On 20 August 2024, Mr Tobias Silak, a staff member of the election supervisory agency (Bawaslu) in Yahukimo District was shot and killed by security forces in the town of Dekai, Papua Pegunungan Province. The incident sparked outrage and protests from Mr Silak’s family and local community members, particularly after authorities claimed that the victim was affiliated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). On 10 September 2024, relatives and supporters conducted a peaceful protest in Dekai to raise awareness about the case and demand justice (see videos and photos below, source: DGP).
The victim’s family has put forth several demands. They are calling for the prosecution of the perpetrators in a civil court, rejecting any attempts to portray Mr Silak as a TPNPB member The family urges immediate and thorough investigations by the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), and the Papua Police. They also demand a comprehensive evaluation of the Yahukimo police force’s performance, citing concerns over fifteen civilian deaths in the past four years that have not been investigated. Furthermore, the family seeks civil society support to pressure authorities for justice and to raise awareness about military violence against civilians in the region.
The case of Tobias Silak highlights a broader issue of lack of accountability for security forces across West Papua. The family’s statement that fifteen civilians have been shot dead in Yahukimo alone over the past four years without proper investigations or legal processes underscores the widespread pattern of impunity in the region. The situation reflects the ongoing tensions between Indonesian security forces and the indigenous Papuan communities, with frequent accusations of human rights violations going unaddressed. The call for justice in Tobias Silak’s case underscores the doubts among many Papuans regarding the Indonesian justice system that has repeatedly failed to hold security forces accountable for violence against civilians in West Papua.
Tobias Silak’s relatives demanding justice in Dekai, Yahukimo, 10 September 2024
