Indonesia, West Papua – Protests by Papuan students in the cities of Yogyakarta, Java Tengah Province, and Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan Province) were forcefully dispersed by police officers on 1 and 2 December 2024 in commemoration of the 1st December 1961.
The day marks a historic date for many Papuans. The Morning Star Flag, which many Papuans consider an important symbol of cultural identity, was first raised on that date, before the territory came under the administration of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) on 1 October 1962.
Most of the 2024 commemorations in West Papua were not held in public, given that security forces across West Papua have been on high alert on this day throughout the past years. Political prisoners in the Abepura Correctional Facility peacefully commemorated the day in their cells. According to information received from local human rights defenders, one Papuan man was reportedly arbitrarily detained in Jayapura City for publicly carrying banners promoting self-determination for West Papua. In the town of Nabire, police officers searched the Paniai Student Dormitory in the Kalibobo area and arbitrarily detained 11 students. The incidents underscore the excessive repression faced by activists and raise urgent concerns about the violation of their rights to peaceful assembly and expression. The excessive use of force, coupled with arrests of students and legal representatives, raises serious concerns about the treatment of activists in Indonesia.
Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan province
On 2 December 2024, The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) held a peaceful demonstration in Makassar, South Sulawesi, to commemorate the 63rd Papua Independence Day. The march began at 9:50 am from the Kamasan IV dormitory toward the Mandala Monument. Despite prior notification to authorities, police repeatedly blocked the demonstrators, citing the presence of Morning Star symbols on banners and clothing as a violation. Negotiations with the police failed, leading to the students breaking through barricades to continue their march.
At 10:40 am, the situation escalated when Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers arrived, using tear gas and physical force to disperse the protesters. Twelve participants were beaten and struck with blunt objects during the clashes, with eight students sustaining minor injuries, three suffering serious injuries, and one allegedly grazed by a bullet. Authorities reportedly arrested 17 protesters, including a legal adviser from LBH Makassar. While most detainees were released by evening, two remained in custody. Several police officers were injured as protesters threw stones at the officers in response to the attempt to disperse the crowd with teargas.
Yogyakarta, Java Tengah province
On 1 December 2024, 188 students gathered at the Kamasan 1 Papuan Dormitory in Yogyakarta to participate in a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of the 1st December. The protest began at 10:40 AM, with participants giving speeches as they departed the dormitory. The protest was heavily surveilled by plainclothes officers and intelligence personnel taking photos and videos. Along the route, large police contingents blocked key intersections, while negotiations between protest leaders, legal representatives, and police unfolded intermittently to secure passage for the march.
Tensions escalated as the protesters reached the Heroes' Cemetery on Jl. Kusumanegara, where they were surrounded by police, Brimob units, and City Tiger forces. Despite repeated negotiations, the debate escalated into clashes. Violence broke out as police and allied forces attempted to disperse the crowd forcibly, leading to physical confrontations. One protester, named Melki, was arrested amid the protest, while several others were subjected to beatings and intimidation by security forces. The protesters eventually retreated to the Kamasan dormitory at 5:45 pm, where the students were barricaded by police and City Tiger forces. Negotiations resumed at the dormitory, with legal representatives from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) mediating between the protesters and security forces. By 7:40 pm, the situation de-escalated, and the combined forces withdrew from the area.
Nabire town, Papua Tengah province
On 1 December 2024, police officers searched the Paniai Male Student Dormitory in Nabire following a morning worship service commemorating the 1st of December. However, at approximately 3:30 p.m., police forces entered the dormitory, arrested eleven students without providing a warrant, and seized cell phones, laptops, cash, a camera, and kitchen utensils. The police officers caused significant property damage, including breaking dormitory doors, and cabinets, and scattering belongings.
Witness accounts highlighted the excessive use of force by the security forces, creating a tense atmosphere around the dormitory. Some students managed to escape and recounted their experiences of the raid, describing the destruction and fear instilled by the armed officers. Despite the scale of the operation, no official explanation has been provided for the raid, arrests, or confiscations.
The affected students and dormitory residents have called on the Nabire Police Chief to release the detained students and return the seized items. They have also appealed to human rights organizations, justice groups, and the broader society for advocacy and support to address what they consider to be unjust treatment and a violation of their rights.
Jayapura city, Papua province
On 1 December 2024, Mr Malvin Yobee, a former political prisoner and Papuan activist, was arrested in front of the Good Shepherd Parish Catholic Church in Abepura, Jayapura City. He staged a solo protest to commemorate the 1st of December by unfurling two banners bearing the messages: "Self Determination for West Papua" and "Independence is the Right of All Nations." At 11:13 am, Police officers approached Mr Malvin and took him into custody. It is not known whether the police pressed charges against the activist.