# Two students tortured in Intan Jaya - Yonif 509 Balawara Yudha military members accused

**Publisher:** [Human Rights Monitor](https://humanrightsmonitor.org)
**Document ID:** HRM-CAS-080-2024
**Document Type:** Case
**Document URL:** https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/two-students-tortured-in-intan-jaya-yonif-509-balawara-yudha-military-members-accused/
**Issues:** security force violence | indigenous peoples
**Publication Date:** October 30, 2024
**Tags:** Indonesia | West Papua

## Summary
On 12 October 2024, soldiers arbitrarily arrested the junior high school student, Wenes Tipagau, along with his friend (identity yet to be verified) and reportedly tortured them inside the Yonif Maleo 509/BY military post in Mamba.

## Detailed Case Narrative
On 12 October 2024, soldiers arbitrarily arrested the junior high school student, Wenes Tipagau, along with his friend (identity yet to be verified) and reportedly tortured them inside the Yonif Maleo 509/BY military post in Mamba. Relatives alleged that the soldiers poured kerosene on their bodies and threatened to burn them alive if they refused to provide information about the TPNPB operations in the Intan Jaya Regency. The torture became known after the military members released the boys. However, only Wenes Tipagau returned home from detention, while his friend has been reported missing since the incident.

#### Photos allegedly showing the Wenes Tipagau and his friend (right) and wounds he suffered as a result of the torture (left)
![](https://humanrightsmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sugapa-students_arbitrary-arrest_torture_Oct24.jpeg)

## Incident Period & Location
- **Start Date:** October 12, 2024
- **End Date:** October 12, 2024
- **Period Type:** Single Day
- **Reference Date:** October 12, 2024 (used for chronological ordering)
- **Location:** - Mamba
- **Geographic Coordinates (WGS84):** -3.7331897669823, 136.9815291675
- **Google Maps:** https://maps.google.com/?q=-3.7331897669823,136.9815291675
- **Administrative Regions:**
  - **Region 1:** Indonesia (Country) > Central Papua (Province) > Intan Jaya (Regency) > Sugapa (District)

## Victims
**Total number of victims:** 2

| Count | Name | Age | Gender | Groups | Violations |
|-------|------|-----|--------|--------|------------|
| 1 person | Wenes Tipagau, student | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture |
| 1 person | unknown | unknown | male | Indigenous Peoples | arbitrary detention, torture, disappearance |

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

- **Perpetrator Description:** Yonif Maleo 509/BY