Police officer torture Mr Hermanus Waragan in Tanah Merah, Boven Digoel Regency

Human rights defenders document the torture of Mr Hermanus Waragan in the town of Tanah Merah, Mandobo District, in Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Province, on 15 October 2022. According to information received, officers of the Boven Digoel District Police intercepted Mr Waragen in the Meranti area around 11.00 pm local time as he was on his way to visit grieving friends.

Shortly before the incident, residents had filed a complaint regarding the disturbance of public order by an intoxicated person to the police. The officers jumped out of their patrol car, accusing Mr Waragen of disturbing public order, and immediately tortured him while asking him what he was doing in Meranti. The torture was believed to be a punishment for allegedly disturbing public order. They reportedly punched Mr Waragen in the head and kicked his leg, causing bruises under the right eye and ear and abrasions on the right knee (see photos, source: independent HRDs).

Photos of Hermanus Waragen after the police torture

Detailed Case Data
Location: Tanah Merah city
Region: Indonesia, Papua Province, Boven Digoel, Mandobo
Region: Indonesia, South Papua, Boven Digoel, Mandobo
Total number of victims: 1

# Number of Victims Name, Details Gender Age Group Affiliation Violations
1. 1 Hermanus Waragan
male unknown Indigenous Peoples torture
Period of incident: 15/10/2022 – 15/10/2022
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples