Indonesian security forces alleged of killing indigenous Papuan woman and injuring eight villagers with bullets in Puncak Regency

Indonesian security forces reportedly raided the village of Pamebut, Yugumuak District, in the early morning of 3 March 2023. According to information received, joint police and military members indiscriminately opened fire at villagers, leaving eight persons injured with bullets. An indigenous woman named Mrs, Tarina Murib was reportedly hit by a bullet during the raid and died on the spot. Villagers claim they found her body beheaded shortly after the raid. One security force member was reportedly killed during a subsequent firefight with West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) members.

According to information received, security force members already circled Pamebut Village on the evening of 2 March 2023. They indiscriminately opened fire at villagers leaving their huts in the early morning of 3 March 2023 to go to the loo. Eight villagers sustained bullet injuries during the attack, among them at least two minors (see photos below). During the raid, security force members reportedly burnt several residential houses to the ground.     

The spokesperson of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command, Colonel Herman Taryaman, denied that his men were involved in the killing and mutilation of a civilian in the Yugumuak District. Taryaman claimed that the TPNPB had opened fire at the villagers. He added that one Satgas Yonif Raider 303/SSM military unit member was killed during the firefight with TPNPB combatants in Yugumuak during the operation.

Following the incident, hundreds of indigenous Papuans from the districts Yugumuak and Magebume fled to the Sinak Village (see photo below), and the town of Mulia, Puncak, Jaya Regency, because they were afraid of becoming victims of violence during armed clashes or security raids. Observers called upon local authorities to provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) with food and shelter. A video supplied by human rights defenders shows a group of IDPs in the town of Sinak. An IDP is holding a speech in which he calls upon the local and central government to address the humanitarian crisis in Puncak and other highland regencies (see video below).

Table of victims during security force raid in Pamebut Village, Puncak Regency, on 3 March 2023

No	Name	Age	Additional information
1	Mrs Tarina Murib	35 years	Was shot dead, the head was reportedly dismembered from the body
2	Mr Gwinus Murib	36 years	Sustained bullet wound on the right shoulder
3	Mr  Rondinus Murib	17 years	Junior high school student, sustained a bullet wound on the right shoulder
4	Mrs Nerce Telenggen	34 years	Sustained bullet wounds on the stomach and the right hand, the projectile remained inside the body
5	Rasna Kogoya	13 years	Sustained bullet wound on the right leg
6	Yalingga Murib	18 years	Sustained bullet wound on the right thigh
7	Juan Amelson Murib	2 years	Sustained bullet wound on the right hand
8	Mrs Dayusina Alom	27 years	Sustained bullet wound in the thigh
9	Rosita Murib	8 years	Sustained bullet wound on the finger

Victims injured during security force raid in Pamebut Village, Puncak Regency, on 3 March 2023

IDPs from the districts Yugumuak and Magebume seeking shelter in Sinak Village

Detailed Case Data 
name of the location: Pamebut (-3.8138860503303453, 137.86726953862765) 
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Puncak Regency, Yugumuak District, Pamebut Village
total number of victims: nine
period of incident: 03.03.2023
perpetrator: other security forces
perpetrator details: unknown 
Issues: ill-treatment, torture, extra-judicial killings, indigenous peoples, internal displacement
Sources:  
Further HRM News: 

Number	Name, Details	Gender	Age	Group Affiliation	Violation
1	Tarina Murib	female	35	indigenous	execution
1	Gwinus Murib	male	36	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Rondinus Murib	male	17	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Nerce Telenggen	female	34	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Rasna Kogoya	male	13	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Yalingga Murib	male	18	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Juan Amelson Murib	male	2	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Dayusina Alom	female	27	indigenous	ill-treatment
1	Rosita Murib	female	8	indigenous	ill-treatment