On 28 July 2026, police officers apprehended approximately 31 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) near the Old Market traffic lights on Jalan Pasar Lama Yahim, Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, while they were distributing leaflets for a nationwide protest planned for 3 August 2026.
The detentions reportedly occurred at 2:07 pm, after police officers intercepted and dispersed the activists. The detainees were forcibly taken to the Sentani Police Station and held for approximately 30 to 50 minutes before being released following negotiations. Witnesses alleged that at least five were subjected to excessive pushing or punching during the police intervention. The incident raises serious concerns regarding arbitrary deprivation of liberty, unnecessary or excessive use of force, and unlawful interference with the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
According to the information received from local human rights defenders, KNPB activists areas began assembling at approximately 1:40 pm to distribute leaflets near the Old Market traffic lights. The arrival of police officers at the scene triggered a confrontation lasting for approximately five minutes. At approximately 2:07 pm, the activists were reportedly forced into police vehicles and transported to the Sentani Police Station (see video below, source: KNPB). Police officers reportedly confiscated three KNPB flags, approximately 600 protest leaflets and several mobile phones. The mobile phones were returned following negotiations, while the flags and leaflets reportedly remained in police custody.
At the police station, KNPB representatives reportedly questioned the legal basis for the dispersal and detention. According to the activists, officers stated that the Jayapura District Police Chief had permitted KNPB activities but failed to provide a specific statutory basis for the restriction. The police subsequently released the activists around 3: pm without criminal charges. Following their release, the activists reportedly returned to the Pasar Lama area and continued distributing leaflets until approximately 7:00 pm.
Human rights analysis
The available information raises substantial concerns regarding violations of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Distributing political leaflets and encouraging members of the public to participate in a peaceful protest are activities protected under Article 19 and Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Restrictions on these rights must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate purpose recognised under the Covenant, and meet strict requirements of necessity and proportionality. A blanket instruction prohibiting political leafleting or KNPB activities, without an individually articulated and legally substantiated justification, is not reconcilable with these requirements.
The incident also engages Article 9 ICCPR, which protects every person against arbitrary arrest and detention. Even a brief detention constitutes a deprivation of liberty when individuals are compelled by State agents to accompany them and are not free to leave. Accordingly, the short duration of detention does not in itself remove the authorities' obligation to demonstrate a lawful and non-arbitrary basis for the detention. If the activists were detained solely because they were peacefully distributing political material, without reasonable suspicion of a recognisable criminal offence, the detention may amount to arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
The reported pushing and striking of activists further raise concerns regarding the necessity and proportionality of police force. Law-enforcement officials policing an assembly must seek to facilitate the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights and may employ force only where it is strictly necessary and proportionate to the threat confronted. The reported deployment of officers carrying loaded rifles during a leaflet-distribution activity may also have had an intimidating or chilling effect on peaceful political participation, particularly where no serious threat of violence had been identified.
The police intervention must equally be assessed against Indonesian constitutional and statutory guarantees. Article 28E(3) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia guarantees freedom of association, assembly and expression. Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom of Public Expression protects peaceful demonstrations, marches, public meetings and other forms of public expression, while Articles 23(2) and 25 of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights protect the right to hold, express and disseminate opinions and to express opinions publicly. Administrative or police instructions cannot lawfully extinguish rights guaranteed under superior legislation merely because the political message expressed is considered controversial.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-119-2026
Location: CGJ3+FW5, Jl. Ps. Lama Sentani, Dobonsolo, Kec. Sentani, Kabupaten Jayapura, Papua 99359, Indonesia (-2.568861, 140.5048707) Old Market traffic lights
Region: Indonesia > Papua > Jayapura Regency > Sentani
Total number of victims: 31
1. Nasman Malo, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
2. Mendanus Wisal, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
3. Yeri Onong, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
4. Ruben Epkin, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
5. Eko Pase, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
6. Aten Siep, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
7. Yustinus Wisal, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
8. Doki Uopmabin, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
9. Erikson Yando, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
10. Sem Nalcedoman, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
11. Manu Hisage, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
12. Asa Giban, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
13. Epanus Malo, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
14. Stepen Malo, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
15. Ernan Mirin, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
16. Basus Wim, male adult Activist, Human Rights Defender (HRD) arbitrary detention
17. Maikel Mahuse, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
18. Agus Pase, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
19. Ipenus Kwem, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
20. Kaptakan Taplo, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
21. Yanes Milu, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
22. Alex Tepmul, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
23. Fernando Pase, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
24. Frans Wasini, male adult Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
25. Yondis Wandik, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
26. Frengki Kogoya, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
27. Jispan Kasipmabin, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
28. Damian Malo, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
29. Beni Esema, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
30. Sadraks Lagowan, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
31. Yustinus Kogoya, male Activist, Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, ill-treatment
Period of incident: 28/07/2026-28/07/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police > POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polres Jayapura
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence