1) Thoroughly investigate the shooting in Sorong and the deaths of civilians during demonstrations in Manokwari
2) Prisoner transfer sparks human rights concerns in West Papua
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A google translate. Original Bahasa link
Amnesty International Indonesia
September 3, 2025
1) Thoroughly investigate the shooting in Sorong and the deaths of civilians during demonstrations in Manokwari
Responding to the brutality of security forces in responding to demonstrations in Sorong and Manokwari, which resulted in the shooting of one local resident and the death of another, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said:
“We strongly condemn the brutality of security forces during the demonstrations in Sorong and Manokwari. No one should lose their life or be injured simply for participating in a demonstration or witnessing the expression of their opinion while in the vicinity of a demonstration.
The state should listen to the aspirations of the families and communities demonstrating against the transfer of four treason suspects to Makassar, rather than repressing them with authoritarian methods that violate human rights.
The death of a resident in Manokwari and the alleged shooting of another resident in Sorong during the demonstrations must be investigated, and the perpetrators brought to justice.
The investigation must be independent and involve community leaders and elements with integrity and expertise. The National Commission on Human Rights must also immediately conduct a pro-justice investigation to follow up on the cases.” The deaths of these civilians are being investigated. The state must cooperate with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to ensure that those responsible for these deaths are held accountable.
This brutality by security forces in Papua, which disregards human rights, has a detrimental impact on efforts to resolve the protracted conflict in Papua. Therefore, we urge the police to adopt a democratic, persuasive policing approach, and engage in dialogue with protesters in Papua.
The state must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the police's security approach to peaceful demonstrations in Papua. The absence of such an evaluation will only worsen the human rights situation in Papua and perpetuate the culture of impunity that has become entrenched within the security institutions.
More importantly, the state must immediately release the four Papuan political activists from all legal charges. Their criminalization demonstrates the state's continued repression of the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and assembly of indigenous Papuans. They were arrested simply for peacefully conveying their political aspirations by visiting government offices in Southwest Papua without the use of violence. Every citizen, including indigenous Papuans, should not be criminalized simply for expressing their opinions or making legitimate political demands, including voicing their disappointment with the state regarding the conflict in their region.
Background
The demonstrations that took place in Sorong City, Southwest Papua Province, at the end of August were met with excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and violence by security forces. Credible sources from Amnesty and media reports revealed that at least 23 people were arrested and one civilian was seriously injured, allegedly by tear gas fired by security forces during the August 27 demonstration. Media reports also emerged of fatalities in Manokwari City on August 28.
The protests were protesting the transfer of four officials of the Federal State of the Republic of Southwest Papua (NRFPB) organization – with the initials AGG, NM, MS, and PR – from Sorong City to Makassar City, South Sulawesi. They were transferred to stand trial for treason only because they delivered invitation letters to the Southwest Papua Governor's Office and police and government offices in Sorong City in April for peace talks to resolve the protracted conflict in Papua.
Amnesty sources revealed that protesters and activists in Sorong had been protesting since June 28, initially at the Sorong Police Headquarters demanding the release of the four detainees, especially given their poor health. They also protested in front of the Sorong District Court (August 13) and the Southwest Papua Governor's Office (August 20) to protest the plan to move the detainees' trial to Makassar. However, authorities still planned to transfer the detainees on August 27.
Therefore, the families and community members continued their peaceful protest on August 27, visiting the Sorong Police Headquarters, the mayor's office, and the governor's office, demanding that the detainees not be transferred. However, this protest was met with the deployment of joint police and military forces, and the detainees were still taken to Makassar under tight security.
The situation in Sorong became chaotic. Security forces responded to the protesters' anger with tear gas and live ammunition. At least one resident was seriously injured by gunfire, and 23 people were arrested by police. The victim with the gunshot wound was later identified as a motorcycle taxi driver who was not part of the protest. A total of 23 people were released as of September 1.
Meanwhile, four detainees in the alleged treason case will have their first hearing at the Makassar District Court on August 28, 2025.
Mass demonstrations protesting the transfer of the four detainees also continued outside Sorong City, such as in Jayapura and Manokwari. According to media reports, the Head of Public Relations of the West Papua Regional Police, Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, stated that a Manokwari resident, Septinus Sesa, died on Thursday, August 28. West Papua Regional Police Chief, Johnny Eddizon Isir, denied that the victim died from tear gas, which he claimed was non-lethal. However, an investigation will be conducted involving the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the Ombudsman, and the local Legal Aid Institute.
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2) Prisoner transfer sparks human rights concerns in West Papua
43 minutes ago
Susana Suisuiki, Pacific Waves presenter/producer
@SanaSuisuikiRNZ susana.suisuiki@rnz.co.nz
A West Papuan activist said the transfer of four political prisoners by Indonesian authorities is a breach of human rights.
In April, the men were arrested on charges of treason after requesting peace talks in the city of Sorong in Southwest Papua. They were then transferred to Makassar city in Eastern Indonesia and are awaiting trial.
Last week, protesters gathered in front of Sorong City Municipal Police HQ opposing the transferral, but the demonstrations turned violent.
Police had reportedly used "heavy-handed" attempts to disrupt the protest but was met with riotous responses, with tyres set on fire and government buildings being attacked.
A 28-year-old man was seriously injured when police shot him in the abdomen.
Seventeen people were arrested for property damage, while police are still in search of former political prisoner Sayan Mandabayan accused as the "organiser" of the protest.
West Papuan activist Ronny Kareni told Pacific Waves the protest was initially meant to be peaceful.
He said the four political prisoners being far from their home city has raised concerns.
"What the transfer really transpired, is it raises many concerns from human rights defenders and many of us arguing that the transfer violates the principles of the Article 85 of the Indonesian Procedure Code which requires trials to be held where the alleged offence occured."
Kareni said the transfer isolates prisoners from their families, community support and legal counsel.
Indonesian authorities say the group were transferred due to security concerns for the trial.
Kareni said the movement to liberate West Papua from Indonesia will continue to be seen as treason, even if there is peaceful dialogue.
"There is no space for exercising your right to determine your future or determine what you feel that matters to you," he said.
"Just talking peace, just to kind of like come to the table to offer peace talks, is seen as treason.”
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