Eskop Wisabla, Makassar – The University and High School Student Papua People's Solidarity Forum/Papuan People's Concern (FSPM-PRP) in Makassar city, South Sulawesi, held a protest action as support in the ongoing treason trial of four Papuan political prisoners, Abraham Goram Gaman, Piter Robaha, Nixon Maay and Maksi Sangkek, which was held in front of the Makassar District Court.
Action Coordinator Atlak Wandikbo stated, "We believe the legal proceedings against the four political prisoners are rife with criminalisation and the silencing of the peaceful political struggle of the Papuan people. Based on the facts from the hearings on September 30 and October 7, 2025, all the witnesses' testimonies actually undermined the prosecutor's charges".
"The witnesses stated that the defendants did not commit makar (treason, subversion, rebellion), did not carry weapons, did not incite the public, and only delivered letters peacefully to a number of government offices in Sorong."
"The letter delivered contained an invitation for peaceful dialogue as mandated by the Federal State of the Republic of West Papua (NFRPB) under the leadership of Forkorus Yaboisembut", said Wandikbo in a written statement given to journalists on Thursday October 30.
Wandikbo said, "However the state instead responded to this peaceful action with the makar articles (Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code, KUHP) as well as additional articles from the ITE Law [Information and Electronic Transaction Law], which we consider to be a form of abuse of the principles of justice, democracy and human rights".
"Furthermore, the transfer of the trial location from Sorong [regency in Southwest Papua province] to Makassar without proper notification to the defendant's family and legal counsel violates the principle of a fair trial. This reflects the discriminatory practices Papuans continue to face under Indonesian law."
"We emphasise that peaceful political activities are guaranteed by Article 28E paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution concerning freedom of association, assembly and expression of opinion", he added.
The action coordinator also highlighted Law Number 9/1998 on Freedom of Expression in Public and Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights. "Therefore, there is no legal basis for imprisoning the four Papuan political prisoners", he asserted, expressing the hope that they would be released.
Therefore, we, the Makassar city FSPM-PRP demand:
1. Unconditionally release the four Papuan political prisoners: Abraham Goram Gaman, Piter Robaha, Nixon Maay and Maksi Sangkek.
2. Stop the criminalisation, intimidation and terror against activists and the Papuan people who are fighting peacefully for justice and independence.
3. Open a peaceful dialogue between the Indonesian Government and the Papuan people as proposed by the NRFPB in Sorong.
4. Withdraw all military and police forces (organic and non-organic) from West Papua.
5. Thoroughly investigate gross human rights violations in Papua, including the murder of Tobias Silak and the mutilation of Tarina Murib.
6. Stop the exploitation of Papua's natural resources and close down companies that are grabbing people's land: Freeport, BP, LNG Tangguh, MNC, MIFEE and others.
7. The UN and the international community must take moral and political responsibility to assist the process of self-determination for the West Papuan nation.
8. Open the broadest possible access for national and international journalists to be able to report freely in the land of Papua.
9. Stop military operations and the shooting of civilians in Yalimo, Yahukimo, Paniai, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Dogiyai and all conflict areas in West Papua.
10. Unconditionally release all political prisoners who are being held in state detention cells throughout Indonesia.
11. Grant the right of self-determination as a democratic solution for the people of West Papua.
The FSPM-PRP also emphasised that justice must not be sacrificed in the name of power, that Papuans are not enemies but part of humanity demanding justice and that the criminalisation of peaceful struggle is simply a manifestation of the state's fear of the truth.
Stop the criminalisation! Release Papuan and Indonesian political prisoners! Long live the struggle of the Papuan and Indonesian people.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Solidaritas Mahasiswa Papua di makassar Lakukan Aksi Sidang Empat Tapol NFRPB Massa Serukan Keadilan dan Hentikan Kriminalisasi".]
