Joint security forces kill IDP in Yahukimo Regency

On 5 July 2022, security force members of the Damai Cartenz shot dead a 42-year-old indigenous Papuan, Mr Uakhele Giban in the Suru Suru District, Yahukimo Regency. He has been living with his family in a temporary shelter in the Suru Suru district since November 2021. Mr Giban used his motorboat for river transportation services to create an income for his wife and children.

That day, at 11.30 am, Mr Uakhele Giban arrived with his boat at the end of the runway in Suru Suru and passengers left the boat. As Mr Giban wanted to leave and pick up other passengers, the engine did not start. Thereupon, he opened the engine box and began to repair the engine. Meanwhile, Mr Giban’s children arrived at the airstrip and watched their father fixing the motorboat.

At 1.30 pm, the children witnessed a group of security force members near the location. One of the officers released a shot. Mr Giban was hit by the bullet and fell into the river. Thereupon, his children ran to the temporary shelter and told Mr Giban’s relatives about the incident.

As the relatives arrived at the airstrip around 3.30 pm, the site of the crime was already cordoned by joint security force members. Seeing this, the relatives went downstream to look for Mr Uakhele Giban’s body. However, the body has disappeared since then. According to information received the police have not launched an investigation into the killing. 

Mr Uakhele Giban is one of more than 4,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Suru Suru District who fled their villages in response to security raids against West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Detailed Case Data
name of the location: river next to the airstrip (-4.767195387349938, 138.9830553005844)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Yahukimo Regency, Suru Suru District
total number of victims: one
period of incident: 05.07.2022
perpetrator: military, other security forces
perpetrator details: Private Budi Herwanto and three other officers
Issues: indigenous peoples, extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearance
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