Four West Papuan independence activists affiliated with the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB) have been arrested and charged with treason by Indonesian authorities in the Maybrat region, escalating concerns over Indonesia’s continued criminalisation of peaceful political expression in the contested province.
The individuals, identified only by their initials—GG, PR, MS, and NM—were reportedly detained in late May for publicly expressing support for West Papuan independence and for possessing documents related to a planned peaceful meeting discussing self-determination.
According to reports from local sources and human rights observers, the documents in question outlined non-violent activities and organisational plans for a community forum, all of which fall within the rights of peaceful assembly and free expression guaranteed under both Indonesian constitutional law and international human rights conventions to which Indonesia is a signatory. Nevertheless, the activists were charged under Indonesia’s criminal code with treason (makar), a charge frequently used against West Papuans advocating for independence or greater autonomy.
This latest incident reflects a broader trend of intensifying repression in West Papua since the 2019 uprising, which saw mass protests and civil unrest sparked by racist abuse against Papuan students and long-standing grievances over military occupation, resource exploitation, and political marginalisation. In the aftermath of the unrest, Indonesian authorities launched a sweeping crackdown that has resulted in the imprisonment of at least 245 Papuan activists on treason-related charges.
The charge of treason in Indonesia carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and has been increasingly used against individuals for acts as symbolic as raising the Morning Star flag—a banned emblem of West Papuan nationalism. Human rights groups argue that this application of treason law violates Indonesia’s own commitments to democratic freedoms and is out of step with international legal standards on political expression.
Indonesia maintains a strict policy of non-recognition of any West Papuan independence movement and treats calls for a referendum or displays of separatist symbols as acts against the state. The Federal Republic of West Papua, a government-in-exile established by pro-independence Papuans, has long advocated for peaceful dialogue and a legitimate referendum on self-determination, but its supporters are often met with arrest, harassment, or surveillance.
The arrests have prompted renewed calls from international human rights organisations for Indonesia to cease the use of treason laws against peaceful activists and to allow space for political dialogue. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have previously condemned the targeting of West Papuans for non-violent advocacy and urged the Indonesian government to respect civil liberties in the region.
So far, Indonesian authorities have not publicly commented on the legal basis for the arrests in Maybrat or the specifics of the charges. The case has added to growing international scrutiny of Jakarta’s policies in Papua and raises serious questions about the future of democratic freedoms in one of Southeast Asia’s most heavily militarised regions.
