Indonesia, West Papua – A 52-year-old man, Septinus Andreas Sesa, died after reportedly inhaling tear gas fired by police during a spontaneous protest in Manokwari. The incident occurred on 28 August 2025, near Yossudarso Road, West Manokwari District.
The victim's family reported that tear gas entered their home, causing Mr Sesa to experience acute breathing difficulties before being rushed to the Manokwari Navy Hospital, where he was declared dead at 6:05 am the following morning. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has deployed a team to investigate the circumstances of his death, while the West Papua Regional Police continues to examine the case.
According to the victim's wife, tear gas reportedly entered their home. As his breathing worsened, the family sought help from neighbours to transport him to the hospital. Upon arrival, medical staff found no pulse or reflexes and declared him deceased. Komnas HAM's regional head, Mr Frits Ramandey, confirmed that investigators are verifying witness testimonies, inspecting the scene, and coordinating with the National Police Supervisory Inspectorate (Itwasum) to ensure the facts are established transparently.
The West Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua Barat) stated that Septinus Sesa"s death was being examined "professionally and thoroughly," although the family's refusal to permit an autopsy has delayed conclusive forensic findings. According to police, Mr Sesa had a prior medical history of Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) and non-haemorrhagic stroke in March 2025. The authorities maintain that he was not involved in the protest but was at home when the tear gas was deployed to disperse demonstrators protesting (see photo on top, source: independent HRD) the transfer of four political prisoners from Sorong to Makassar, South Sulawesi.
The Polda Papua Barat Public Relations Chief, Senior Commissioner Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, said that the investigation is being carried out with the National Human Rights Commission and the Indonesian Ombudsman to ensure accountability and transparency. He urged the public "to remain patient" and avoid speculation until the full investigative findings are released. Komnas HAM, meanwhile, continues to verify whether the tear gas deployment adhered to lawful standards under the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which require that law enforcement operations respect the principles of necessity, proportionality, and precaution.
Human rights analysis
Mr Septinus Sesa's death raises human rights concerns, particularly regarding the use of tear gas in residential areas and the state's obligation to protect the right to life and health under Articles 6 and 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both of which Indonesia has ratified. The deployment of tear gas should be restricted to open spaces and used only when strictly unavoidable to disperse violent assemblies. The use of such chemical agents near civilian homes may amount to arbitrary and excessive use of force, potentially violating the right to security of person and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
The death of Septinus Sesa underscores persistent concerns about disproportionate police tactics and the lack of accountability in crowd control operations in West Papua, reflecting a broader pattern of excessive use of force against civilians in politically sensitive contexts. The investigation into the case should be independent, impartial, and timely, ensuring that all relevant evidence, including medical and environmental data, is preserved. Cooperation between the West Papua Police, Komnas HAM, and the Ombudsman should lead to a transparent and credible outcome that upholds both domestic and international human rights standards.