Further peaceful protest against Papuan Special Autonomy dispersed – 36 protesters arrested in Sorong

The Papuan Peoples’ Front for the Rejection of Special Autonomy organised a peaceful protest in the city of Sorong, Papua Barat Province, on 19 July 2021. The crowd wanted to walk to the local parliament in Sorong to voice their rejection of the Papuan Special Autonomy but was blocked by police forces. Police officers reportedly dispersed the protest and arrested 36 protesters, among them two minors (see table below). They were detained at the Sorong police headquarters (see photo on top, source: YKKMP). Semuel Kogoya, 36, sustained abrasions on the nose and forehead due to police violence during arrest (see image below, source: YKKMP).

The police released 35 of the arrested protesters at 2.00 pm after a church representative came to the police station and talked with the local police chief. Semuel Kogoya remained in police detention. The police allege he was leading a group of protesters who came to the police station to demand the release of arrested protesters. Witnesses stated that Semuel Kogoya did not use any violence against the police officers during arrest or commit any other criminal offence.

Several days before, the police had arrested 84 protesters during peaceful demonstrations against the revision of the special autonomy law in the cities Jayapura, Kaimana and Jakarta. 

Table with protesters arrested in Sorong on 19 July 2021 (information received from YKKMP)

Abrasions on Semuel Kogoya’s face