrio Village on 20 January 2022. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty in the Fankahrio case, but the trial court imposed a life sentence. The sentence was reportedly upheld on appeal before prosecutors pursued cassation proceedings before the Supreme Court, which subsequently imposed the death penalty.
On 12 August 2026, members of the Domberay People's Front Against National Strategic Projects and Militarism in West Papua organised a spontaneous demonstration outside Sorong Class IIB Prison. Protesters urged prison authorities to guarantee Mr Fatem's physical safety and protect him against intimidation, threats and other forms of violence. The demonstrators also opposed any transfer to Makassar, arguing that relocation could restrict access to his family and legal representatives.
Human rights analysis
The death sentence raises questions under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to life and strictly limits the circumstances in which states that retain capital punishment may impose it. Under the interpretation adopted by the UN Human Rights Committee, the death penalty may be imposed only for crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing. Any death sentence must also comply with the stringent fair trial guarantees established under Article 14 of the ICCPR. A death sentence resulting from proceedings that violate these guarantees constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life under Article 6.
The concerns raised about Fatem's treatment in Sorong Class IIB Prison also engage Indonesia's obligations under Articles 7 and 10 of the ICCPR, including the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and the requirement that persons deprived of their liberty be treated with humanity and respect for their inherent dignity. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) further establish that prisoners should be able to maintain regular contact with their families, have confidential access to legal advisers and, to the extent possible, be accommodated in prisons close to their homes. Although a transfer to another detention facility is not automatically unlawful, any decision concerning Mr Fatem's relocation should take account of his safety, access to legal representation, family contact and the availability of effective legal remedies.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-132-2026
Location: Sorong, Sorong City, Southwest Papua, Indonesia (-0.8761629, 131.255828)
Region: Indonesia > Southwest Papua > Sorong > Sorong
Total number of victims: 1
1. Karel Fatem, male adult Indigenous Peoples fair trial
Period of incident: 08/08/2026-08/08/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Government > Prosecution
Issues: indigenous peoples
Sources: Suara Papua