1) Papuans Behind Bars 2025 Annual Overview

2) Student shot and houses burnt to the ground during military operation in Kali Biru, Yahukimo

3) Viral West Papua documentary forces Indonesia to confront what it tried to hide 

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1) Papuans Behind Bars 2025 Annual Overview

 Papuans Behind Bars 

15 June 2026

Full Report

https://papuansbehindbars.org/annual-overview-2025/

Summary

We recorded a total of 291 political arrests throughout the year. At least 233 of those arrested were released without charge, a few hours or days after their arrest. Forty people are reported to be facing further legal proceedings in a number of courts. At least 60 reported having been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during their arrest or detention; five died. 

According to the information we have received, the majority of those responsible for these arrests were police officers, accounting for 252 cases. Military personnel were involved in 22 cases. The remainder were carried out jointly by the police and the military.

Of the 30 who have been convicted, four were charged and convicted under treason laws. They were sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment at a court far from their hometowns and the location of the incident, the Makassar District Court. In addition to treason, ten were tried on charges of possession of sharp weapons or firearms, 11 were charged with embezzlement, two were charged with murder, and the remainder were charged with endangering public safety and disseminating digital content deemed to incite hatred. Only one of them was acquitted of all charges, because the defendant was a minor. The rest were found guilty, with sentences ranging from six months to 15 years.

By the end of 2025, 48 of the 291 people arrested were still in custody. Ten were on trial in various courts, 21 others were serving sentences in various prisons in West Papua, and the remainder were still being held for questioning by the police. In total, including those arrested in previous years, there are 63 people currently serving prison sentences and 38 people who are still being detained or, at least, have not yet been reported as having been released.

English version

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Versi Bahasa Indonesia

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https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/student-shot-and-houses-burnt-to-the-ground-during-military-operation-in-kali-biru-yahukimo/

(Photos/video in report)

2) Student shot and houses burnt to the ground during military operation in Kali Biru, Yahukimo

16 June 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

On 15 June 2026, an 18-year-old student named Yustinus Yalak reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh (see photo on top, source: independent HRD) during an alleged military operation in Dekai Town, Yahukimo Regency. The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 5:30 pm whilst the victim, a civilian and active student at SMAN 1 Dekai, was walking home in the Kali Biru area. Residents reportedly evacuated the injured student to a hospital after finding him unable to walk. At the time of writing, Indonesian authorities had not issued an official explanation regarding the circumstances of the shooting. Prior to the incident, joint security forces had patrolled the Kali Biru area, allegedly burning a residential house to the ground on 12 July 2026

According to second-hand information received from local media and informants, security forces had allegedly been conducting operations in the Kali Biru area since the evening of 12 June 2026, moving on foot from the direction of the local Military District Command (Kodim). Residents later reported discovering more than 50 spent bullet casings and two live rounds near Samaro Road (see photos below, source: independent HRD). Separate accounts alleged that three civilians from the Sela Valley encountered the patrol whilst fishing in the Kali Biru area and came under gunfire without prior warning or questioning. Two of them were reportedly apprehended, whilst the whereabouts of a third person remained unknown. Their identities are yet to be verified. Witnesses further stated that bullets struck residential houses in the Samaro Hamlet, exacerbating fear amongst local communities.

Additional reports indicated that on the night of 12 June 2026, a civilian house in Kali Biru was allegedly set on fire by joint security forces (see video below, source: independent HRD). According to local accounts, educational documents, including school diplomas and report cards, as well as household belongings and pets, were destroyed in the fire.

The reported shooting occurred against a broader backdrop of increasing insecurity affecting civilians in Yahukimo Regency. The insecurity stems from an intensification of armed conflict in Yahukimo, but also from a pattern of arbitrary detentions by joint security forces in Yahukimo, often accompanied by ill-treatments and torture.

