This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
On August 2020, unrest erupted across Indonesia's easternmost territory and in other parts of the country following the arrest, racial abuse, and tear-gassing of dozens of Papuan students in the central city of Surabaya.
The uprisings, which left dozens dead, reignited demands for Papua's independence from Indonesia, which took control of the mineral-rich region in the 1960s. A Papuan vote to remain in the archipelago nation, held during that period, was widely viewed as a sham.
On Wednesday, a court sentenced Buchtar Tabuni, a leading figure in Papua's independence movement, to 11 months in jail. The presiding judge, Sutarmo, stated that Tabuni's actions posed a threat to the country's integrity.
Tabuni's sentence was lower than the 17 years sought by prosecutors, but the activist said he would consider an appeal. He maintained his innocence, saying, "From the bottom of my heart I am not guilty."
Two student activists were also jailed, each for 10 months, after participating in last year's demonstrations. The sentences for another four Papuan defendants were expected later that day.
The hearing was moved from Papua to Balikpapan, on Indonesia's side of Borneo island, due to security concerns. Human Rights Watch's senior Indonesia researcher, Andreas Harsono, criticized the convictions, saying, "They were protesting against racism, but are convicted of treason."
Independence flag banned ¶
Rights groups claim Jakarta has increasingly used treason laws to suppress dissent, with over 50 Papuan activists and about a dozen government critics facing charges after last year's demonstrations.
Among those accused are activists who raised Papua's independence flag, which is banned in Indonesia. The protests highlighted simmering anger over racism against the region's ethnically Melanesian population.
