Indonesian authorities should drop politically motivated treason charges and release Papuans detained for the peaceful exercise of their rights, Human Rights Watch said. 

Human Rights Watch, reported that in 2019 "racist security forces" and members of militant groups attacked students at a West Papuan University, firing tear gas into dormitories across the campus. They then arrested 43 indigenous Papuan students for allegedly failing to raise the Indonesian flag outside the dorm to celebrate Indonesian Independence day. 

Widespread protest ensured in at least 30 cities following the police attack, Indonesian authorities responded to the protests by arresting hundreds of peaceful protestors on treason charges, with many still remaining in police detention.

Successive Indonesian governments, including current President Joko Widodo’s administration, have sought to quash the Papuan independence movement by increasing Indonesian troops and police in the region. The authorities regularly violate Papuans’ rights to freedom of expression and association, including by making it a criminal offense to raise the Papuan “Morning Star” flag, which violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Indonesia is a party.

The authorities regularly violate Papuans’ rights to freedom of expression and association, including by making it a criminal offense to raise the Papuan “Morning Star” flag, which violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Indonesia is a party.

The Indonesian government has sought to further divide the region by splitting Papua province into four separate provinces. Activists raised concerns that this plan will lead to the increased militarization of Papua while enabling the Indonesian government to gain greater control over the resource-rich region.

Read more at Human Rights Watch