# Marine Corps personnel arbitrarily detain and torture five indigenous Papuans in Yahukimo Regency **Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org) **Document ID:** HRM-CAS-059-2026 **Document Type:** Case **Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/marine-corps-personnel-arbitrarily-detain-and-torture-five-indigenous-papuans-in-yahukimo-regency/ **Issues:** indigenous peoples | security force violence **Publication Date:** April 24, 2026 **Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua ## Summary On 4 April 2026, Marine Corps personnel (TNI-AL) reportedly detained Mr Yepi Magayang, 25, Mr Kayas Nepsan, 23. Mr Eri Odban, 20, Mr Enias Magayang, 18, and Mr Akilis Osu, 22, without legal grounds on Jalan Gunung, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. ## Detailed Case Narrative On 4 April 2026, Marine Corps personnel (TNI-AL) reportedly detained Mr Yepi Magayang, 25, Mr Kayas Nepsan, 23. Mr Eri Odban, 20, Mr Enias Magayang, 18, and Mr Akilis Osu, 22, without legal grounds on [Jalan Gunung](https://mapcarta.com/de/N5747467884), Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. All detainees were reportedly beaten during detention despite not having committed any criminal offence. According to the information received, the five men were on their way to collect family members who had come down from a village. Marine Corps personnel apprehended them on Jalan Gunung around 11:00 am. They were detained at a nearby military post and subjected them to physical violence while in custody. Officers punched the detainees repeatedly to the body during interrogation. Four detainees were released at approximately 6:00 pm on the same day. They returned to their family homes in poor physical condition due to injuries sustained during the assault. Mr Akilis Osu was released the following morning, on 5 April 2026 at around 9:20 am. None of the victims received professional medical treatment after release. The [incident forms part of a growing pattern of arbitrary detentions, intimidation, and alleged torture by security force members in Dekai District](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/marine-corps-personnel-arbitrarily-detain-and-torture-papuan-student-in-yahukimo-regency/) and other parts of Yahukimo Regency over recent months. Reports indicate that indigenous Papuans travelling for work, family, or daily subsistence activities, have been repeatedly intercepted, detained, interrogated, and assaulted without a clear legal basis. The repeated involvement of military personnel in law-enforcement-type actions raises serious concerns regarding unlawful deprivation of liberty, abuse of authority, and the [absence of effective accountability mechanisms](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/structural-impunity-and-authoritarianism-in-indonesia-cause-shrinking-space-for-accountability/). ### Human rights analysis From a human rights law perspective, the detention and assault of the five civilians may amount to violations of the right to liberty and security of person as protected under Article 9 of the [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/law/iccpr/), and the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment under the [Convention Against Torture (CAT)](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/law/cat/). The authorities should immediately conduct an independent and impartial investigation, ensure access to medical treatment and legal assistance for all victims, and hold the perpetrators accountable through criminal and disciplinary proceedings. ### Table of victims of arbitrary detention in Dekai on 4 April 2026 **No.** **Full Name** **Age** **Gender** **Date & Time of Release** 1 Yepi Magayang 25 Male 4 April 2026, 6:00 pm 2 Kayas Nepsan 23 Male 4 April 2026, 6:00 pm 3 Eri Odban 20 Male 4 April 2026, 6:00 pm 4 Enias Magayang 18 Male 4 April 2026, 6:00 pm 5 Akilis Osu 22 Male 5 April 2026, 09:20 am ## Incident Period & Location - **Start Date:** April 4, 2026 - **End Date:** April 5, 2026 - **Period Type:** Period - **Reference Date:** April 4, 2026 (used for chronological ordering) - **Administrative Regions:** - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Highland Papua (Province) > Yahukimo (Regency) > Dekai (District) ## Victims **Total number of victims:** 5 | Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations | |-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------| | 1 person | Yepi Magayang | 25 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture | | 1 person | Kayas Nipsan | 23 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture | | 1 person | Eri Odban | 20 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture | | 1 person | Enias MAgayang | 18 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture | | 1 person | Akilis Osu | 22 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | torture | ## Perpetrators **Perpetrator Category Paths:** - **Category 1:** Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI) > Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) ## Related Cases - [Arbitrary detention of Son Balingga at military headquarters in Dekai, Yahukimo](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/arbitrary-detention-of-son-balingga-at-military-headquarters-in-dekai-yahukimo/) - [Arrests of KNPB members in Dekai, Yahukimo - 16 arbitrarily arrested](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/arrests-of-knpb-members-in-dekai-yahukimo-16-arbitrarily-arrested/) - [Military drone attack on civilian house in Dekai kills Papuan 17-year-old pupil - one person injured](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/military-drone-attack-on-civilian-house-in-dekai-kills-papuan-17-year-old-pupil-one-person-injured/) - [Joint security forces torture and arbitrarily arrest four KNPB activists in Dekai, Yahukimo](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/joint-security-forces-torture-and-arbitrarily-arrest-four-knpb-activists-in-dekai-yahukimo/) - [Military members detain gold panner without warrant in Dekai, Yahukimo](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/military-members-detain-gold-panner-without-warrant-in-dekai-yahukimo/) - [Military members arbitrarily detain and torture two KNPB activists in Dekai, Yahukimo](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/military-members-arbitrarily-detain-and-torture-two-knpb-activists-in-dekai-yahukimo/) - [Arbitrary detention of two Papuan youth in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency: One is still a minor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/arbitrary-detention-of-two-papuan-youth-in-dekai-yahukimo-regency/)