An Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) air-and-ground operation in Yigemili Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 05 October 2025, allegedly resulted in the enforced disappearance of two civilians named Mr Yoban Kine Wenda, 60, and Mr Wiringga Walia Wenda, 23. Subsequent searches, including a mission on 31 October 2025 by the Papuan Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity (YKKMP) and the Lanny Jaya Humanitarian Team, failed to locate the men.
In the aftermath, at least 25 traditional houses (honai) and three tin-roofed homes were damaged (one honai reportedly burned), and around 2,300 civilians fled to the villages Wuyukwi and Yigemili as internally displaced persons (IDPs). They are facing acute shortages of food and essential services. Local authorities are reported to be passive and unresponsive, while the IDPs refuse to return home as security forces remain present in the area.
On 05 October 2025, two helicopters allegedly conducted aerial strikes supporting a wider operation against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in and around the villages Wunabugu and Yigemili. Congregants preparing for Sunday Holy Communion dispersed in panic amid the attack. In the same context, Yoban Kine Wenda and Wiringga Walia Wenda went missing and have not been seen since. Over the following weeks, families attempted two searches, each time first reporting to a newly established TNI post and being allowed three hours to search. On 31 October 2025, YKKMP Chairperson, Mr Theo Hesegem, led a humanitarian team (see photo on top, source: YKKMP) and families to the incident site; after roughly two hours, no remains or traces were found.
Between 24–26 October 2025, YKKMP and church partners installed billboards across Melagi, Melagineri, West Wano, Kwiyawage, and Goa Balim articulating basic civilian rights under international humanitarian law (IHL) and a community statement prohibiting warfare in civilian areas while troops remain deployed in Unabunggu Village. The community billboards reflect legitimate civilian protection measures, reminders to both TNI and TPNPB of IHL duties to avoid hostilities in civilian areas, to cease arbitrary arrests, and to respect education, health, religious, and economic life.
Human rights and humanitarian law assessment
The alleged incommunicado detention and concealment of the fate/whereabouts of Yoban Kine Wenda and Wiringga Walia Wenda, if attributable to state agents, would constitute enforced disappearance, a grave violation under international human rights law (IHRL) and contrary to the ICCPR obligations to protect the right to life, liberty, security of person, and to prevent arbitrary detention and ill-treatment. Indonesia has not ratified specific treaties on disappearances, yet states are bound by customary norms and the UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance to investigate promptly, effectively, and transparently, and to inform families.
Reports of aerial strikes and widespread damage to civilian homes, coupled with mass displacement, raise serious concerns under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) regarding the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions. Parties to the non-international armed conflict must never target civilians or civilian objects and must take all feasible precautions to minimise incidental harm.
The displacement of about 2,300 civilians and the starvation risk engage the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the State’s positive duties to ensure access to food, shelter, health care, education, and protection without discrimination. Local authorities’ reported passivity is inconsistent with obligations to prevent humanitarian crises, enable relief operations, and facilitate safe, voluntary, and dignified return when conditions allow.
Detailed Case Data
Location: Yigemili, Malagaineri, Lanny Jaya Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-3.9034265, 137.9812152)
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Lanny Jaya, Melagi
Total number of victims: 2
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Yoban Kine Wenda
male
60
Indigenous Peoples
disappearance
2.
1
Wiringga Walia Wenda
male
23
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence