Andrew Mathieson – Indonesian forces in West Papua have arrested 42 Papuan liberation activists, including a prominent 74-year-old tribal chief, during an independence separatist meeting.
Police detained all of the activists, who spent one night in jail before they were placed under house arrest for the next eight months, to curb the opportunities of further assembly together.
Tribal chief John Wenggi was arrested at his Waropen residence in the Papua province of Indonesia during the political meeting.
Wenggi was reportedly later beaten in custody, according to West Papua sources.
He was returned to his own residence last week for house arrest and is said to currently be on an intravenous (IV) drip from his injuries sustained in custody.
United Liberation Movement for West Papua leader and chairman, Benny Wenda, denounced the arrests on Wednesday, specifically taking aim at the alleged targeted beating of Mr Wenggi.
The arrests follows ongoing reports of violent clashes between the Indonesian military and West Papua civilians.
"On behalf of the people of West Papua (independence movement), I condemn the arrest of the 42 United Liberation Movement for West Papua representatives last week by the Indonesian police," Mr Wenda said.
"Indonesia has proven once again that fundamental human rights do not exist in West Papua.
"What possible justification is there for this vicious repression?
"Under international law, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua has the right to assembly and to peacefully advocate for democracy in our own land.
"This was a private political meeting held in the home of a widely-respected West Papuan Elder.
"I call on international non-government organisations and solidarity groups to pressure your governments to condemn these arrests and to call for the release of all remaining Papuan political prisoners."
Indonesia's latest crackdown on the West Papuan political movement is seen as a further response to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's Legislative Council's first plenary session – a deliberative assembly to mark the region's unrecognised provisional government – a month earlier in July.
Indonesia, in the same week of the arrests, released six unnamed West Papuan political prisoners on Friday after they were granted clemency among 1,778 other inmates following an earlier announcement from the nation's President, Prabowo Subianto, to pardon approximately 44,000 detainees fighting against the state.
West Papua's historic meeting of more than 2000 members had been inaugurated to its Legislative Council across West Papua's six customary, historic regions – as opposed to the six different provinces the Indonesian administration imposed on West Papua.
Those moves have sparked Indonesian House of Representative MP Oleh Soleh to deliver a warning that a "new wave of repression" would target West Papua while also calling the United Liberation Movement for West Papua nothing more than a "political criminal group".
"These groups that disrupt the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, groups that will disrupt unity, must be resolved immediately and effectively without problems or casualties because this is a burning fire," Mr Soleah said.
"If this continues, it will certainly be dangerous."
Mr Wenda said the words are a clear threat to all "peaceful activities" of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua-backed provisional government.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua chairman, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, has urged West Papuans to protect other high-profile independence leaders on the ground, naming West Papua Prime Minister Edison Waromi and West Papua Legislative Council Chair Buchtar Tabuni as crucial in its struggle towards independence.
"I call on our allied legal, political, and solidarity groups to do all they can to protect United Liberation Movement for West Papua representatives from arrest and/or imprisonment," Mr Wenda said.
"They are at serious risk as Indonesia intensifies its crackdown."
West Papua's head of state, President Jacob Rumbiak, is reportedly exiled in Australia.
Mr Wenda has reportedly told Indonesia the United Liberation Movement for West Papua is the legitimate representatives of West Papuans to act on behalf of its Indigenous peoples.
"The strategy that has been formulated in the Indonesian parliament and by the Indonesian police is now coming to fruition," he said.
"But in their desperation to destroy United Liberation Movement for West Papua's peaceful mission for liberation, Indonesia shows just how weak their hold on West Papua truly is.
"The United Liberation Movement for West Papua now has roots in every city, every town, and village throughout West Papua.
"We are a government-in-waiting and are ready to engage with the world.
"Indonesia is terrified of our growing strength.
"Indonesia must realise that no number of arrests will crush the West Papuan desire for independence."
Despite Mr Wenda adding "we are already prisoners in our land", in concession to Indonesia, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua is inviting President Prabowo to meet to discuss an internationally mediated referendum on independence.
"Ultimately, this is the only true path to a peaceful resolution in West Papua," he said.