Police officers raid residential house and Tabernacle Church office in Nduga – Six persons arbitrarily arrested, twelve tortured

Members of the Nduga District Police and the Damai Cartenz Police Task Force raided a residential house and the local head office of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (Kingmi Papua) in the town of Kenyam, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 17.09.2023.

Before raiding the Kingmi Papua office, the police officers arbitrarily arrested Mrs Melince Wandikbo, Mr Indeweriknak Arambo, and Mr Gira Gwijangge in their house in Kenyam. They were tortured and forced to reveal the names of persons who had attended a recent burial of several members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). After one of the suspects mentioned the name of Rev Urbanus Kogeya, the police officers searched the Kingmi Papua Office in Kenyam. They arrested three other Papuans without showing a warrant. Police officers reportedly beat them during arrest and subsequent detention at the Nduga District Police Headquarters. All persons detained were later released due to lack of evidence.

Local Kingmi Papua church leaders and congregation members slept inside the Kingmi head office that night because they were preparing for a church event. Around 11:30 p.m., the police officers forcefully entered the office, breaking the entrance door (see photos below, source: YKKMP). According to the church leaders, the officers used excessive force against the suspects and the office facilities during the raid. Nine people sustained injuries as a result of police violence during the raid at the Kingmi Papua office (see table and photos below, source: YKKMP & Kingmi Papua).

As Rev Nataniel Tabuni asked the officers why they had come at night and broke the entrance door, a police officer approached him and punched him three times in the face. According to Rev Tabuni, one of the police officers stated: “You are the Church of Satan, the Church of Terrorists! You are supporting Egianus Kogeya [TPNPB Commander in Nduga] under the pretext of praying”.

The acts of torture were witnessed by the head of Nduga Parliament (DPRD), Mr Ikabus Gwijangge. He reached the Kingmi Papua Office around 11:45 p.m. after hearing people shouting for help. As Mr Gwijangge saw the police officers beating and kicking the suspects, he protested the use of excessive force against the suspects and called upon the officers to follow procedure. Thereupon, a Damai Cartenz officer reportedly pointed his finger at Mr Gwijangge and threatened him, “Stupid parliamentarian. I’ll come after you! Wherever you go, I will find out where you are. I’ll chase you!” Another police officer pushed him outside the building to prevent Mr Gwijangge from witnessing the police operation. After that, the police officers searched all the office rooms and broke another office door.

The Nduga police chief (Kapolres), Commissioner Vinsensius Jimmy, has apologized to the local church leaders for the misconduct of his men. The victims demand that the perpetrators be processed according to the law. Congregation members in Kenyam carried out a spontaneous peaceful protest against the police raid and violence against four Kingmi Papua pastors (see photo below, source: YKKMP).

Table of victims of arbitrary arrest and torture during police in Kenyam, Nduga Regency, on 17 September 2023

No	Name	Gender	Age	Additional information
1.	Indeweriknak Arambo	Male	30 years	Arbitrarily arrested at his house and detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters (Polres Nduga); released without charges after being interrogated due to lack of evidence; he sustained bruises and wounds on the back of the head, the back, and the right leg as a result of police violence police during detention.
2.	Gira Gwijangge	Male	19 years	Arbitrarily arrested at his house and detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters (Polres Nduga); released without charges after being interrogated due to lack of evidence; he sustained bruises and wounds on the head, the right shoulder, and the left knee as a result of police violence police during detention.
3.	Rev. Urbanus Kogeya	Male	30 years	Arbitrarily detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters (Polres Nduga), released without charges after being interrogated due to lack of evidence; he was reportedly beaten during police detention.
4.	Markus Kogoya	Male	22 years	Arbitrarily detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters (Polres Nduga), released without charges after being interrogated due to lack of evidence; he was reportedly beaten during police detention.
5.	Indisina Gwijangge	Female	20 years	Arbitrarily detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters (Polres Nduga); released without charges after being interrogated due to lack of evidence; she was reportedly beaten during police detention.
6.	Barini Gwijangge	Male	25 years	Arbitrarily detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters (Polres Nduga), released without charges after being interrogated due to lack of evidence; he was reportedly beaten during police detention.
7.	Rev Nataniel Tabuni	Male	61 years	A police officer punched him three times in the face; he sustained bruises on the cheek and the jaw; one tooth broke with blood coming from his mouth. Rev Tabuni fainted due to the punch and fell to the ground.
8.	Rev Sakeus Kogeya	Male	85 years	A police officer punched him in the face and repeatedly grabbed him by the neck; an officer kicked him with heavy boots on the back, causing swellings on his back as he wanted to protect his son; he sustained bruises on the face.
9.	Melince Wandikbo	Female	25 years	Mrs Wandikbo is the wife of Mr Indinwiridnak Arabo; she was arbitrarily arrested in her house and detained at the Nduga District Police Headquarters. A police officer slapped her on the left cheek, causing a bruise on the cheek.
10.	Rev Yairus Elopere	Male	45 years	Police officers pushed him around and threatened him at gunpoint to be silent during the raid.
11.	Naina Lani	Female	N/A	Police officers punched her on the back of her head
12.	Dik	Female	N/A	Police officers punched her on the left side of her head near the ear

Mr Indeweriknak Arambo sustained bruises and wounds on the back of the head, the back, and the right leg as a result of police violence

Mr Gira Gwijangge sustained bruises and wounds on the head, the right shoulder, and the left knee as a result of police violence police

Rev Sakeus Kogeya sustained bruises on the face and the back after police officers punched and repeatedly kicked him

Rev Nataniel Tabuni sustained bruises in the face and a broken tooth

Damages caused by police officers during the raid at the Kingmi Office in Kenyam

Protest in Kenyam on 18 September 2023

Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Kenyam (-4.594375167456987, 138.38423619166235)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Pegunungan Province, Nduga Regency, Kenyam District
total number of victims: 12
period of incident: 17.09.2023
perpetrator: police, other security forces
perpetrator details: members of the Nduga District Police and the Damai Cartenz Police Task Force
Issues: torture, freedom of peaceful assembly, indigenous peoples, arbitrary arrest
Sources:
Further HRM News:

Number	Name, Details	Gender	Age	Group Affiliation	Violations
1	Indeweriknak Arambo	male	30	religious	arbitrary detention, torture
1	Gira Gwijangge	male	19	religious	arbitrary detention, torture
1	Rev. Urbanus Kogeya	male	30	religious	arbitrary detention, torture
1	Markus Kogoya	male	22	religious	arbitrary detention, torture
1	Indisina Gwijangge	female	20	religious	arbitrary detention, torture
1	Barini Gwijangge	male	25	religious	arbitrary detention, torture
1	Rev Nataniel Tabuni	male	61	religious	torture
1	Rev Sakeus Kogeya	male	85	religious	torture
1	Melince Wandikbo	female	25	religious	torture
1	Rev Yairus Elopere	male	45	religious	torture
1	Naina Lani	female	unknown	religious	torture
1	Dik	female	unknown	religious	torture