August 2014: Widespread crackdown on civil society intensifies | Papuans Behind Bars

8.9.14

August 2014: Widespread crackdown on civil society intensifies | Papuans Behind Bars: While the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB) has consistently been targeted since their formation in November 2008, there has been an observably increased crackdown on them since April 2014. In the past five months, a total of 81 KNPB members were arrested. Data collected by Papuans Behind Bars shows that in April, there were six KNPB-affiliated arrests and in May, there were three further arrests. The number of KNPB arrests in June rose to 24 as Indonesian authorities aimed to prevent peaceful events commemorating 1 July, a date Papuans consider to be their national day. In July, there were 36 KNPB arrests in relation to a planned boycott of the Indonesian Presidential elections, the highest recorded number of KNPB arrests in 2014.