Human rights analysis

If confirmed, the shooting of Yustinus Yalak and the reported use of force against civilians would raise serious concerns under international human rights law. The right to life under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights obliges states to ensure that any use of potentially lethal force is strictly necessary and proportionate. The reported arbitrary apprehension of civilians may engage protections under Article 9 ICCPR, whilst the destruction of civilian property may interfere with the right to privacy, family life and home under Article 17 ICCPR.

The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials require authorities to minimise harm and protect human life during security operations. According to Paragraph 9, law enforcement officials shall not use firearms against persons except in self-defence or defence of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives. In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

Indigenous Papuans living in Kali Biru fall into tears after finding their house being burnt to the ground following the security force operation in Dekai on 12 June 2025

Residents later reported discovering more than 50 spent bullet casings and two live rounds near Samaro Road in Dekai, on 15 June 2026

Detailed Case Data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-077-2026
Region: Indonesia > Highland Papua > Yahukimo > Dekai
Total number of victims: 4

#	Number of Victims	Name, Details	Gender	Age	Group Affiliation	Violations
1.	1	Yustinus Yalak	male	18	Indigenous Peoples, Student	ill-treatment
2.	3		unknown	unknown	Indigenous Peoples	arbitrary detention

Period of incident: 12/06/2026 – 15/06/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces

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https://jubi.id/pacnews/2026/clergy-forum-established-to-strengthen-ministry-and-community-empowerment/

Clergy Forum Established to Strengthen Ministry and Community Empowerment

IN PACNEWS READING TIME: 2 MINS READ JUNE 17, 2026  0 Author : Silpester Kasipka Editor : Nuevaterra Mambor

Sentani, Jubi – The Jayapura Regency Clergy Forum has been established as a platform to strengthen cooperation among church leaders from various denominations in religious ministry and community empowerment initiatives.

Chairman of the Jayapura Regency Clergy Forum, Rev. Charles Mokay, said the forum brings together pastors, church leaders, church activists, lay ministers, and professionals such as healthcare workers, lawyers, and members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) who are committed to social and religious service.

Mokay made the remarks during the forum’s inaugural working meeting, attended by around 40 participants from different church denominations in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua, on Tuesday (16 June 2026).

He emphasized that the forum was not established to create divisions or strengthen barriers among churches, but rather to build collaboration in addressing community needs.

“Our goal is to ensure that church leaders in Jayapura Regency can work together in ministry and contribute to the welfare of congregations and the wider community,” Mokay said.

Regarding the working meeting, he said participants discussed three main areas of focus for the organization: spiritual development, social services and community welfare, and communication and partnerships.

The meeting also produced a draft work program focused on strengthening social services, spiritual development, and partnerships with the local government in response to various social issues affecting communities in Jayapura Regency.

“The outcomes of this meeting will serve as the basis for the organization’s future programs. We will also submit the results to the Jayapura Regency Government and process the organization’s legal registration through the National and Political Unity Agency (Kesbangpol),” Mokay said.

Meanwhile, Assistant II of the Jayapura Regency Regional Secretariat, Abdurahman Basri, said the Clergy Forum could serve as a strategic partner for the government in addressing a range of social challenges in the region.

According to Basri, development challenges in Jayapura Regency include infrastructure, education, and healthcare, as well as social issues such as alcohol abuse, narcotics misuse, domestic violence, and the impact of digital technology and social media.

He said the involvement of religious leaders is essential because churches play an important role in moral guidance and strengthening social life within communities.

“It is hoped that this forum can provide input and support to the government in improving development programs while also helping strengthen the religious life of the community,” Basri said.

He added that synergy among the government, churches, communities, and customary institutions is necessary to address the various development challenges facing Jayapura Regency.

According to Basri, the inaugural working meeting provided an opportunity for different church denominations to come together, discuss issues affecting local communities, and formulate joint steps to support regional development.

