Nearly 11 months after the fatal shooting of Mr Tobias Silak in the Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, criminal proceedings have commenced at the Wamena District Court against the four police officers, Muh. Kurniawan Kudu (Chief Police Brigadier, Bripka), Fernando Alexander Aufa, Ferdi Moses Koromath, and Jatmiko (see photo on top, source: WPCC). The case files were transferred to the Public Prosecutor in Wamena on 28 May 2025, with the first hearing held on 24 June 2025. The court session focused on the reading of indictments. However, the scheduled 30 June hearing for defendant objections was postponed due to the defence team’s lack of preparedness, raising early concerns about the pace of the proceedings.
The trial process has sparked significant transparency concerns, as the victim’s family and their legal counsel were not notified of the first hearing. Mr Kawer criticized the prosecutor’s failure to inform key stakeholders, questioning whether the prosecution truly represents victim interests or public interest as claimed. Additionally, legal representatives have expressed dissatisfaction with the charges brought against the defendants, primarily Article 338 (murder) and Article 395 (negligence causing death) of the Criminal Code KUHP. They argue that the more serious charge of premeditated murder under Article 340 would better reflect the gravity of the shooting that killed both Mr Tobias Silak and Mr Naro Dapla on 20 August 2024.
In response to these procedural concerns, the Indonesian Judicial Commission in Papua announced in late June’25 that it would monitor the trial proceedings following a request from the victim’s family’s legal team. The Commission is currently awaiting authorization from the headquarters to begin formal oversight. Meanwhile, civil society groups, including the Tobias Silak Justice Front, continue to demand maximum penalties, including dismissal from the police force for the accused officers, while planning consolidation efforts across multiple cities to maintain public pressure throughout the trial process (see photos below, source: FJTS).
The case represents a critical test of Indonesia’s commitment to accountability for alleged security force violations in West Papua, with at least eight hearings expected before a verdict is reached. The outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of whether Indonesia’s justice system can break the pattern of impunity that has characterized similar cases in the region.
The Tobias Silak Justice Front held a peaceful protest in front of the Prosecutor’s Office in Wamena on 10 June 2025
The Tobias Silak Justice Front held a peaceful protest in front of the Wamena District Court on 30 June 2025
