2) Police officers arbitrarily detain three Papuans at Dekai Airport, Yahukimo
3) Indonesia’s rush to authoritarian control: Criminal Procedure Code revision threatens civil rights
4) Allegations of corruption and systemic neglect undermine healthcare in West Papua
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Human Rights Monitor
1) Police officers arbitrarily detain eight Papuans suspected of killing a teacher in Angguruk – two remain in custody
On 11 July 2025, at 3:00 am, police officers arbitrarily detained eight indigenous Papuans in the Yahukimo Regency at two different locations along Seredalah Road. All suspects were detained at the Yahukimo Police headquarters (see photo on top, source: Jubi). At the first location, officers arrested Mr Sepi Heluka, 22, and Mr Alfon Payage, 22, in front of a kiosk. Both suspects originate from Amoma District and study in Jayapura. They were reportedly visiting relatives during vacation. At the second location, at kilometre 2 of Seredalah Road, police officers again detained Mr Veri Pahabol, 21, Mr Tertius Kabak, 34, Mr Vael Silak, 24, Mr Nander Sobolim, 25, Mr Velis Silak, 23, and Jonatan Sobolim, a 13-year-old boy from Eriappin District, without showing a warrant.
Six of the eight arrested civilians were released on 13 July 2025, at 3:00 pm, due to a lack of evidence linking them to the 21 March 2025 attack on a teacher in the Anggruk District, Yahukimo Regency. As of that date, Mr Nander Sobolim and Mr Velis Silak remained in custody at the Yahukimo District Police Department, under continued investigation for suspected involvement in the same attack. Human rights defenders are concerned that the police will press charges against them despite a lack of incriminating evidence.
Following the arrests, Police General Faizal Rahmadani publicly stated that his men had arrested eight members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM) suspected of being involved in the attack on teachers in Angguruk. The relatives of the detained individuals denied the police’s accusations. They stressed that all persons detained are ordinary civilians with no ties to any armed group or political movement. The families dispute the official police narrative.
Table of persons arrested in Yahukimo Regency on 11 July’25
| No | Name | Age | Place of arrest | Additional information |
| 1 | Sepi Heluka | 22 | In front of Mama Alor’s kiosk (Seredalah Road) | Arbitrary detention |
| 2 | Alfon Payage | 22 | In front of Mama Alor’s kiosk (Seredalah Road) | Arbitrary detention |
| 3 | Veri Pahabol | 21 | Km 2, Seredalah Road | Arbitrary detention |
| 4 | Tertius Kabak | 34 | Km 2, Seredalah Road | Arbitrary detention |
| 5 | Vael Silak | 24 | Km 2, Seredalah Road | Arbitrary detention |
| 6 | Nander Sobolim | 25 | Km 2, Seredalah Road | Arbitrary arrest, continued detention without charge |
| 7 | Velis Silak | 23 | Km 2, Seredalah Road | Arbitrary arrest, continued detention without charge |
| 8 | Jonatan Sobolim | 13 | Km 2, Seredalah Road | Arbitrary detention (minor) |
Detailed Case Data
Location: 4FMP+HHQ, Moruku, Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Papua 99571, Indonesia (-4.8660252, 139.486474) Polres Yahukimo
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 8
Location: 4FMP+HHQ, Moruku, Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Papua 99571, Indonesia (-4.8660252, 139.486474) Polres Yahukimo
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 8
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Sepi Heluka | male | 22 | Human Rights Defender (HRD) | |
| 2. | 1 | Alfon Payage | male | 22 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 3. | 1 | Veri Pahabol | male | 21 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 4. | 1 | Tertius Kabak | male | 34 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 5. | 1 | Vael Silak | male | 24 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 6. | 1 | Nander Sobolim | male | 25 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 7. | 1 | Velis Silak | male | 23 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 8. | 1 | Jonatan Sobolim | male | 13 | Indigenous Peoples |
Perpetrator: , Indonesian National Police (POLRI), POLRES
Perpetrator details: Damai Cartenz Police task force & Reskrim Polres Yahukimo
Issues: indigenous peoples, women and children—————————————
Human Rights Monitor
https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/police-officers-arbitrarily-detain-three-papuans-at-dekai-airport-yahukimo/
2) Police officers arbitrarily detain three Papuans at Dekai Airport, Yahukimo
On 26 July 2025, police officers arbitrarily detained Mr Stevanus Silak, Mr Eben Sobolim, and Mr Ami Sobolim at Nop Goliat Airport in Dekai, Yahukimo, Papua highland Province. The arrests occurred around 3:00 pm, while Mr Eben Sobolim and Mr Ami Sobolim were preparing to depart for Jayapura to continue their studies. The students were accompanied by Mr Silak, who works at the airport. All three were subsequently taken to Yahukimo District Police headquarters, where they remain in custody. As of 27 July 2025, no formal charges were brought against them, and the reason for their detention remains unclear.
According to reports from local sources in Dekai, the three young men were detained without being presented with a warrant or given access to legal counsel. No public statement has been issued by the Yahukimo Police explaining the grounds for the arrests, raising serious concerns about the legality of the detentions.
Relatives call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Stevanus Silak, Mr Eben Sobolim, and Mr Ami Sobolim, unless credible charges are brought under international fair trial standards. Authorities must provide transparent information on the reasons for the arrests and ensure that any legal procedures comply with due process.
Pattern of state violence in Yahukimo
The case adds to a growing list of arbitrary and unlawful arrests of Papuan civilians in Yahukimo, particularly in Dekai. In the weeks preceding this incident, several young Papuan men were arbitrarily detained by members of the Damai Cartenz task force. Most were later released due to a lack of evidence. Furthermore, three members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were recently arrested and tortured by the Indonesian Marine Corps. The ongoing security presence and restrictions on civilian movement, particularly during evening hours, have significantly heightened fear and tension in the region.
Cases of arbitrary detention, accompanied by torture, have significantly increased in the Yahukimo Regency over the past months. On 28 June 2025, joint forces of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Police reportedly raided civilian homes in the Uam Village, Yahukimo Regency. During the operation, 27-year-old Peranus Balingga, a motorcycle taxi driver, was arbitrarily arrested, accused of affiliation with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
The growing security force violence in Yahukimo has also affected human rights activists working in the regency. Human rights defender, Mr Marcho Pahabol, a member of the Justice Front for Tobias Silak (FJFTS) solidarity group, has been subjected to a series of intimidation and violent attacks in the town of Dekai.
Given the recurrence of violent incidents involving state agents, an independent investigation into patterns of arbitrary detention and excessive use of force in Yahukimo is urgently needed. National institutions such as Komnas HAM should prioritise monitoring the situation in Dekai and engage with Indonesian authorities to prevent further violations.
Human rights analysis
The arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr Stevanus Silak, Mr Eben Sobolim, and Mr Ami Sobolim violate fundamental human rights protected under international law. These include the right to liberty and security of person, guaranteed under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Indonesia ratified in 2006. Detaining individuals without a clear legal justification, access to legal representation, or judicial oversight constitutes arbitrary detention under international human rights standards.
This incident also reflects a broader trend of criminalisation of young Papuans, students, and civilians in conflict-affected areas such as Yahukimo. Such practices breach human rights and contribute to an environment of intimidation, impunity, and fear among local communities. The government of Indonesia must uphold its constitutional and international obligations to protect the rights of all its citizens, including indigenous Papuans. Ongoing military-police operations must be reviewed and brought under strict oversight to ensure accountability and the protection of human rights.
Photos of Mr Eben Sobolim, Mr Ami Sobolim, and Mr Stevanus Silak
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Human Rights Monitor
3) Indonesia’s rush to authoritarian control: Criminal Procedure Code revision threatens civil rights
Indonesia’s parliament is fast-tracking controversial revisions to the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) that civil society groups warn will strengthen state repression, legitimize arbitrary detention, and fundamentally undermine citizens’ rights in the criminal justice system. On 9 -10 July 2025, the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission III completed discussions on 1,676 problematic provisions of the Draft Criminal Procedure Code (RUU KUHAP) in just two days, drawing fierce criticism from legal experts, human rights organizations, and student groups who denounce the rushed process as reckless and anti-democratic.
Pattern of authoritarian consolidation
The Criminal Procedure Code revision is part of a broader legislative assault on civil liberties under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. Coming alongside controversial revisions to the Military Law and Police Law, these measures collectively represent what some legal scholars describe as a systematic effort to strengthen the government apparatus while weakening civil society.
The rushed legislative process reflects the government’s overwhelming parliamentary dominance, with the Indonesia Maju Coalition (KIM) Plus holding approximately 80% of seats, enabling near-effortless passage of controversial regulations despite widespread public opposition.
With parliamentary passage virtually guaranteed due to the government’s overwhelming majority, international pressure may be the only remaining check on Indonesia’s authoritarian drift. The KUHP revision represents a fundamental assault on the rule of law that will have lasting consequences for Indonesian democracy and human rights.
It seems that only diplomatic efforts by the international community may still halt this legislation before the parliament adopts it on 2 January 2026, alongside the new Criminal Code. Once enacted, these provisions will institutionalise arbitrary detention, torture, and the systematic suppression of civil society for years to come.
Dangerous expansion of state powers
Indefinite detention wthout oversight
The most alarming provision allows law enforcement to arrest individuals for unlimited periods under certain circumstances. Article 90 states that arrests may be made for an unlimited period of time under certain circumstances. It does not elaborate on the requirements for prolonged detention. The Civil Society Coalition for the Reform of the Criminal Procedure Code stated that this article has the potential to create violence because the longer the period of arrest, “the greater the room for abuse.”
Civil society’s concerns are grounded in Indonesia’s documented history of police violence and misconduct. The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) recorded 154 cases of criminalization involving 1,097 victims between 2019 and 2025. More disturbingly, between 2011 and 2019, nearly 700 people were victims of torture in police custody, with 63 deaths resulting from brutal interrogation methods including beatings, electrocution, burning, and shooting.
The article also contravenes international human rights standards, which typically allow maximum detention periods of 48 hours. The lack of mandatory judicial oversight compounds the danger, as there is no oversight or control over arrests, such as an obligation to present a judge in person immediately after arrest.
Searches without warrants
Article 106(4) permits investigators to conduct searches without court warrants in broadly defined “urgent circumstances.” This subjective criterion essentially allows law enforcement to bypass judicial oversight at will, as investigators can simply claim urgency to justify warrantless searches.
Criminalizing non-cooperation
Perhaps most troubling, Article 93(5)(b) and (d) enable arrests for “obstructing the investigation process” and “providing information that is not in accordance with the facts.” The interpretation of these two points is considered overly broad and subjective. This effectively criminalizes the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to remain silent. It is unclear what the meaning of ‘cooperate’ is.
International standards violated
The proposed revisions violate fundamental international human rights principles through multiple mechanisms. Unlimited arrest periods directly contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, while the removal of judicial oversight undermines fair trial guarantees essential to due process. The criminalisation of non-cooperation effectively forces self-incrimination, violating the presumption of innocence. In addition, weakening advocate protections violates citizens’ fundamental right to legal representation and access to justice.
Civil society excluded
Government officials claim extensive public participation, but civil society groups document systematic exclusion from meaningful consultation. The Civil Society Coalition submitted a public information request for the draft law in February 2025 but received no response. When invited to a closed-door meeting in April 2025, the coalition stated that the meeting focused on the drafting process without delving into substantive issues, as no draft had been published by the House of Representatives. The coalition’s substantive input submitted in May 2025 was ignored, with no follow-up or accommodation of their recommendations.
Despite intimidation risks, student groups and civil society organisations continue protesting the authoritarian legislation. On 22 July 2025, University of Indonesia students and Civil Society Coalition activists demonstrated at parliament, rejecting the rushed process and revisions proposed by the parliament.
Key problematic provisions
- Article 90: Unlimited detention periods
- Article 93(5): Criminalization of non-cooperation
- Article 106(4): Warrantless searches in “urgent” circumstances
- Article 16: Expanded surveillance powers, including undercover operations
Timeline
- February 2025: Draft law appears “suddenly”
- March 2025: Parliament publishes the official draft
- 9-10 July 2025: 1,676 provisions discussed in two days
- Target: The Law will become effective on 2 January 2026
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Human Rights Monitor
4) Allegations of corruption and systemic neglect undermine healthcare in West Papua
Healthcare in West Papua remains in a state of structural emergency, marked by institutional decay, corruption, and impunity. The aggravating healthcare crisis in West Papua has come under scrutiny following revelations of alleged corruption amounting to IDR 10 billion at the Nabire Regional General Hospital (RSUD Nabire) and a series of deaths reportedly caused by medical malpractice and neglect at the Yowari Hospital in Sentani, the General Hospital in Serui, and Maybrat hospitals. The developments raise human rights concerns relating to the right to health, accountability, and equal access to public services in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces.
