West Papua – On 26 January 2025, human rights activist Mrs. Tineke Rumkabu attended a worship service at the GIDI Church outpost in Biak, Papua, Indonesia. After the service, around 12:20 pm while she and other church members gathered in the compound, joint security force members arrived and began questioning Mrs Rumkabu about alleged activities related to the Free Papua movement. They presented a photo allegedly showing a meeting in support of political independence. Mrs. Rumkabu firmly denied such activities, asserting that the gathering was solely for worship and fellowship.
Later that afternoon, around 3:00 pm, the officers returned to Mrs. Rumkabu's house in full military gear, with some in civilian clothes. Mrs Rumkabu perceived the unannounced visit without providing a clear reason or official warrant as an act of intimidation. The arbitrary actions of the security forces raised concerns about violations of human rights, particularly the right to safety and freedom from harassment. Their presence in both a place of worship and a private residence caused distress and disrupted the sense of security for Mrs. Tineke and her community.
This is not the first time that security force members have tried to intimidate Mrs Tineke Rumkabu. She faced intimidation and surveillance by security force members in July 2023, after speaking at the 53rd session of the Permanent People's Tribunal (PPT) in London via Zoom. During this session, she testified about state violence in West Papua during the New Order period and the situation of internally displaced people. Following her testimony, she and her family experienced a series of acts of intimidation. Ms Rumkabu understood the repeated visits by police officers as an attempt to prevent her from advocating for justice and human rights.
The incident highlights the ongoing human rights challenges in West Papua, where activists continue to face intimidation and physical assault. The arbitrary actions of state forces underscore the need for legal protection for human rights defenders in Indonesia.