Summary

In 2023, we recorded a total of 531 political arrests, relating to 530 people, in 81 separate incidents. Of those arrested, 50 were indicted on criminal charges, of whom 18 were prosecuted, convicted and sentenced, with prison sentences ranging from 6 months to 16 years. Of those arrested, 454 were released, or presumed to be released.

Of those indicted, the most commonly used charge was the Emergency Law on possession of firearms and explosives (Undang-Undang nomor 12 tahun 1951), with 23 people charged and indicted.  Of those 23, 12 were prosecuted and found guilty of this offence. This is a significant increase on previous years. In contrast to this, 11 people were charged and indicted on treason charges. This is a marked reduction in the use of treason charges (which campaigners argue are repressive), compared with the previous year, when the charges were used 24 times. Eleven people were prosecuted in connection with murder or manslaughter.  This was mostly in relation to attacks on security forces personnel. Six of the 11 prosecuted were found guilty.

At the end of 2023, 35 of the 531 political arrests were still detained while undergoing legal process, with a further 18 imprisoned following trial, across various locations in Papua.  The location of eight detainees was unable to be determined. Four people not in detention remained wanted for arrest. Two Papuan political prisoners died in 2023. Including those arrested in 2021 and 2022, in total, 96 Papuan political detainees were in detention at the end of this year.

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