We recorded a total of 291 political arrests throughout the year. At least 233 of those arrested were released without charge, a few hours or days after their arrest. Forty people are reported to be facing further legal proceedings in a number of courts. At least 60 reported having been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during their arrest or detention; five died. 

According to the information we have received, the majority of those responsible for these arrests were police officers, accounting for 252 cases. Military personnel were involved in 22 cases. The remainder were carried out jointly by the police and the military.

Of the 30 who have been convicted, four were charged and convicted under treason laws. They were sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment at a court far from their hometowns and the location of the incident, the Makassar District Court. In addition to treason, ten were tried on charges of possession of sharp weapons or firearms, 11 were charged with embezzlement, two were charged with murder, and the remainder were charged with endangering public safety and disseminating digital content deemed to incite hatred. Only one of them was acquitted of all charges, because the defendant was a minor. The rest were found guilty, with sentences ranging from six months to 15 years.

By the end of 2025, 48 of the 291 people arrested were still in custody. Ten were on trial in various courts, 21 others were serving sentences in various prisons in West Papua, and the remainder were still being held for questioning by the police. In total, including those arrested in previous years, there are 63 people currently serving prison sentences and 38 people who are still being detained or, at least, have not yet been reported as having been released.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

In the fourth quarter of 2025, we recorded 38 arrests, at least 36 of which were arbitrary. Thirty of those arrested have been released, six remain in detention, one has died, and the status of one remains unknown. Among all these arrests, we recorded 13 cases of alleged torture or other ill-treatment, one of which resulted in death. One of the victims of these arrests was a minor.

During this period, 29 court verdicts were handed down against those arrested in previous periods. One person was acquitted, while the rest were found guilty and sentenced to between 6 months and 12 years in prison. Eleven people were convicted of embezzlement in the context of conflicts with companies, eight were convicted of offences related to ammunition and weapons—both firearms and ‘sharp weapons’—four were convicted of treason, two were convicted of murder, and the remaining three were convicted of arson, theft, and online hate speech, respectively.

At the end of the reporting period, there were at least 63 West Papuan political prisoners behind bars. Fifty-four of them were serving sentences, while nine others were still on trial at the Jayapura District Court (1), Nabire District Court (3), and Wamena District Court (5). In fact, there are still dozens of other West Papuans in detention, some of whom are likely still being detained at police stations, while we have not been able to ascertain the status of others.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

In the third quarter of 2025, we received reports of at least 54 cases of arbitrary arrests. Thirty-nine people who were arrested have been released, while 14 others remain in detention, and one person died. Of the 14 people detained, one has been transferred to the state prosecutor’s office. Of all the cases, at least 37 people were arbitrarily detained, 30 people were tortured or subjected to other ill-treatment, and six were minors.

During the same period, courts handed down prison sentences to at least seven prisoners who were arrested in previous periods. Almost all were found guilty of violating articles of the criminal code related to the possession of weapons, while two others were accused of involvement in murder and theft. Their sentences ranged from 10 months to 10 years in prison.

By the end of the period, at least 79 West Papuan political prisoners were either on trial or imprisoned after being convicted by a court. At least 55 West Papuan political prisoners were still serving sentences in prison. In addition, 24 others were still on trial in various courts, such as in Wamena, Papua Pegunungan, Nabire, Papua Tengah, Sorong, Papua Barat Daya, and Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

During the second quarter of 2025, we recorded 47 cases of arrests, almost all of which were arbitrary and one of which involved arbitrary detention. It was noted that 30 people were released, while 17 were prosecuted, and torture or other ill-treatment occurred in 19 of the cases. In addition, we also saw that at least five human rights defenders were victims of arbitrary arrest.

In this period, at least nine detainees from previous periods received court judgments. Five were charged with possession of firearms and/or bladed weapons, two were charged with murder, while the rest were charged with violence against property/persons and theft with violence. They received sentences ranging from seven months to 10 years in prison. In addition, one activist had his prison term extended for no apparent reason.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

During the first quarter of 2025, Papuans Behind Bars recorded at least 75 cases of arbitrary arrest and two cases of arbitrary detention out of a total of 78 political arrests. Most of those arrested have since been released, with the exception of five who are being prosecuted further and seven whose progress is unknown. At least six people were victims of torture or ill-treatment, two of whom died.

