Assa Asso is a member of Papuan Voices and West Papua National Committee (KNPB). Papuan Voices is a West Papuan filmmaker community which documents the social and political reality in West Papua through documentary films. KNPB is a non-violent grassroots organization advocating for self-determination. He was arrested on 23 September 2019 over a Facebook post regarding the protest in Jayapura on 19 August. He was charged with treason under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, along with Article 160 regarding incitement and his trial commenced on 20 February 2020. Prosecutors demanded a one year jail term for treason. Mr Asso was found guilty of incitement, not treason, and sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment. He was released on 20 July 2020.
Mr Asso was found guilty of incitement, not treason, and sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment. He was released on 20 July 2020.
