On 30 September 2026, police officers reportedly arrested Tilius Telenggen, 26, an activist and member of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Makassar branch (see photo on top, source: KNPB), in the Bara-Baraya neighbourhood of Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province. Telenggen, who originates from Puncak Regency, Papua Tengah Province, was reportedly participating in a solidarity activity with Bara-Baraya residents affected by a land eviction dispute when police officers took him into custody. Her was released together with seven other activists on 1 October 2026.
According to preliminary information received from local sources, Mr Telenggen was with residents of Bara-Baraya in the early hours of 30 September when police officers arrested him at approximately 03.00 pm. He was subsequently brought to the Makassar Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes Makassar), he remained in detention. Human rights defenders in Makassar currently investigate and verify the circumstances of the arrest, including the precise grounds for the arrest, Mr Telenggen's legal status, the legal basis for any continued detention and whether the authorities informed him promptly of the reasons for his arrest and any allegations against him. The Makassar Legal Aid Institute (LBH Makassar) has been informed about the case and has initiated preliminary legal assistance.
Human rights analysis
Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and requires any deprivation of liberty to be based on grounds and procedures established by law. A person who is arrested must be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for the arrest and must be promptly informed of any charges. The UN Human Rights Committee has emphasised that the prohibition of arbitrariness extends beyond formal compliance with domestic law and encompasses requirements of reasonableness, necessity, proportionality, predictability and due process.
The circumstances of Mr Telenggen's participation in the Bara-Baraya solidarity activity also require examination in relation to the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Indonesian Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom to Express Opinions in Public provides the domestic legal framework governing public expression and assembly. Under international human rights law, arrest or detention imposed as punishment for the legitimate exercise of rights protected by the ICCPR, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, may constitute arbitrary detention.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-138-2026
Location: Bara-Baraya, Makassar, Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia (-5.1436926, 119.4288149)
Region: Indonesia > South Sulawesi > Makassar
Total number of victims: 1
1. Tilius Telenggen, male 26 Activist arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 30/09/2026-30/09/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police > POLRES
Perpetrator details: Polrestabes Makassar
Issues: indigenous peoples