Manu Iyaba was one of the students from Cenderawasih University, Uncen, who were arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest rejecting the revision of special autonomy law in West Papua. The protest took place on 14 July 2021 in Jayapura. Jayapura police forcefully dispersed the protest. At least 5 people were injured from excessive use of force by the police officers. The Indonesian house of representatives passed 19 revisions to the Papuan Special Autonomy Law No 21/2001 during a parliament debate on 15 July 2021.