Responding to the arrest and determination of suspects in a treason case against four political activists who are members of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NFRPB) by the Police in Sorong City and the loss of civilian lives in armed violence in Intan Jaya, Deputy Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Wirya Adiwena, said:

“The criminalization of the four Papuan political activists shows that the state continues to repress the rights to freedom of expression, opinion and assembly of indigenous Papuans. They were arrested only for peacefully conveying their political aspirations by visiting the West Papua government offices without using violence.

Peaceful expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and is not a criminal act. Peaceful political aspirations are also not hate speech as alleged by the police. Law enforcement officers are also again using accusations of treason to silence the political expression of Papuans, even though they should understand that such expression is part of human rights protected by Article 28E of the 1945 Constitution.

The police in Sorong City must immediately release the four people unconditionally. Every citizen, including indigenous Papuans, must not be criminalized just for expressing opinions or making legitimate political demands, including voicing disappointment with the state regarding the conflict in their region.

Not only that, we also condemn the loss of life and injuries to civilians, as well as hundreds of people displaced, after the operation carried out by security forces in Intan Jaya on May 13, 2025. There must be a thorough investigation into the loss of civilian lives in the incident. Likewise, there must be a sharp reflection on the placement of security forces in Papua which has so far resulted in casualties, both indigenous Papuans, non-Papuans, including the security forces themselves.”

Background

The Chief of the Sorong City Police, Southwest Papua, on May 5 announced the arrest and determination of suspects in a treason case against four people with the initials AGG, PR, MS, and NM. They are known as administrators of the Federal State of the Republic of West Papua (NFRPB).

Media reports said the suspects allegedly visited the Sorong Mayor’s Office, the West Papua Governor’s Office, the West Papua Papua People’s Assembly (MRP) Office, the West Papua Police’s Water Police Directorate, and the Sorong City Police on April 14 to deliver a letter from the NRFPB president regarding an invitation to peace talks. During the visit, they also allegedly called for ‘Papua independence.’

The police have also questioned five witnesses and secured 18 documents related to the NFRPB organization, including uniforms resembling police and military attributes, as well as the organization’s membership identification.

The four suspects were charged with treason and hate speech articles, namely Article 106 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 187 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 53 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code and/or Article 45 Letter A paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph (2) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2024 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 and/or in conjunction with Article 56 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code. For these articles, the suspects face a sentence of 20 years in prison or even life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, regarding the latest violence in Papua, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) received a report from the Kemah Injil Church that a military operation had taken place in the early hours of Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in three villages in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua. The military operation is said to have targeted civilian settlements and resulted in fatalities and injuries among residents.

At least three civilians were reported to have died. In addition, a seven-year-old child and an adult woman suffered injuries from shrapnel. Then as many as 950 congregation members from 13 churches were reported to have fled shortly after the shooting.

Amnesty International does not take any position on the political status of any province in Indonesia, including their calls for independence. However, in our opinion, freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully express one’s political views or solutions.

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