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

**Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org)
**Document ID:** HRM-CAS-092-2022
**Document Type:** Case
**Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/police-officer-torture-mr-hermanus-waragan-in-tanah-merah-boven-digoel-regency/
**Issues:** security force violence | indigenous peoples
**Publication Date:** November 30, 2022
**Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua

## Summary
Police officers tortured Mr Hermanus Waragan in the town of Tanah Merah in the Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Province, on 15 October 2022. 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.

## Detailed Case Narrative
Human rights defenders document the torture of Mr Hermanus Waragan in the [town of ](https://www.google.com/maps/place/6%C2%B005'23.1%22S+140%C2%B018'46.2%22E/@-6.089742,140.3102551,773m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x68480c1074358cbd:0x9622a0a7da0afdfc!2sTanahmerah,+Persatuan,+Mandobo,+Boven+Digoel,+Papua!3b1!8m2!3d-6.080007!4d140.276147!3m5!1s0x0:0xc40928a57147b091!7e2!8m2!3d-6.0897416!4d140.3128299)[Tanah ](https://www.google.com/maps/place/6%C2%B005'23.1%22S+140%C2%B018'46.2%22E/@-6.089742,140.3102551,773m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x68480c1074358cbd:0x9622a0a7da0afdfc!2sTanahmerah,+Persatuan,+Mandobo,+Boven+Digoel,+Papua!3b1!8m2!3d-6.080007!4d140.276147!3m5!1s0x0:0xc40928a57147b091!7e2!8m2!3d-6.0897416!4d140.3128299)[Merah](https://www.google.com/maps/place/6%C2%B005'23.1%22S+140%C2%B018'46.2%22E/@-6.089742,140.3102551,773m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x68480c1074358cbd:0x9622a0a7da0afdfc!2sTanahmerah,+Persatuan,+Mandobo,+Boven+Digoel,+Papua!3b1!8m2!3d-6.080007!4d140.276147!3m5!1s0x0:0xc40928a57147b091!7e2!8m2!3d-6.0897416!4d140.3128299), 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
![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Victim_Hermanus-Waragan_1.jpg)

![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Victim_Hermanus-Waragan_2.jpg)

![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Victim_Hermanus-Waragan_3.jpg)

## Incident Period & Location
- **Start Date:** October 15, 2022
- **End Date:** October 15, 2022
- **Period Type:** Single Day
- **Reference Date:** October 15, 2022 (used for chronological ordering)
- **Location:** - Tanah Merah city
- **Geographic Coordinates (WGS84):** -6.0861511391, 140.30241131645
- **Google Maps:** https://maps.google.com/?q=-6.0861511391,140.30241131645
- **Administrative Regions:**
  - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Papua Province (Province) > Boven Digoel (Regency) > Mandobo (District)
  - **Region 2:** Indonesia (Country) > South Papua (Province) > Boven Digoel (Regency) > Mandobo (District)

## Victims
**Total number of victims:** 1

| Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations |
|-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------|
| 1 person | Hermanus Waragan | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | torture |

## Perpetrators
**Perpetrator Category Paths:**
- **Category 1:** Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Police