On 25 November 2025, at around 9.00 pm, residents on Gunung Street in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province, observed a military drone repeatedly circling above their neighbourhood. According to eyewitnesses, the drone flew several loops over the area and then hovered for a few minutes above a cluster of civilian houses. The aircraft reportedly switched on a green light, followed by a yellow and then a white light, illuminating one particular house before releasing an aerial explosive.
The explosive fell onto a civilian house and detonated with a powerful explosion in the middle of the residential area. Inside the building, a 17-year-old senior high school student named Listin Sam and another young man, Mr Yondinus Dapla, were asleep in the same room when the blast struck the house. Both were hit by shrapnel and debris (see photos below, source: independent HRD). Neighbours and family members rushed to the house, evacuated the victims, and brought them to the Dekai Regional Public Hospital (RSUD Dekai) at around midnight. Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Listin Sam died at approximately 2.05 am at RSUD Dekai, while Mr Yondinus Dapla survived and remains under medical care.
On the morning of 26 November 2025, at about 6.00 am Papua time, the victim’s family returned to RSUD Dekai to negotiate with police officers to retrieve Listin Sam’s body for burial. The family and the head of Duram District stressed that the victims and the wider Duram community are civilians with no involvement in the West Papua National Liberation Army (see photos and videos, source: independent HRD). The family also brought a photocopy of Listin Sam’s school diploma to underline that he was a student at SMA Negeri in Dekai and not affiliated with any armed group. Community representatives and relatives went to the Yahukimo Police Station to demand accountability for the drone attack, while local human rights defenders and church-based legal aid networks began documenting the incident and issuing urgent calls for advocacy. They called upon all armed actors to move hostilities away from civilian residential areas
Photos taken at the site of incident immediately after the detonation
Remains of the explosive found at the detonation site
Relatives and community members carrying Listin Sam’s body away from the RSUD Dekai
Listin Sam’s relative speaking about the drone attack at the RSUD Dekai, Yahukimo Regency. He stressed that Listin Sam is a civilian victim, 26 November 2025
Relatives of Listin Sam mourn at the RSUD Dekai, 26 November 2025
Detailed Case Data
Location: Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-4.8638158, 139.4837298) Jalan Gunung, Dekai
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 2
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Listin Sam
male
17
Indigenous Peoples
execution, right to life, unlawful killing
2.
1
Yondinus Dapla
male
adult
Indigenous Peoples
ill-treatment
Perpetrator: , Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence