Joe Collins of AWPA said, "the demonstrators were peacefully protesting the transfer of four Papuan political prisoners – Goram Goram Gaman, Maksi Sangkek, Piter Robaha, and Nikson Mai from the Sorong State Court to Makassar. They were calling on the authorities to allow the prisoners to remain in West Papua where they would have the support of their families and friends".

Jubi (29 August) has reported that at this stage "The trial of four defendants in an alleged treason case at the Makassar District Court was postponed after the defendants refused to proceed without legal representation. This refusal was based on the defendants' legal rights as stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP)".

South Sulawesi, Thursday (28/08/2025). Documentation of Makassar District Court Public Relations. Photo in Jubi

Joe Collins said, "The security forces responded in their usual heavy-handed approach to peacefully rallies in West Papua with intimidation and arbitrary arrests. Up to 17 West Papuans were reported to have been arrested". The authorities are blaming the demonstrators for rioting instead of the security forces whose brutality led to the deteriorating situation in Sorong.

The demonstrations which began on the 27 are ongoing. The below is from a post on AWPA's FB Page:

Friday August 29, 2025

Happening now in Sorong city

Masa Masi face to face with the Indonesian police until this morning from 28 to 29. Papuan People Feel Disappointed 4 West Papua Political Prisoners Forcibly Sent to Makassar on August 27, 2025 (See photos posted on AWPA FB page)

The 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will begin on the 8 September in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

At its 46th PIF meeting in Port Moresby in PNG in 2015, the Forum Leaders (in relation to West Papua) "requested the Forum Chair to convey the views of the Forum to the Indonesian Government, and to consult on a fact-finding mission to discuss the situation in Papua with the parties involved".

Joe Collins said, "ten years later there still has been no positive response from Jakarta". AWPA will be writing to the FORUM Leaders this year urging that they vigorously follow up on their original request, urging Jakarta to not only allow a PIF fact finding mission to visit West Papua but to also urge Jakarta to invite the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the territory. It's only if enough outside attention is brought to the issue of West Papua that Jakarta may control is military in the territory and stop the human rights abuses.

Source: https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2025/08/awpa-statement-security-forces.htm