On 26 July 2025, the Nabire District Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that an investigation had been launched into suspected corruption at the RSUD Nabire Public Service Agency (BLUD) between 2024 and May 2025. According to the head of the Special Crimes Unit, Officer Chrispo Simanjuntak, the case involves the misuse of at least IDR 10 billion (about € 524,000), with expenditures of IDR 6 billion ( about € 315,000) unsupported by valid documentation and an additional IDR 4 billion (about € 109,000) spent outside the official budget. Crucially, incentive payments of IDR 1.9 billion ( about € 100,000) meant for health workers from the national health insurance programme (BPJS Kesehatan) were never disbursed to the intended recipients. Officer Simanjuntak indicated further investigations are underway, including scrutiny of tax deductions not remitted to the state treasury.
These financial irregularities coincide with public outrage over two recent cases of alleged malpractice, which reached media attention. One of the cases involved Mrs Apolonia Nia Mimin, a pregnant woman suffering from Malaria who died with her unborn child at the Yowari Regional General Hospital in Sentani on 4 June 2025. The other case occurred at 2025 at Serui Regional Hospital following two emergency surgeries that eventually resulted in the death of Mrs Adriana Wayoi, 30, on 4 June 2025. Both cases reveal disturbing patterns of delayed or denied treatment, lack of specialist care, absent transparency, and possible malpractice. In a separate case on 15 July 2025, complaints about the complete absence of medical staff and ongoing power outages at Maybrat District Hospital further underscored the systemic neglect of health services in the region.
Human rights perspective
These incidents represent serious violations of Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Indonesia is a party. The article enshrines the right of every individual to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including timely and appropriate healthcare services, adequate medical infrastructure, and professional conduct of medical personnel.
In both cases, the absence of timely intervention, the lack of transparency in treatment decisions, and the failure to obtain informed consent or communicate with families indicate gross negligence and systemic malpractice. The government bears responsibility for ensuring that hospitals are not only available but also accessible, acceptable, and of good quality as per the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ General Comment No. 14.
Moreover, the alleged corruption at RSUD Nabire raises serious accountability concerns under Article 2(1) ICESCR, which obliges the state to use its maximum available resources to fulfil socio-economic rights. Embezzlement of public health funds directly undermines this obligation and contributes to the under-resourcing of hospitals, the non-payment of health workers, and the degradation of services.
The cases also illustrate de facto discrimination against poor and marginalised groups in West Papua, particularly those relying on BPJS health insurance, mainly indigenous Papuans. Papuan public policy experts noted unequal treatment and slower service for BPJS Class 3 patients, who mostly come from low-income communities. This constitutes a breach of the principle of non-discrimination enshrined in Article 2(2) ICESCR and other international human rights instruments.
Urgent reform needed
In light of these findings, urgent steps must be taken to prevent the further spread of corruption in healthcare institutions across West Papua. Institutional reform of hospital governance structures is urgently needed, including the reactivation of dormant Medical and Quality Committees, regular evaluations, and enforcement of standard operating procedures and minimum service standards. Oversight mechanisms such as the Health Ombudsman must be strengthened to ensure accountability and rights-based healthcare provision.
Finally, the state must invest in medical personnel and infrastructure in West Papua. Health workers should receive adequate incentives, guarantees for family welfare, and decentralised medical education to address the chronic healthcare deficiencies in West Papua. Without systemic reform and robust accountability measures, further violations of the right to health are inevitable. The Indonesian government must treat these cases as a national human rights priority and ensure justice for the victims and their families.
Detailed Case Data
Location: FF88+PHG, Doyo Baru, Waibu, Jayapura Regency, Papua 99352, Indonesia (-2.5331829, 140.4664519) Yowari Hospital
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Yapen Islands, South Yapen
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Jayapura, South Jayapura
Total number of victims: 2
Location: FF88+PHG, Doyo Baru, Waibu, Jayapura Regency, Papua 99352, Indonesia (-2.5331829, 140.4664519) Yowari Hospital
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Yapen Islands, South Yapen
Region: Indonesia, Papua, Jayapura, South Jayapura
Total number of victims: 2
| # | Number of Victims | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1. | 1 | Apolonia Nia Mimin | female | adult | Indigenous Peoples | |
| 2. | 1 | Adriana Wayoi | female | 0 | Indigenous Peoples |
Perpetrator: Other
Issues: indigenous peoples, women and children
Sources:
BBC Indonesia
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