“We welcome this initiative because it allows different church denominations to sit together and discuss the challenges facing the people of Jayapura Regency,” he said. (*)

Nuevaterra Mambor

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3) Viral West Papua documentary forces Indonesia to confront what it tried to hide 

By CSI Jun 15, 2026 14:50 EDT 8 mins read

A documentary about indigenous land dispossession and military violence in West Papua has been watched more than 13.6 million times on YouTube within days, after Indonesian authorities failed to suppress organized screenings in cities throughout the country. 

The West Papua film’s viral reach is a direct result of official attempts to stop it, drawing renewed international attention to conditions in a region that Indonesia has largely closed to independent observers, foreign journalists, and international human rights bodies…………….

https://www.christiandaily.com/news/viral-papua-documentary-forces-indonesia-to-confront-what-it-tried-to-hide

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https://www.christiandaily.com/news/viral-papua-documentary-forces-indonesia-to-confront-what-it-tried-to-hide

Viral West Papua documentary forces Indonesia to confront what it tried to hide 

By CSI Jun 15, 2026 14:50 EDT 8 mins read

Viral West Papua documentary forces Indonesia to confront what it tried to hide

By CSI Jun 15, 2026 14:50 EDT 8 mins read

Members of the Papuan Students Alliance hold a banner during a protest against the signing of the New York Agreement In 1962. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

A documentary about indigenous land dispossession and military violence in West Papua has been watched more than 13.6 million times on YouTube within days, after Indonesian authorities failed to suppress organized screenings in cities throughout the country. 

The West Papua film’s viral reach is a direct result of official attempts to stop it, drawing renewed international attention to conditions in a region that Indonesia has largely closed to independent observers, foreign journalists, and international human rights bodies.

The documentary

Colonialism in our time

“Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme Di Zaman Kita,” which translates into English as “Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time,” is directed by journalist Dandhy Laksono and anthropologist Cypri Jehan Paju Dale. The film documents the impact of large-scale food estate and bioethanol projects in southern West Papuan provinces on indigenous land rights, forests, and traditional livelihoods.

It takes its title from the Atatbon, a traditional pig feast ceremony of the Muyu people and neighboring communities in southern West Papua. This is a ritual that binds clans to their land, their ancestors, and to each other, and that depends on intact forests for its survival.

After opening with a depiction of the ceremony, the documentary shows the arrival of barges carrying hundreds of excavators into indigenous villages under military escort. The diggers have been sent to clear forests for the government’s National Strategic Projects, the government’s program of large-scale development concessions in Papua.

2.5 million hectares of customary forest are being converted into industrial zones.

The film tracks how up to 2.5 million hectares of customary forest are being converted into industrial zones for sugarcane bioethanol, palm oil and food estate production.

It also documents a form of land defense in the Boven Digoel area, where Awyu community members have planted more than 1,400 red-painted crosses in their forests to mark ancestral land as off-limits to industrial clearing.

Screenings disrupted or cancelled

A wave of cancellations and forced dispersals

The 96-minute film was circulating through campus screenings and community discussions in early May 2026 before a wave of cancellations and forced dispersals followed, as reported by Indonesian newspaper Tempo.

On May 7, a screening at the University of Mataram was halted by the deputy rector, Sujita, who told local media the film was unsuitable for students. The following day, military personnel from the 1501/Ternate Military District Command reportedly shut down a screening in Ternate, North Maluku.

Screenings were also cancelled at Mandalika University and UIN Mataram, and a screening planned for May 16 at Padjadjaran University in Bandung was denied permission.

Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra denied issuing any formal ban, pointing to campuses in Bandung and Sukabumi where screenings proceeded without interference, according to The Straits Times. He claimed that the cancellations arose from individual institutional decisions rather than a government-wide directive.

Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri... cried after watching the film.

Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, was quoted as saying that she cried after watching the film. “That is the reality,” she said, calling for respect of indigenous customs and land rights in Papua.

A region under pressure

West Papua, is situated at the far eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago. West Papua is the common name for the entirety of New Guinea island west of Papua New Guinea. The territory is now broken into six sub-regions by the Indonesian authorities. The region has been under Indonesian administration since 1962, 13 years after Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands. 

An independence movement still active today.

The Netherlands had governed West Papua separately from its other colonial territories, and the handover provoked widespread protests that gave rise to an independence movement still active today.

Indigenous Papuans are almost entirely Christian, while Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

Since 2021, the Awyu people, an Indigenous community of about 27,300 people living in the rain forests of southern West Papua, have opposed the development of palm oil plantations on their ancestral lands. A lawsuit filed in 2023 against plans by a Malaysian palm oil company to clear 26,326 hectares of forest was rejected by Indonesia’s Supreme Court in November 2024.

Clearing the primary forest within the concession area would release about 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Greenpeace estimates that clearing the primary forest within the concession area would release about 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to about five percent of Indonesia’s projected annual carbon emissions in 2030. Environmental groups argue that converting the forest to a palm oil plantation would reduce biodiversity and alter the ecological functions currently provided by the forest.

President Prabowo Subianto, after taking office in October 2024, accelerated an existing program targeting up to three million hectares of land in Merauke for rice and sugarcane production.

Land acquisitions were leading to the decimation of Papuan communities and the destruction of rain forests.

In November that year, the Papuan Council of Churches and the Association of Native Catholic Priests warned that land acquisitions were leading to the decimation of Papuan communities and the destruction of rain forests.

Even Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights has warned that the National Strategic Projects have had “various serious impacts on the implementation of human rights, including civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as collective rights and the rights of vulnerable groups.”

A worsening displacement crisis

Military operations in Papua have intensified alongside the expansion of development projects. Between April 12 and 15, Indonesian army operations were carried out in Pogoma and Kemburu in West Papua’s highland interior, involving ground troops and air attacks. Several villages were directly affected.

The situation was becoming “increasingly alarming,” due to food shortages, inadequate protection and severely limited access to healthcare.

According to the Papuan Council of Churches, the number of internally displaced persons in West Papua rose to more than 107,000 people in April 2026, up from 85,000 the previous year, as CSI reported. The Council warned that the situation was becoming “increasingly alarming,” due to food shortages, inadequate protection and severely limited access to healthcare.

CSI’s local partners recently visited newly displaced communities in Nabire, on West Papua’s northern coast, and collected testimonies from families who fled fighting in the Papua Highlands. Agulina Wonda told CSI’s partner that a military task force had conducted door-to-door operations searching for men to interrogate. “There were cases of wrongful arrest where people were shot, killed, and buried right beside civilian homes,” she said.

Mirena Kogoya, also from the highlands, told CSI’s partner that three young men including her nephew were shot by armed forces in May 2025, and that a local district head was subsequently burned alive inside a traditional Papuan round house.

Armed forces burst into their home at night and opened fire on people gathered there for a church inauguration event.

When Mirena and her husband returned home in July believing the situation had stabilized, they found themselves under military surveillance. On October 15, armed forces burst into their home at night and opened fire on people gathered there for a church inauguration event.

Government called to account

At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 25, 2026, CSI’s Joel Veldkamp noted the rapid increase in displaced persons and called on the Indonesian government to facilitate a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and to extend invitations to relevant UN Special Rapporteurs.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) made the same call at a parallel event it hosted on March 4 at the Human Rights Council. “Access and transparency. That’s what we’re calling for from the Indonesian government,” said Peter Prove, the WCC’s Director for International Affairs, addressing an Indonesian government representative who attended the event.

The Indonesian government has rejected these calls. At the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Indonesia’s delegation denied that indigenous peoples in West Papua face “structural racial, political, economic, social, and cultural discrimination and other coercive measures.”

"Ongoing impunity for state and corporate actors involved in hazardous practices of dispossession and exploitation.”

Writing in a commentary for CSI, Cypri Dale, co-director of Pesta Babi and one of the documentary’s primary researchers, characterized this as a “diplomacy of denial” that “has enabled ongoing impunity for state and corporate actors involved in hazardous practices of dispossession and exploitation.”

Indonesia is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and protection from arbitrary deprivation of property.

The disruption of film screenings by military personnel and university administrators, alongside the killing and displacement of civilians in the entirety of West Papua, raises serious questions about compliance with these obligations. The government’s refusal to permit independent monitoring makes verification of conditions on the ground effectively impossible.

Originally published by CSI (Christian Solidarity International). Republished with permission.

Founded over 40 years ago, CSI (Christian Solidarity International) is an international Christian human rights organization, campaigning for religious liberty and human dignity, and assisting victims of religious persecution, victimized children and victims of catastrophe. CSI delivers emergency food assistance, medical treatment, and other lifesaving aid to victims of religious persecution and natural disasters in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, South Sudan, Pakistan, and other hotspots around the globe. CSI is currently the only organization working to liberate Christians and other South Sudanese forced into slavery by government-backed forces during the Sudanese civil war. For more information visit https://csi-usa.org.

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1) Kuyawage Community and West Papua Baptist Church Reject Deployment of Non-Organic TNI troops

2) Lanny Jaya Students Submit Complaint to Papua Human Rights Commission

3) Indonesia: Military Court hands lenient sentences to soldiers convicted in acid attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus amid continuing calls for accountability

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https://jubi.id/pacnews/2026/kuyawage-community-and-west-papua-baptist-church-reject-deployment-of-non-organic-tni-troops/

1) Kuyawage Community and West Papua Baptist Church Reject Deployment of Non-Organic TNI troops

IN PACNEWS READING TIME: 2 MINS READ JUNE 16, 2026  0 Author : Arjuna Pademme Editor : Nuevaterra Mambor

Jayapura, Jubi – Residents of Kuyawage District in Lanny Jaya Regency, Highlands Papua Province, have declared their opposition to the presence of non-organic Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel in their area and across Papua in general.

Chairman of the Youth Department of the West Papua Baptist Church, Akias Yas Wenda, said the declaration was made during a seminar held by the Upaga Baptist Church in the Kuyawage region on 9–10 June 2026.

According to Wenda, the presence of non-organic military posts has created fear among residents, disrupted community activities, and negatively affected education, healthcare services, economic activities, and church ministry.

“There are a number of active military posts in Kuyawage, West Wano, Agandugume, Nduga, Balingga, and Goa Balim districts, with hundreds of personnel deployed. Their presence disrupts civilian life and limits the space for Indigenous communities to carry out their activities,” Wenda said in a written statement on Sunday (14 June 2026).

He said the presence of non-organic military personnel has hindered teaching and learning activities at several schools and disrupted healthcare services at community health centers, as many service providers and residents have experienced trauma.

According to him, teaching and learning activities at Kuyawage State Senior High School have been inactive since 2025. At Gwijangge State Junior High School, educational activities have not operated consistently since 2017. Similar conditions have affected Alea State Elementary School since 2023, and Kuwome Elementary School and Mume Inpres Elementary School since 2026.

“Teachers have left the district for urban areas, causing educational activities to come to a halt,” he said.

Wenda said a similar situation has affected healthcare services. The Kuyawage Community Health Center (Puskesmas) has been inactive since September 2025 after the facility was allegedly damaged by non-organic military personnel. The West Wano Community Health Center has never operated since its construction in 2023.

“Services at the Balingga Community Health Center are operating on a limited basis, while the auxiliary health center has yet to officially begin operations. In Goa Balim District, healthcare services are being provided at a TNI post,” he said.

The Youth Department of the West Papua Baptist Church and local residents declared their rejection of the presence of non-organic TNI personnel on customary land and church-owned land.

They also opposed the construction of military posts at airports, on customary land, and within places of worship. They called on the President of Indonesia and the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to immediately withdraw non-organic military personnel, arguing that their presence has created fear and adversely affected civilian communities. (*)

Nuevaterra Mambor

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https://jubi.id/pacnews/2026/lanny-jaya-students-submit-complaint-to-papua-human-rights-commission/

2) Lanny Jaya Students Submit Complaint to Papua Human Rights Commission

N PACNEWS READING TIME: 3 MINS READ JUNE 16, 2026  0 Author : Aida Ulim Editor : Nuevaterra Mambor

Jayapura, Jubi – Students from Lanny Jaya Regency in Highlands Papua Province submitted a written complaint to the Papua office of Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

The complaint was handed over during a public free-speech demonstration held at the Abepura Circle area in Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua, on Monday (15 June 2026).

The demonstration was organized to protest a military operation in Lanny Jaya Regency that allegedly resulted in civilian casualties in Wunabunggu Village, Melagi District.

Head of the Papua Representative Office of Komnas HAM, Frits Ramandey, confirmed that the commission would follow up on the complaint within its mandate.

“Komnas HAM is not a representative institution that receives public aspirations. We are an oversight body that receives complaints. We are not parliament, which receives aspirations. When a matter is submitted to Komnas HAM, it becomes a formal complaint,” Ramandey said.

He said student actions aimed at voicing the experiences of affected communities were important and should continue.

According to him, reports of aerial bombings in Papua over the past two years have become a matter of serious concern. The issue has not only generated public discussion but has also resulted in casualties.

Several victims have already provided testimony and statements to Komnas HAM regarding the violence they experienced.

“This action serves as a warning to the state to exercise caution in every measure it takes. If a state fails to take responsibility for its citizens, it poses a threat to the state’s own sustainability from a human rights perspective,” he said.

Ramandey emphasized that while Komnas HAM could not promise specific outcomes, it would ensure that the students’ complaint was addressed according to the commission’s authority.

“Let us continue to struggle together for the enforcement of human rights. We cannot rely entirely on others to fight for human rights,” he said.

He also urged the president to evaluate the system and operational patterns of military operations in Papua, warning that repressive security approaches could threaten national unity and should be reviewed comprehensively.

“If the bombing allegations are true, and if such actions were carried out by Indonesian Military (TNI) task forces operating in Papua, then they must be evaluated. I will raise this issue with the relevant task force commanders. I will seek clarification from them this afternoon,” he said.

Ramandey noted that the military is not easily subjected to external investigations because it operates under its own legal and judicial mechanisms, making accountability processes more challenging.

“This is different from the police, which is a civilian institution equipped with arms, making its oversight mechanisms relatively more open,” he said.

Therefore, he argued, one way to improve the situation is to urge the president to review military operational systems and strategies, while also reminding military institutions to move away from repressive approaches.

“If repressive measures continue, the risk is national disintegration,” he said.

“For that reason, I call on all parties involved in security operations in Papua to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.”

Amer Kogoya, coordinator of the demonstration, said families were still searching for a Lanny Jaya resident, Yoban Kiwone Wenda, who has been reported missing and has yet to be found.

He also alleged that another resident, Maju Walia, was shot and killed by TNI personnel. According to Kogoya, the victim’s family found only strands of hair and a traditional noken necklace, while the whereabouts of the body remain unknown.

“The military operation in this area has been ongoing for two weeks, and security forces continue to occupy community spaces. Residents are still displaced in neighboring areas,” Kogoya said.

He stated that the security situation in Melagi District remains unstable, preventing displaced civilians from returning to their homes.

“The actions carried out by TNI and Police personnel are highly inhumane. We question why these incidents are not being handled through the legal processes applicable in Indonesia, but instead are being carried out as though the authorities are acting as judge and executioner, undermining the rule of law,” he said.

Kogoya argued that the situation should be resolved through legal and humanitarian mechanisms, as the incidents constitute violations of humanitarian values.

He further said that the establishment of security posts following a military sweep operation on 5 January 2025 had created a sense of insecurity among local residents.

According to him, Lanny Jaya students had previously undertaken various efforts, including demonstrations and press conferences, to oppose the construction of TNI posts in the area.

“However, our concerns received no response, and the construction of military posts continued,” he said.

Kogoya added that military operations in Melagi District have created serious humanitarian impacts on civilians, forcing residents of at least one village to abandoned their homes.”

“We call for greater attention to the condition of affected civilians and for the resolution of the humanitarian issues occurring in Melagi District,” he said. (*)

Nuevaterra Mambor

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https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/indonesia-military-court-hands-lenient-sentences-to-soldiers-convicted-in-acid-attack-on-human-rights-defender-andrie-yunus-amid-continuing-calls-for-accountability/

3) Indonesia: Military Court hands lenient sentences to soldiers convicted in acid attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus amid continuing calls for accountability

Human Rights News / Indonesia / 15 June 2026 

On 10 June 2026, the Jakarta Military Court II-08 delivered its verdict against four members of the Headquarters Detachment of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (Denma BAIS) of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) for their involvement in the acid attack against KontraS activist and human rights defender Mr Andrie Yunus. The court sentenced Second Sergeant Edi Sudarko to three years’ imprisonment and dismissal from military service, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi to two years and six months’ imprisonment and dismissal, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya to two years’ imprisonment, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka to one year and six months’ imprisonment without dismissal. The panel of judges found the defendants guilty of premeditated assault causing injury but rejected allegations that the attack constituted part of a broader intelligence operation. The court considered the damage caused to the TNI’s reputation and the serious injuries sustained by the victim as aggravating factors, while accepting the defendants’ cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating circumstances.

The verdict differed from the demands previously submitted by the military prosecutor, who had requested uniform prison sentences of two years and six months for all four defendants without recommending dismissal from military service. The prosecutor characterised the attack as an act of “personal revenge” that caused severe suffering to the victim and harmed the reputation of the armed forces nationally and internationally. However, both the prosecution and the court proceeded on the basis of assault charges rather than attempted murder, despite findings by the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) indicating that the attack involved a larger group of perpetrators and formed part of a structured operation extending beyond the four soldiers brought before the military tribunal.

The outcome of the proceedings drew sharp criticism from national and international observers. Human Rights Watch described the lenient sentences as “a mockery of justice”, arguing that the case demonstrates longstanding deficiencies within Indonesia’s military justice system, including a lack of transparency, independence and impartiality. Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, called on the Indonesian authorities to amend domestic legislation to ensure that military personnel accused of serious human rights violations are tried before civilian courts. The Advocacy Team for Democracy likewise maintained that the military proceedings failed to deliver accountability and risked reinforcing patterns of impunity by limiting responsibility to a small number of direct perpetrators whilst disregarding allegations of wider involvement through the chain of command.

Legal experts further argued that the military court’s decision should not bring the case to a close. Following a pre-trial ruling by the South Jakarta District Court ordering the Jakarta Metropolitan Police to continue their investigation to provide legal certainty. Scholars and human rights advocates stress that the police remain obliged to pursue all individuals suspected of involvement, including civilians and those who may have ordered the attack.

The case reflects an increasingly institutionalised pattern of impunity through military courts and undermines public confidence in the rule of law. Constitutional and criminal law experts similarly highlighted the unresolved dualism between military and civilian jurisdictions and urged the Supreme Court to provide clear guidance to prevent legal uncertainty and ensure equal accountability before the law.

UN experts have expressed concern over Indonesia’s decision to prosecute the attack against Andrie Yunus before a military court rather than the civilian justice system. They warned that trying the case in Military Court II-08 Jakarta risks reinforcing longstanding patterns of impunity, limited transparency and weak accountability for alleged human rights violations involving members of the armed forces. The experts criticised the use of the lesser charge of “premeditated aggravated assault” and the portrayal of the attack as a personal dispute, arguing that this fails to reflect the gravity of the life-threatening assault and obscures potential responsibility of those who may have ordered or orchestrated it. They called on the Indonesian authorities to investigate and prosecute the case through civilian courts in accordance with international human rights standards, ensure public scrutiny and impartiality.

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