JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS — Amnesty International Indonesia has strongly condemned the recent arrest treason charges against four Papuan political activists in Sorong, Papua Barat Daya, describing it as a violation of fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The four individuals—identified by their initials AGG, PR, MS, and NM—are members of the Negara Federasi Republik Papua Barat (NFRPB), a political group advocating for West Papuan interests. They were apprehended following peaceful visits to various government offices in Sorong on April 14, 2025, during which they delivered a letter from the NFRPB president proposing a peaceful dialogue.

“These arrests are yet another example of how the state continues to repress the right of Indigenous Papuans to express political aspirations peacefully,” said Wirya Adiwena, Deputy Director of Amnesty International Indonesia. “There was no violence involved, and their actions fall squarely within the realm of constitutionally protected rights.”

Adiwena emphasized that peaceful political expression is neither a crime nor hate speech, countering claims made by the police. He criticized the repeated use of treason charges to silence Papuan voices, noting that such actions contradict Article 28E of Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Amnesty International is urging the Sorong City Police to release the four detainees unconditionally. “Every Indonesian citizen, including Indigenous Papuans, must not be criminalized for expressing legitimate political demands or voicing grievances against the government,” Adiwena said.

The organization also raised alarm over a separate incident in Intan Jaya, Papua Tengah, where a recent security operation led to civilian casualties. On May 13, 2025, military forces reportedly conducted raids across three villages in the region, resulting in the deaths of at least three civilians and injuries to a seven-year-old child and an adult woman.