Summary

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.

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