Joint security force members of the Damai Cartenz task force searched houses and arbitrarily arrested 21 Papuans in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, on 16 May 2023. The task force was formed to curb armed separatist groups in West Papua. All arrestees, among them three village chiefs, belong to the indigenous Ngalik Tribe. Representatives of the Papuan Regional Police (Polda Papua) claimed the arrests were related to the investigation of the killing of many non-Papuans, for which the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has already claimed responsibility. According to the relatives, the police did not inform them about the reason for the arrest. Under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a party, the arrests can be deemed arbitrary due to the lack of warrant and failure to inform the reason for the arrest. The arrestees’ relatives emphasised that they are not associated with the TPNPB.
The police raid took place in the Brasa residential area at 2:00 am. The police arrived in Brasa using two minivans and one police truck belonging to the Yahukimo District Police (Polres Yahukimo). The officers broke the front door and entered the houses while the residents were asleep. The arrests were conducted without showing a warrant and without verifying the suspects’ identities. Police officers seized 3.4 million rupiah (about € 210,-), traditional weapons, mobile phones, documents, a camera, computers, gardening tools, and t-shirts with Morning Star emblems, a symbol of cultural identity for indigenous Papuans. None of the personal belongings have been returned to the owners.
Following the arrest, indigenous Ngalik leaders, relatives, and their tribespeople came to the Yahukimo District Police Station (Polres Yahukimo) and demanded information about the allegations against the suspects (see images below, source: independent HRDs). According to the head of the Yahukimo District Police Operations Department, Alwy Wairooy, the police raided the houses because they were alleged hide-outs for TPNPB members.
While twenty suspects were released on 18 May 2023 (see photo on top, source: Suara Papua), one arrestee named Aminus Senik, 21, remains in detention. It is not clear whether the police have pressed charges against him, raising serious concerns about the due process of law.
List of persons arbitrarily arrested in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, on 16 May 2023
| No | Name | Age (years) | Additional information |
| 1 | Yas Menegei | 39 | Yahopa Village Chief |
| 2 | Yopinus Payage | 40 | Yerikho Village Chief |
| 3 | Nus Gandeng | 34 | Bogum Village Chief |
| 4 | Martinus Gandeng | 43 | |
| 5 | Sier Payage | 32 | |
| 6 | Natan Payage | 39 | |
| 7 | Babe Heluka | 30 | |
| 8 | Aminus Senik | 21 | remains in custody |
| 9 | Temanius Payage | 35 | |
| 10 | Obet Heluka | 37 | |
| 11 | Ham Heluka | 47 | |
| 12 | Matius Menegei | 14 | |
| 13 | Paulus Gandeng | 32 | |
| 14 | Petrus Senik | 43 | |
| 15 | Elia Sigap | 29 | |
| 16 | Mianus Sigap | 50 | |
| 17 | Kenis Menegei | 34 | |
| 18 | Yonius Payage | 41 | |
| 19 | Emu Sigap | 31 | |
| 20 | Herman Giban | 28 | |
| 21 | Hanus Lapie | 17 |
Village chiefs testifying about the raid and the personal belongings seized by police officers on 16 May 2023
People gathering at the Polres Yahukimo on 16 May 2023
Arrestees show damages after being released
Detailed Case Data
Location: Brasa, Dekai
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 21
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Yas Menegei, Yahopa Village Chief
male
39
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
2.
1
Yopinus Payage, Yerikho Village Chief
male
40
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
3.
1
Nus Gandeng, Bogum Village Chief
male
34
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
4.
1
Martinus Gandeng
male
43
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
5.
1
Sier Payage
male
32
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
6.
1
Natan Payage
male
39
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
7.
1
Babe Heluka
male
30
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
8.
1
Aminus Senik*
male
21
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
9.
1
Temanius Payage
male
35
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
10.
1
Obet Heluka
male
37
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
11.
1
Ham Heluka
male
47
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
12.
1
Matius Menegei
male
14
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
13.
1
Paulus Gandeng
male
32
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
14.
1
Petrus Senik
male
43
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
15.
1
Elia Sigap
male
29
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
16.
1
Mianus Sigap
male
50
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
17.
1
Kenis Menegei
male
34
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
18.
1
Yonius Payage
male
41
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
19.
1
Emu Sigap
male
31
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
20.
1
Herman Giban
male
28
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
21.
1
Hanus Lapie
male
17
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
Perpetrator: Other Security Forces
Perpetrator details: Damai Cartenz task force
Issues: security force violence, indigenous peoples, women and children