Indonesia: Papuan demonstrators dispersed, one arrest
Event- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2022
- Event Description
The police finally dispersed a group of people calling themselves the United Liberation Movement for West Papua or ULMWP who were going to hold a demonstration in the Pasar Baru area of Kaimana, Thursday (12/5). They were disbanded because they did not have official permission from the police. There was an argument between the mob and the police when it was disbanded. The police eventually arrested a protester, and he was taken to the Kaimana Police Station for trying to provoke another crowd.
The masses finally dispersed in an orderly manner by taking public transportation, although they had been offered a ride from the police, the masses refused. Traders who are currently selling their wares in the area have also chosen to close their stalls. For security reasons because of the concentration of the masses in the new market area of Kaimana.
Kaimana Police Chief AKBP I Ketut Widiarta, SIK MH, when confirmed said the reason for the disbandment was because his party did not issue a permit to the demonstrators, who would convey their aspirations to disband from the Republic of Indonesia. “So we firmly reject and do not give permission for this demonstration,” said the Police Chief when confirmed during the security demonstration in the Pasar Baru Kaimana area, Thursday (12/5).
The police chief appealed to the people of Kaimana to jointly maintain security and order in the city of Kaimana. And not easily provoked by other issues or invitations that will damage Kaimana’s security. “Don’t be provoked, provoked by issues or people who will damage the security situation in Kaimana,” he stressed again.
According to journalists’ observation until Thursday afternoon, activities at Pasar Baru Kaimana were running normally, although before that the traders had closed their stalls for security reasons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Freedom of expression
- Offline
- Right to liberty and security
- Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: -3.663309117355757
Longitude: 133.761372403792
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 12 May 2022, a group of Papuan minority rights defenders members of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua were prevented by the police to stage a demonstration for lack of authorisation, resulting in one arrest in Kaimana Regency, Papua, Indonesia.