The seven anti-racist activists were charged with treason and rebellion. All seven were accused of organising nonviolent demonstrations in response to racial attacks against the West Papuan students in Surabaya on the 16^th of August 2019. They were on trial in mid-June. The public prosecutor (Jaksa) was demanding up to seventeen years imprisonment. The Indonesian state transferred them thousands of kilometres away from West Papua away from their sources of support. Meanwhile the organisers of the racist violence in Surabaya were sentenced to less than a year imprisonment and are now free. 

The panellists were:

• Gustaf Kawer, director of PAHAM Papua, a legal aid group. Kawer is a senior human rights lawyer and member of the legal team representing the Balikpapan Seven.
• Usman Hamid, Director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
• Jacob Rumbiak, spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
• Sarah Thompson, Black Lives Matter organiser and West Papua solidarity activists, living in the USA.
• Jason MacLeod, former professor of civil resistance at The University of Sydney and co-founder of Make West Papua Safe campaign.

The call will be moderated Javiera Rosa from Make West Papua Safe campaign.

The seven anti-racist activsts in jail are:

1. Alexander Gobay, Chairperson of the University of Science and Technology Jayapura Student Body; the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 10 years
2. Henky Hilapok, Student of the University of Science and Technology Jayapura; the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 5 years
3. Stefanus Itlay, Chairperson of the Timika Chapter of Komite Nasional Papua Barat (West Papua National Committee); the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 15 years
4. Ferry Kombo, Former Chairperson of University of Cenderawasih Student Body; the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 10 years
5. Agus Kossay, Chairperson of Komite Nasional Papua Barat (West Papua National Committee); the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 15 years
6. Buchtar Tabuni, Deputy Chair of the Legislative Council of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP); the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 17 years
7. Irwanus Uropmabin, Student of the University of Cenderawasih; the prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 5 years

This webinar is organised by Make West Papua Safe campaign in cooperation with Amnesty International Indonesia and PAHAM.