Rianto Ruruk is a student at Universitas Kristen Papua in Sorong and was the coordinator of a West Papuan independence protest held on 18 September 2019. Mr. Ruruk was arrested and detained on the same day along with Yoseph Syufi, Manase Baho and Etus Kareth shortly after delivering a speech during protest. This protest was part of the broader political uprising which swept across West Papua from 19 August to 23 September 2019. He was arrested by Sorong Police Resort without a warrant.
Their trial began on 5th March 2020. On 13th May 2020, prosecutors in Sorong,West Papua province, sought one year and four months in jail on charges of treason for Rianto Ruruk, Yoseph Syufi, Manase Baho and Etus Kareth.
Mr Ruruk was sentenced to 8 months and 15 days on 27 May 2020 and was released in May 2020.
