# Shooting of civilians by military members triggers civil unrest in Agats, Asmat Regency **Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org) **Document ID:** HRM-CAS-098-2025 **Document Type:** Case **Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/shooting-of-civilians-by-military-members-triggers-civil-unrest-in-agats-asmat-regency/ **Issues:** indigenous peoples | security force violence **Publication Date:** September 29, 2025 **Last Updated:** October 22, 2025 **Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua ## Summary On 27 September 2025, military members (TNI) of the 123/Rajawali Task Force opened fire on civilians in the town of Agats, Asmat Regency, following an altercation. Mr Irenius Bawataipot, 21, was fatally shot at close range, while at least four other civilians, including a minor, Erik Yakonias Amiyaram, were injured. ## Detailed Case Narrative On 27 September 2025, military members (TNI) of the 123/Rajawali Task Force opened fire on civilians in the town of Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua Province, following an altercation. Mr Irenius Baotaipota, 21, was fatally shot at close range, while at least four other civilians, including a minor, Erik Yakonias Amiyaram, were injured. In the aftermath, angry residents carried the body of the victim to the nearby TNI post and set fire to military facilities. TNI personnel reportedly fired indiscriminately into the crowd and deployed a drone-dropped bomb on a civilian settlement, which failed to detonate (see photos below, source: independent HRDs). Various sources confirmed that the incident began around 08:40 am, when 123/Rajawali Task Force personnel responded to reports of disturbances involving an intoxicated man who had injured two residents with a spear. In the ensuing confrontation, Task Force soldiers opened fire, resulting in the death of Mr Irenius Baotaipota. He sustained a lethal bullet wound on the head (lethalsee photos below, source: independent HRD). His body was carried by the community to a TNI post in protest, sparking anger and a violent confrontation. Residents attacked and set fire to at least two TNI posts (BLK Post and Mandala Post) and damaged public facilities. In response, joint security force personnel fired indiscriminately at the crowd, injuring multiple civilians, including minor Erik Yakonias Amiyaram, who sustained a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Drone-based munitions were also deployed, though one bomb reportedly did not explode. The Asmat Regent, Mr Thomas Eppe Safanpo, [publicly condemned the killing and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators under military law](https://papualink.co/bupati-minta-pelaku-penembakan-dihukum-asmat-bukan-daerah-konflik-dan-keberadaan-satgas-harus-dievaluasi/), stressing that Asmat is *not a conflict area* and demanding an evaluation of the TNI’s deployment in the region. Civil society actors, including the [student groups, strongly denounced the incident as a serious violation of Indonesian criminal law](https://tomei.id/pemuda-asmat-tewas-ditembak-bem-unmus-kecam-tni/) (Article 338 of the Criminal Code on intentional killing) and the TNI’s own mandate under Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI. ### Human rights analysis This incident constitutes a violation of the right to life ([Article 6, ICCPR](https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights)), the prohibition of arbitrary killings, and the protection of civilians under both domestic and international law. While one of the victims was allegedly intoxicated and holding a weapon, the shooting of four unarmed civilians and the use of heavy weaponry, including drone-dropped explosives, in a civilian-populated area, amount to excessive use of force and potentially indiscriminate attacks. The injury of a child further breaches Indonesia’s obligations under the [Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)](https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child) and Law No. 23/2002 on Child Protection. The [UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990)](https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/basic-principles-use-force-and-firearms-law-enforcement) stipulate that law enforcement officers may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty, and that lethal force may only be used as a last resort to protect life. The killing of Irenius Bawataipot, the indiscriminate firing on civilians, and the dropping of a bomb on a residential settlement starkly contravene these principles, representing a disproportionate and unlawful use of force. ### Table of victims **No** **Name** **Age** **Status** **Additional information**   1 Irenius Baotaipota 21 Deceased Shot in the head at close range by TNI Task Force 123/Rajawali in Agats.   2 Erik Yakonias Amiyaram Minor (exact age not confirmed) Injured Sustained gunshot wound to the left thigh. 3 Unidentified Butonese man Adult Injured Shot and injured during indiscriminate firing by TNI. 4 Petrus Bakas Adult Injured Shot and injured during clashes between residents and TNI. 5   Gerfas Yaha Adult Injured Gunshot wound on the left thumb ### Civil victims of the shooting during civil unrest in Agats on 27 September 2025 ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_2_edit-1024x1024.jpg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_7-768x1024.jpg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_5.jpeg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_4_edit-edited.jpg) ### Undetoneted mortar grenade dropped by a drone on a civilian settlement in Agats, 27 September 2025 ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TNI-drone_explosive_Asmath-Shooting_Sept25.jpg) ### Civil unrest in Agats on 27 September 2025 ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_1-1.jpeg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_2.jpeg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_3.jpeg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_4-783x1024.jpg) ![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_5.jpg) ## Incident Period & Location - **Start Date:** September 27, 2025 - **End Date:** September 27, 2025 - **Period Type:** Single Day - **Reference Date:** September 27, 2025 (used for chronological ordering) - **Location:** Agats, Bis Agats, Agats, Asmat Regency, Papua, Indonesia - Agats Toen, Asmat Regency - **Geographic Coordinates (WGS84):** -5.535626, 138.121359 - **Google Maps:** https://maps.google.com/?q=-5.535626,138.121359 - **Administrative Regions:** - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > South Papua (Province) > Asmat (Regency) ## Victims **Total number of victims:** 4 | Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations | |-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------| | 1 person | Irenius Baotaipota | exact | male | Indigenous Peoples | execution, right to life, unlawful killing | | 1 person | Erik Yakonias Amiyaram | minor | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment | | 1 person | Gerfas Yaha | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | ill-treatment | | 1 person | Petrus Bakas | unknown | male | Unknown | ill-treatment | ## Perpetrators **Perpetrator Category Paths:** - **Category 1:** Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces - **Category 2:** Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI) - **Perpetrator Description:** 123/Rajawali Task Force ## Media Documentation [Image: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_1](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_1.jpeg) [Image: Victim_Asmath shooting_Spet'25_2_edit](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_2_edit.jpg) [Image: Victim_Asmath shooting_Spet'25_4_edit](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_4_edit.jpg) [Image: Victim_Asmath shooting_Spet'25_5](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_5.jpeg) [Image: Victim_Asmath shooting_Spet'25_7](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_7.jpg) [Image: Victim_Asmath shooting_Spet'25_9](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Victim_Asmath-shooting_Spet25_9.jpg) [Image: TNI drone_explosive_Asmath Shooting_Sept’25](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TNI-drone_explosive_Asmath-Shooting_Sept25.jpg) [Image: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_1](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_1-1.jpeg) [Image: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_2](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_2.jpeg) [Image: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_3](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_3.jpeg) [Image: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_5](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_5.jpg) [Image: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_4](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_4.jpg) [Video: Civil unrest_Agats_Sept'25](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Civil-unrest_Agats_Sept25.mp4) [Video: People burning TNI Post_Asmath_Sept'25_8](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/People-burning-TNI-Post_Asmath_Sept25_8.mp4) ## Related Cases - [Civil unrest in Dogiyai Regency – Police resort to violence against residents](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/civil-unrest-in-dogiyai-regency-police-resort-to-violence-against-residents/) - [Police shooting triggers civil unrest in Dogiyai – Three Papuans killed, six others injured with bullets](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/police-shooting-triggers-civil-unrest-in-dogiyai-three-papuans-killed-five-others-injured-with-bullets/)