# Military members torture five indigenous Papuans in Puncak Jaya

**Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org)
**Document ID:** HRM-CAS-041-2025
**Document Type:** Case
**Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/military-members-torture-five-indigenous-papuans-in-puncak-jaya/
**Issues:** security force violence | indigenous peoples
**Publication Date:** April 15, 2025
**Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua

## Summary
On the night of 13 March 2025, military personnel reportedly tortured three indigenous Papuans in the Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

## Detailed Case Narrative
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
![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Victim_Puncak-Jaya_Torture-Case_1-768x1024.jpeg)

![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Victim_Puncak-Jaya_Torture-Case_2-768x1024.jpeg)

![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Victim_Puncak-Jaya_Torture-Case_4-768x1024.jpeg)

![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Victim_Puncak-Jaya_Torture-Case_3-768x1024.jpeg)

### Victims of torture in Mulia, Puncak Jaya, on 13 March 2025
**No.**
**Initials**
**Age**
**Additional information**

1
P. W
28
Threatened at gunpoint and arbitrarily detained and subsequently tortured

2
L. A
21
Threatened at gunpoint and arbitrarily detained and subsequently tortured

3
E. W
20
Threatened at gunpoint and arbitrarily detained and subsequently tortured

4
Y. W
67
Threatened at gunpoint inside their house

5
E. W
18
Threatened at gunpoint inside their house

## Incident Period & Location
- **Start Date:** March 13, 2025
- **End Date:** March 13, 2025
- **Period Type:** Single Day
- **Reference Date:** March 13, 2025 (used for chronological ordering)
- **Location:** - Traditional house near the new market, town of Mulia
- **Administrative Regions:**
  - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Highland Papua (Province)

## Victims
**Total number of victims:** 5

| Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations |
|-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------|
| 1 person | P.W. | 28 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 1 person | L.A. | 21 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 1 person | E.W. | 20 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 1 person | Y.W. | 67 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |
| 1 person | E.W. | 18 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment |

## Perpetrators
**Perpetrator Category Paths:**
- **Category 1:** Republic Indonesia

- **Perpetrator Description:** military personnel from Kodim 1714 military base