AWPA Statement West Papua-Police crackdown on demonstrators in Jayapura City, 3 demonstrators shot.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

Statement 16 August 2026

West Papua-Police crackdown on demonstrators in Jayapura  City, 3 demonstrators shot.

 

Hundreds of members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and students from Cenderawasih University (Uncen) clashed with police in Jayapura City on Saturday (August 15, 2026). The demonstrators were commemorating the tragic  event  of the 64th anniversary of the New York Agreement .  

 

The rally organized by the West Papua National Committee (KNPN) to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the New York Agreement, was blocked by security forces as they were heading to the Jayapura Regent's Office on Saturday (August 15, 2026).

 

 

According to a Jubi report (15 August) , a clash broke out between demonstrators and police  in the Perumnas III Waena area, Heram District, Jayapura City.  Several demonstrators were reportedly injured, including three who were reportedly shot.

 

Chaotic situation between demonstrators and police at Perumnas III Waena, Heram District, Jayapura City, Papua, Saturday (August 15, 2026). Jubi/Larius Kogoya.  

Deputy Chairman of the Uncen Student Executive Board, Frengky Kabak, after being shot during a demonstration in the Perumnas III Waena area, Heram District, Jayapura City, Papua Province, Saturday (08/15/2026) - Doc. For Jubi

https://jubi.id/polhukam/2026/tiga-demonstran-tertembak-polda-papua-didesak-bertanggung-jawab/

The Cenderawasih University Student Consultative Assembly (MPM Uncen) in Jayapura is urging the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) to take responsibility for three protesters who were shot during the demonstration .

 

A spokesperson for the students said that he did not rule out the possibility of a larger student unrest if this issue was not resolved immediately.

 

"Frengky Kabak has been taken for medical treatment while the other two victims are still with their families. 

 

 

The demonstrators had been  planning to march to the Papuan People's Representative Council (DPR) office to express their aspirations.   However, a large number of  police blocked the demonstrators.  Although the protesters tried to negotiate with the police, they could not reach an agreement. 

 

A short  scuffle broke out between the security forces and demonstrators (pushing and shoving each other) as officers attempted to disperse the protesters leading the police to fire tear gas and use water cannons on the protestors. After the situation subsided, hundreds of police remained on guard in the area.

 

 

Demonstrators in the Sentani area were also blocked by the security forces the head of the Sentani regional KNPB  stated.  He said that the action was part of a national KNPB action scheduled for "Papua, a Military and Humanitarian Emergency Zone," and as a form of protest against the signing of the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962.

 

According to him, the crowd from Sere and Theys Field had marched to Post 7 before being blocked again by security forces.

"Our friends from the Sereh Theys Field Post marched until they arrived at Post 7, where they were met by security forces using water cannons," he said.

Security forces and protesters coordinated by the KNPB during negotiations on Jalan Pos 7 Sentani, Sentani Kota Village, Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, Saturday (15/8/2026).-Jubi/Silpester Kasipka. Jubi

 Joe Collins of AWPA said, “we are told by governments that the human rights situation in West Papua is improving. However, the crackdown on peaceful demonstrators on the 15 August proves otherwise” .

 

Indonesia claims to be a democracy yet it continues to intimidates peaceful West Papuan activists while  ignoring a number of articles in the  Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 

 

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

 

Article 20

1.     Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

 

 

Joe Collins said,“ It appears that under President Prabowo Subianto, democracy in Indonesian is sliding backwards . Hopefully the PIF leaders at their upcoming meeting in Palau, will raise the human rights situation in West Papua with Jakarta. After all,  West Papuans are a Melanesian people , a Pacific people”.

Ends

Al Jazeera English youtube

Indigenous West Papuans have taken to the streets across Indonesia’s resource-rich West Papua region to mark the 64th anniversary of the signing of the New York Agreement. In Jayapura and other towns, demonstrators were met with tear gas and water cannon fired by Indonesian police. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5tLsYumzE

 

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