Fakfak – 23 Political Prisoners

01/12/2019

Fakfak Indonesian security forces arrested 54 people in Fakfak on 1st December 2019 when they were walking from their villages to Fakfak City to participate in the 1st of December flag-raising ceremony which is considered as a national day in West Papua. While taking a break en route, the group was surrounded by security forces, who proceeded to chase, shoot at, and arrest them. Security forces accused Mr Bahba, along with each of the other individuals, of planning to attend a West Papuan Morning Star flag-raising ceremony. 31 individuals were released and 23 remained in detention with treason charges. They were reportedly stripped and tied together with ropes during the arrest.

The state authorities made the arrests as part of the wider crackdown on the West Papuan people’s freedom of expression and assembly.

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