Police officers enter residential houses and arrest 21 indigenous Papuans in Dekai without warrant

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 belong to the indigenous Ngalik Tribe, among them three village chiefs. Representatives of the Papuan Regional Police (Polda Papua) claimed the arrests were related to the investigation into the killing of several Non-Papuans. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has claimed responsibility for the killings. According to the relatives, the police failed to inform them about the reason for the arrest. They emphasized that the arrestees are not associated with the TPNPB and called upon the police.

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 checking the suspects’ identities or showing a warrant. 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). The head of the Polres Yahukimo Operations Department, Alwy Wairooy, explained that the police suspected the houses raided to be hide-outs for TPNPB members.

Twenty suspects were released on 18 May 2023 (see photo on top, source: Suara Papua), while one arrestee named Aminus Senik (21 years) remains in detention. It is not clear whether the police have pressed charges against him.

List of persons arbitrarily arrested in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, on 16 May 2023

NoNameAge (years)Additional information
1Yas Menegei39Yahopa Village Chief
2Yopinus Payage40Yerikho Village Chief
3Nus Gandeng34Bogum Village Chief
4Martinus Gandeng43 
5Sier Payage32 
6Natan Payage39 
7Babe Heluka  30 
8Aminus Senik21 remains in custody
9Temanius Payage35 
10Obet Heluka37 
11Ham Heluka47 
12Matius Menegei14 
13Paulus Gandeng32 
14Petrus Senik43 
15Elia Sigap29 
16Mianus Sigap50
17Kenis Menegei34
18Yonius Payage41 
19Emu Sigap31 
20Herman Giban28
21Hanus Lapie17

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