Between 21 and 23 February 2026, joint forces of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force conducted a series of arbitrary arrests against at dozens of civilians, including minors and students, in the Kali Biru area, Seradala Road (Kilo 4), and at the old KPU/Bawaslu office on Sohosa Road. Both areas are located in the district of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, where the police has launched a series of arbitrary arrests since January 2026 due to the deteriorating armed conflict in the regency.
The initial mass arrest occurred on 21 February 2026 at the residence of Mr Iwan Payage in Kali Biru and along Seradala Road (Kilo 4). Eleven students and youths were reportedly detained without presentation of arrest warrants. Four detainees were subsequently released on 22 February 2026. Further arrests reportedly occurred on the following day, with another fourteen persons being detained. Mr Amonto Nato, 20, Sonai Giban. 17, Panus Payage, 14, Meli Heluka, 14, Mika (Homi) Eluka, Kris Giban, 16, and Arnius Heluka, 17, remained in custody as of 3 March 2026. and continue to be under investigation without access tp legal counsel. Credible allegations indicate that at least one detainee, Mr Melkim Selek, 30, was subjected to beatings amounting to torture during interrogation at the Yahukimo Police Station.
On 21 February 2026, at approximately 6:00 am, several armoured tactical vehicles operated by the Cartenz Task Force entered the yard of Mr Wan Payage’s residence in Kali Biru, Dekai. Officers surrounded the premises and arrested eleven Papuan youth, most of them still minors. Personal belongings, including motorcycles, mobile phones, bedding, and household utensils, were confiscated and taken to the Yahukimo Police Station. Further arrests reportedly occurred on 22 February 2026 at approximately 4:00 am along Seradala Road (Kilo 4). Members of the Damai Cartenz unit and the Habema Task Force detained the four Papuan youth Feri Alemdam, 15, Olan Alya, 17, Mr Erik Alya, 18, and Eli Malyo, 17, without warrant. Police officers arbitrarily detained another ten persons while patrolling town.
Mr Melkim Selak, 21, was released at 10:23 pm on 23 February 2026 and returned to his family home on Jalan KPU Lama. Security force members had arbitrarily detained him near the old KPU office on 22 February 2026. He stated that no arrest warrant had been presented at the time of arrest. Officers forced them to enter a in a military vehicle which brought them to the Yahukimo District Police Station (Polres Yahukimo). During interrogation, he was allegedly forced to confess to membership in the West Papua National Lioberation Army (TPNPB). Police officers allegedly punched and kicked him with boots to the face and on his back, causing dizziness and physical pain. He reported that the torture ceased only after the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit arrived.
On 23 February 2026, at 9:30 am, members and supporters of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Yahukimo region, together with the families, entered the Yahukimo police station to request an explanation for the arrests (see photo on top, source: KNPB). As of 24 February 2026, eight individuals remained under investigation at the Yahukimo Police Station, including minors aged 14–17. Families reported that in several cases no formal notification of arrest or clear legal basis had been provided, while police officers restricted access to legal counsel. Police officers at the Yahukimo District Police Office (Polres Yahukimo) twice prevented a team of lawyers from visiting the detainees on 27 February and 1 March 2026 under the pretext that their superiors were not present.
Human rights analysis
The pattern of arrests indicates prima facie violations of the right to liberty and security of person as enshrined in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly in relation to arbitrary arrest and detention. The absence of arrest warrants, failure to inform detainees promptly of the reasons for arrest, and lack of access to legal counsel contravene fair trial guarantees and procedural safeguards under Indonesian law and international human rights law.
The alleged beatings of Mr Melkim Selak during interrogation constitute credible allegations of torture or, at minimum, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as defined under Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The reported coercion to extract confessions raises serious concerns regarding the admissibility of evidence and the prohibition of compelled self-incrimination.
The arrest and detention of minors without demonstrable evidence of criminal conduct, and without the presence of guardians or legal representatives, further violate child protection standards and triggers state responsibility under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The apparent reliance on suspicion of affiliation with the TPNPB in the absence of material evidence suggests discriminatory and collective punishment practices in the context of the ongoing armed political conflict in West Papua.
While the armed confrontation between TPNPB combatants and security forces may amount to a non-international armed conflict in certain areas, civilians must at all times be protected from arbitrary deprivation of liberty and from torture. Security operations must comply with both international human rights law and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.
Security forces search a house in Dekai, February 2026
Some of the Papuan youth arrested in Dekai on 21 and 22 February
Detailed Case Data
Location: Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-4.8638158, 139.4837298) Various locations in Dekai
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 26
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Melkim Selak
male
27
Indigenous Peoples
torture
2.
1
Dartinus Esema
male
21
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
3.
1
Yoten Giban
male
15
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
4.
1
Amonto Nato
male
20
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary arrest
5.
1
Sonai Giban
male
17
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary arrest
6.
1
Panus Payage
male
14
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary arrest
7.
1
Meli Heluka
male
14
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary arrest
8.
1
Kris (Kotor) Giban
male
16
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary arrest
9.
1
Mika (Homi) Heluka
male
17
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary arrest
10.
1
Enake (Arnius) Heluka
male
17
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary arrest
11.
1
Feri Alemdam
male
15
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
12.
1
Olan Alya
male
17
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
13.
1
Erik Alya
male
18
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
14.
1
Eli Malyo
male
17
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
15.
1
Benius Uow
male
14
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
16.
1
Samuel Mare
male
15
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
17.
1
Kutrom Suhun
male
19
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
18.
1
Andi Heluka
male
17
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
19.
1
Sanpe Nato
male
15
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
20.
1
Jekson Giban
male
20
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
21.
1
Pinaus Nato
male
minor
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
22.
1
Ania Nato
male
minor
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
23.
1
Meno Heluka
male
25
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
24.
1
Menggel Soma
male
18
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
25.
1
Arun Giban
male
0
Indigenous Peoples
arbitrary detention
26.
1
Hilang Suhun
0
Indigenous Peoples, Student
arbitrary detention
Perpetrator: Indonesian Security Forces
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence