# Relatives raise allegations of enforced disappearance in Intan Jaya Regency

**Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org)
**Document ID:** HRM-CAS-073-2023
**Document Type:** Case
**Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/relatives-raise-allegations-of-enforced-disappearance-in-intan-jaya-regency/
**Issues:** security force violence | indigenous peoples
**Publication Date:** November 28, 2023
**Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua

## Summary
Damai Cartenz police task force forcefully entered a residential house in the Amaesiga Village, Sugapa District, on 10 November 2023 and arbitrarily arrested Mr Otopius Bagau.

## Detailed Case Narrative
The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) reported a case of enforced disappearance in the Intan Jaya Regency. According to relatives, members of the Damai Cartenz police task force forcefully entered their house in the Amaesiga Village, Sugapa District, on 10 November 2023, around 5:00 am, shortly after an armed clash between security forces and members of the West Papua National Liberation (TPNPB). The security force members arbitrarily arrested 26-year-old Mr Otopius Bagau, a resident of the neighbouring Homeyo District, who had come to visit the family since 9 November 2023. The relatives described that the security force members tortured Mr Bagau during the arrest.

On 12 November 2023, the relatives went to the [District Police headquarters in Sugapa](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Polsek+Sugapa+Polres+Intan+Jaya+Polda+Papua/@-3.7461471,137.0306486,6634m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x68229a2d3b9a92cb:0x484e91d781610f29!2sSugapa,+Intan+Jaya+Regency,+Papua,+Indonesia!3b1!8m2!3d-3.7397323!4d137.0417997!16s%2Fg%2F122dktv1!3m5!1s0x68229df70a338db5:0xef3a34d03b32c93b!8m2!3d-3.7406569!4d137.0413629!16s%2Fg%2F11qrt26xpc?entry=ttu) to ask about the whereabouts of Mr Otopius Bagau. A police officer said that Mr Bagau was not among the persons detained at the police station. The relatives continued searching for Mr Bagau (see photo: Mr Otopius sitting with his soft air rifle while hunting birds, Source: Kingmi Papua) but could not find him as of 21 November 2023. They have called upon the local police and military to immediately provide information about his place of detention, emphasising that Otopius Bagau is a civilian and not affiliated with the TPNPB.

## Incident Period & Location
- **Start Date:** November 10, 2023
- **End Date:** November 10, 2023
- **Period Type:** Single Day
- **Reference Date:** November 10, 2023 (used for chronological ordering)
- **Location:** - Sugapa
- **Geographic Coordinates (WGS84):** -3.748868010932, 137.01129539781
- **Google Maps:** https://maps.google.com/?q=-3.748868010932,137.01129539781
- **Administrative Regions:**
  - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Central Papua (Province) > Intan Jaya (Regency) > Sugapa (District)

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

| Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations |
|-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------|
| 1 person | Otopius Bagau | 26 years (exact) | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture, disappearance |

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

- **Perpetrator Description:** unknown