Another case of extrajudicial killing occurred in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo District, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 20 August 2024. Mr Tobias Silak, 23, a staff member at the local Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), was fatally shot by members of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) at a guard post near the airport entrance. Seventeen-year-old Naro Dapla was also shot and injured in the incident. The killing has sparked outrage among local communities and human rights advocates, raising serious concerns about the use of excessive force by security personnel in Papua.
According to family accounts and Bawaslu Yahukimo, Mr Silak had a normal workday on 20 August, leaving his office around 2:25 PM. After resting at home, he played football at Sekla Field until dawn and subsequently went to a local WiFi voucher store. Security forces reportedly opened fire at Mr Silak at 9:15 pm, while he was walking back home. The lethal shots were released from a Brimob post, located approximately 50 meters from the voucher store. He sustained a lethal head injury and was rushed to Dekai Hospital, where he succumbed to the injury (see photos below, source: independent HRDs). His family was informed of his death later in the evening.
That night, Mr Naro Dapla and a friend took the motorcycle to buy cooking oil in the town. They reportedly passed the site of the crime shortly after the shooting. Officers reportedly opened fire at the men. Mr Dapla sustained a bullet wound on the right shoulder and the right thigh and had to be treated at the Yahukimo General Hospital. On 22 August 2024, he was transferred to Jayapura for follow-up medical care (see photos below, source: independent HRDs).
It is not clear why police forces opened fire at the unarmed civilians. Other sources stated that unknown perpetrators fired several shots at the Yahukimo police resort headquarters (Polres Yahukimo) shortly before the killing occurred. The Brimob officers may have mistaken the men for the perpetrators of the attack against the Polres Yahukimo. Following the incident, the commander of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the Yahukimo area, Mr Elkius Kobak, issued a statement in which he denied involvement in either of the shootings, stating that he and his men were mourning for one of their comrades.
Initial police reports alleged that Mr Silak was carrying a firearm, indicating that he may have been involved in the attack earlier that day. However, both Mr Silak’s relatives and Bawaslu Yahukimo have vehemently denied these claims. Mr Peud Yahuli, Acting Chairman of Bawaslu Yahukimo, stated that Mr Silak was a dedicated staff member with no affiliations to any organisations other than his church and Bawaslu. He denounced the police’s statement about Mr Silak possessing a weapon as “a public lie engineered by the police.”
In response to the incident, Mr Silak’s family has made several demands. They call for the immediate withdrawal of the Cartenz Peace Task Force from the Yahukimo Regency, arguing that its presence does not provide security or peace to residents. The family urges the National Police Chief and Papua Police Chief to dismiss the Yahukimo Police Chief and any police members who acted outside their legal authority. They also demand the removal of the Brimob post at the entrance to the mountain area. Furthermore, the family has requested that the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) and human rights observers conduct a thorough investigation into the extrajudicial execution. They firmly reject any attempts by security forces to portray Mr Silak as armed or involved in any illegal activities, viewing such claims as a diversion tactic.
Victim of extrajudicial killing, Mr Tobias Silak
Seventeen year old Naro Dapla sustained bullet wounds on the right thigh and shoulder
People gathering at the Yahukimo Police Headquarters on 21 August 2024
People in Dekai gather at the General Hospital to pick up the body
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Dekai (-4.873114973170896, 139.49399207738676)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Pegunungan Province, Yahukimo Regency, Dekai District
total number of victims: two
period of incident: 20.08.2024
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: Brimob
Issues: torture, ill-treatment, extra-judicial killings, indigenous peoples
Sources:
Further HRM News:
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Tovias Silak | male | 23 | indigenous | execution |
| 1 | Naro Dapla | male | 17 | indigenous | ill-treatment |
