Military members torture five indigenous Papuans in Puncak Jaya

On the night of 13 March 2025, military personnel reportedly tortured five indigenous Papuans in the Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province. During the time of the incident, the five inhabitants were recovering from a tribal dispute between supporters of political candidates during the local elections, with two of the men suffering severe arrow wounds.

The soldiers ambushed the five men inside a traditional house near the new market in the town of Mulia around 8:30 pm. They threatened the five inhabitants at gunpoint and forced them to leave the house while insulting them as pigs and dogs. Three of the five victims were forcefully taken to the nearby military base in Puncak Jaya around 9:00 pm. They were arbitrarily detained, interrogated, and tortured at the Kodim 1714 military base in Puncak Jaya for more than two hours.

The military personnel delivered collective beatings during transport and detention at the base. During the subsequent interrogation, the soldiers repeatedly accused them of involvement in the murder of a comrade during the electoral conflict. Despite the violence they experienced, the three victims denied the murder allegations. They were eventually released after the commanding officer apologised and offered them compensation of IDR 300,000 (approx. € 18). All three were returned to the house at 03:15 am, without receiving medical aid.

Military members reportedly tortured P.W, L.A, and E.W in Mulia on the night of 13 March 2025

Victims of torture in Mulia, Puncak Jaya, on 13 March 2025

No.InitialsAgeAdditional information
1P. W28Threatened at gunpoint and arbitrarily detained and subsequently tortured
2L. A21Threatened at gunpoint and arbitrarily detained and subsequently tortured
3E. W20Threatened at gunpoint and arbitrarily detained and subsequently tortured
4Y. W67Threatened at gunpoint inside their house
5E. W18Threatened at gunpoint inside their house

Detailed Case Data
Location: Traditional house near the new market, town of Mulia
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua
Total number of victims: 5

# Number of Victims Name, Details Gender Age Group Affiliation Violations
1. 1 P.W.
male 28 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
2. 1 L.A.
male 21 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
3. 1 E.W.
male 20 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
4. 1 Y.W.
male 67 Indigenous Peoples ill-treatment
5. 1 E.W.
male 18 Indigenous Peoples ill-treatment
Period of incident: 13/03/2025 – 13/03/2025
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia

Perpetrator details: military personnel from Kodim 1714 military base

Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples