On 24 November 2025, at around 07:15 pm, police officers arbitrarily detained four members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at a coffee shop near Karang Tumaritis Market, Nabire town, Nabire Regency, Central Papua province, and subsequently detained them at the Nabire District Police Station (Polres Nabire).
The police officers failed to provide a clear reason for the detention. Mr Peume Tebai, 18, Mr Yosua Pigome, 18, Mr Kabel Pigay, 18, and Merten Yobe, 17, were released shortly after following requests by other activists at the Nabire Police Station.
The four activists arrived by motorbike at a coffee shop near Karang Tumaritis Market at 5:40 pm while displaying a KNPB flag (see photo on top, source: independent HRD). At approximately 7:15 pm, police officers arrived and arrested the four activists without showing a warrant. Thereupon, they were taken to the Nabire Police Station. As other activists arrived at Polres Nabire and asked for the legal basis for the detention, the officers reportedly released them without pressing charges or providing a clear explanation for the detention.
Human rights analysis
The case has various human rights implications. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 9, anyone arrested must be informed of the reasons for arrest and promptly informed of any charges; deprivation of liberty must follow procedures established by law. In the Indonesian context, Article 18 of the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) sets clear requirements for arrest, including showing assignment letters, providing an arrest warrant that states the reasons, and a brief case description.
The incident also raises serious concerns regarding freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21 ICCPR, where the conduct described (flag-waving and travelling in public) is prima facie expressive activity. Any restriction must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate in a democratic society. Indonesia's constitutional framework likewise protects freedom of association, assembly, and expression.
Moreover, one of those arrested, Merten Yobe, is a minor under international law. Under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Article 37(b), a child must not be deprived of liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily; arrest or detention must be a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time, with additional safeguards regarding treatment and access to legal assistance and family contact.
Detailed case data
Location: Karang Tumaritis, Nabire, Nabire Regency, Central Papua, Indonesia (-3.3813459, 135.4992687) Coffee Shop near Tumaritis Market
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Nabire, Nabire
Total number of victims: 4
1. Peume Tebai, male 18 Activist arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
2. Kabel Pigay, male 18 Activist arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
3. Yosua Pigome, male 18 Activist arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
4. Merten Yobe, male 17 Activist arbitrary detention, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression
Period of incident: 24/11/2025-24/11/2025
Perpetrator: POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polres Nabire Officers
Issues: indigenous peoples
Source: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/four-political-activists-arbitrarily-detained-in-nabire