Members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) held a rally in Jayapura on Thursday to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the New York Agreement, which is seen as paving the way for Indonesia's annexation of Papua. Photo: BenarNews / Victor Mambor
By Victor Mambor, Jayapura
Indonesian security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protestors marking the 62nd anniversary of a UN agreement that paved the way for Jakarta's annexation of the Papua region.
At least one protester was wounded by a rubber bullet and 95 people were arrested during the unrest in Nabire, the capital of Central Papua province, said Kimot Mote, one of the protest organisers.
The demonstrations on Thursday were led by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a pro-independence group that opposes Indonesian rule in Papua. Similar protests were reported across several other cities, including Manokwari, Sorong Raya, Wamena, and Yahukimo, activists said.
Protesters are urging international bodies, including the UN, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and the Pacific Islands Forum, to intervene and pressure Indonesia to halt military operations in Papua.
KNPB chairman Warpo Wetipo issued a direct plea to Pope Francis, asking him to raise awareness about the violence and human rights violations in Papua.
The head of the Catholic Church is due to visit Indonesia next month, followed by Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore.
"We ask the Pope to advocate for an end to the oppression of the Papuan people," Wetipo said.
While the protest in Nabire started peacefully, tensions escalated when police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds, Mote said.
"There was a heavy police presence, with around 100 officers using trucks and crowd-control vehicles to quell the demonstrators," he told BenarNews.
Local police chief Wahyudi Satrio Bintoro said security personnel took action after the protestors threw rocks at officers and engaged in vandalism, including setting fire to motorcycles.
"The Nabire police carried out measured and decisive action," he said.
The New York Agreement is a treaty between the Netherlands and Indonesia regarding the administration of Papua, then called Western New Guinea. It stipulates that the United Nations would initially assume control, but if the UN permits, Indonesia could take over administration under certain conditions.
The agreement, negotiated in US-hosted meetings, was signed on 15 August 1962, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
However, many Papuans believe the deal was made without their consent, and it paved the way for what they see as Indonesia's illegitimate annexation of their homeland.
West Papua was formally integrated into Indonesia in 1969 following a controversial referendum, known as the "Act of Free Choice." Under heavy military presence, a small group of just over 1000 selected Papuans voted unanimously for integration, a result that many have since disputed.
Since then, the region has been the site of long-running conflict between Indonesian security forces and separatist rebels, with frequent reports of human rights abuses.
Despite efforts to address the economic development of the region, many Papuans continue to push for self-determination, citing decades of discrimination, military violence, and exploitation of their land and resources.
In Jayapura, protesters were denied access to the planned protest site in Abepura.
"We had secured permission for the protest, but the police still obstructed us," KNPB's Wetipo said.
In Abepura, a group of students gathered under the banner "Students Concerned About Papua," delivering speeches and calling for attention to Papua's ongoing struggles.
Jayapura police confirmed the intervention, arguing that the protests were highly disruptive.
In Nabire, the situation became tense on Thursday when non-Papuan residents, identifying as "Warga Nusantara" (Archipelago Citizens), clashed with protesters, said Taksen Giyai, a local resident.
"They were armed with iron bars, wood, and machetes, blocking the demonstrators' path," he said. No clashes were reported.
Central Papua's acting governor, Ribka Haluk, called for calm.
"I urge all parties to ensure safety and security," she said, adding that grievances should be addressed through appropriate channels rather than violence.
In other cities, the protests were similarly contained by police.
In Manokwari, officers set up roadblocks to prevent demonstrators from reaching key areas. Protester Erick Aleknoe said that negotiators attempted to cooperate with police.
"Our negotiators offered to have the police escort the crowd to the location, but it was rejected," he said.
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