During this period, we also noted that there were at least nine cases from previous arrests that had received court judgements. One person was acquitted, while the others received sentences ranging from one to seven years in prison. Four were convicted of the offence of ‘knowing and failing to prevent conspiracy to commit rebellion’, while the other five were convicted of a variety of offences, ranging from racketeering, extortion, and endangering public security, to murder.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

We recorded a total of 370 political arrests throughout the year. Of those arrested, only 18 people were indicted and prosecuted on criminal charges, of whom 11 people were convicted and sentenced, with prison sentences ranging from five months to 12 years. Most of the political arrests in 2024 ended with the release of arrestees without any charges, within hours or a few days after the arrests. Two prisoners, both aged 15, were acquitted of all charges by the court. Of those arrested, at least 320 were released, or presumed to be released, at the time of writing.

Political arrests in 2024 were carried out by security forces mostly in the Jayapura area. We also recorded two arrests of Timorese activists carried out by Timor-Leste police and intelligence services in Dili. Both cases related to their pro-West Papua solidarity actions surrounding the visit of Pope Francis to Dili in September.

Of the 18 people brought to trial, four were charged and convicted of treason or makar articles (Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code). Two received 18 month prison sentences and the other two were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. In 2024 we saw for the first time a Papuan prisoner, Fatem Gelek, receiving a death sentence – in the appeal court – for the murder of military personnel back in 2022. The death penalty for Fatem Gelek was the first death sentence in many decades for a politically-motivated crime in West Papua.

Report in English

Report in Bahasa Indonesia

During this period Papuans Behind Bars recorded 57 political arrests of West Papuans, comprising at least 50 arbitrary arrests and six arbitrary detentions. In addition, seven people were reportedly tortured, three people were victims of extrajudicial killings, and three people were minors. Of the 57 cases, 40 people have been released, 12 others are still detained, with two of them allegedly missing.

This quarter also saw at least 11 detainees arrested in previous periods receive sentences from the courts; six of whom were arrested in 2023, five of whom were arrested in 2024. Five were convicted of knowing and not preventing a conspiracy to commit rebellion, two were convicted of endangering public security, two men were convicted of insulting the state emblem, and two were convicted of premeditated murder. Their sentences ranged from five months to 12 years in prison.

English version

Versi Bahasa Indonesia

During this period Papuans Behind Bars recorded 173 cases of arbitrary arrests of West Papuans and people speaking out about West Papua. Of these cases, there were seven cases of arbitrary detention, five cases of torture, and two cases of arrest of minors. A total of 162 people arrested have been released, seven others were later found to have been brought to court, two were killed, and two remain unaccounted for.

During this period we also recorded at least 11 Papuan detainees who were sentenced by the courts. All were related to the armed conflict – nine were arrested last year, while three were arrested in the first quarter of this year. The verdicts varied, with three acquitted, the rest sentenced to between one year and two months’ and 18 years’ imprisonment, and one even sentenced to death.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

During April to June 2024, we saw a spike of 112 arbitrary arrests (from 114 arrest incidents) compared with only 22 arbitrary arrests during the previous quarter (January and March 2024). At least three people in this period were later found to have been prosecuted further. Almost all We also recorded 15 cases of arbitrary detention, three cases of torture or ill-treatment, and four cases of extrajudicial killings.

During the period, at least four people (three arrested in 2023 and one arrested in February 2024) were convicted by the courts. Their arrests were related to the armed conflict in West Papua, with sentences ranging from three years to life imprisonment.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

Papuans Behind Bars noted that during the first quarter of 2024, there were at least 22 cases of arbitrary arrest involving 2 minors and 1 foreigner. These cases included: 4 who were arrested for treason, 12 people subjected to torture or ill-treatment, and 8 arbitrarily detained. 

As of 31 March 2024, 11  of the 22 people had been released, while 10 others were further prosecuted, 1 person died, and 1 person’s status is unknown.

This period also saw the conviction of at least 23 people who were named as suspects last year. Of these, 2 people were acquitted, while the rest were sentenced to 10 months to life imprisonment. Among them, 7 people were convicted of murder, 5 people were convicted of possession of firearms, and 4 people were convicted of treason. The rest were convicted under articles of assault, persecution, and incitement.

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia