KNPB members again arrested in Merauke – Police chief threatens to shoot activists in the legs

The Merauke police has again carried out raids against the political movement organisation West Papua National Coalition (KNPB), which advocates the right for self-determination through non-violent demonstrations and peaceful civil resistance activities. On 13 December 2020, joint security force members allegedly destroyed parts of the KNPB office facilities in Merauke (see top photo, source: independent human rights defenders) and arrested 14 KNPB members (see table below). The director of the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), Imanuel Gobay, stated that police officers beat the 14 activists with wooden sticks during the arrest and detention at the police station (see photo below, source: independent human rights defenders). The police officers reportedly arrested the activists without showing a warrant. All of them are currently in custody.

According to the Merauke police chief, Untung Sangaji, the police is investigating treason allegations against the activists.  The officers seized multiple documents on the right to self-determination as evidence at the KNPB office. Moreover, the Police Chief declared in an interview with the news outlet Jubi that he would shoot the KNPB activists if they continue to conduct treasonous activities in Merauke. “If they will again engage in treasonous activities, I am going to shoot them in the legs. Yes, if they are insolent, shoot them, this is the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia”, said Sangaji during the interview.

The victim’s relatives complained that police officers used physical force to expel them from the police station, where they had come to request the official arrest warrants and bring food for the activists. One of the relatives testified that the head of the Merauke Criminal Investigation Department (Kasat Reskrim Polres Merauke) stuck his finger into her cheek while pushing her out of the police office.

The documented cases of arrests against peaceful political activists have significantly increased in the regency of Merauke throughout the past month. On 17 November 2020, police officers arbitrarily arrested 55 persons, including members of the Papuan Peoples Assembly (MRP) who had come to the town of Merauke to conduct a consultation meeting for the evaluation of the Papuan Special Autonomy. On 30 November 2020, the police officers reportedly entered the KNPB office in Merauke and arbitrarily arrested six KNPB members without showing a warrant.

Table with arrested KNPB members during police raid in Merauke on 13 December 2020