1) Police officer sentenced to 14 years for the fatal shooting of Tobias Silak
A panel of judges at the Wamena District Court sentenced four Indonesian police officers on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, for their roles in the fatal shooting of Mr Tobias Silak and the serious injury of Naro Dapla in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, on 20 August 2024. The primary defendant, Chief Brigadier Muhammad Kurniawan Kudu of the Gorontalo Police Mobile Brigade, was convicted under Article 338 of the Indonesian Criminal Code for murder and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. The court found him guilty of shooting the unarmed civilian victim.
Three other defendants, namely Second Brigadier Fernando Alexander Aufa, Chief Brigadier Ferdinand Moses Koromath (both from Yahukimo Police), and First Inspector Jatmiko (Merauke Police), were convicted under Article 360 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55, which addresses negligence resulting in serious injury. They were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.
Victims’ families demand greater justice
Despite the convictions, the legal team representing the victims’ families expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, arguing that the sentences failed to reflect the gravity of the crimes committed.
“We appreciate that the panel of judges found the first primary charge under Article 338 of the Criminal Code to be legally and convincingly proven against defendant Kurniawan Kudu,” stated Mersi Fera Waromi, a member of the victims’ legal team. “However, the 14-year sentence is still not commensurate with the loss of life of the victim, especially given that the maximum penalty under Article 338 is 15 years in prison.”
The legal team argued that the evidence presented during the trial, particularly the fact that Kurniawan fired eight direct shots at the victim rather than warning shots, demonstrates premeditation that should have warranted charges under Article 340 of the Criminal Code (premeditated murder), which carries a potential death penalty or life imprisonment.
The families expressed particular concern that the three other officers were convicted only of negligence, despite their participation in actions that resulted in one death and serious injury to Naro Dapla, who was still 17 as the incident occurred. Legal counsel noted that facts revealed in court showed these officers provided false information about a supposed shootout at Pasar Lama, suggesting a coordinated cover-up attempt.
Key gaps in justice
The victims’ families and advocacy groups identified several critical shortcomings in the legal proceedings. The verdict included no provision for the dismissal of the four officers from the Indonesian National Police (Polri), leaving them technically still members of the force despite their convictions. The judges also failed to order compensation, restitution, or rehabilitation for the victims and their families, despite legal provisions for such measures under Indonesian law.
The former Yahukimo Police Chief, AKBP Heru Hidayanto, and the commander of the Sekla Police Mobile Brigade post, Iptu Irman Taliki, have not been prosecuted despite their command positions at the time of the incident. The victims’ families argue that those responsible for giving orders or allowing the violence to occur must be held accountable. Although one of the victims was a minor who suffered serious injuries from stray bullets, the court did not fully address violations under Indonesia’s Child Protection Law (Law No. 35 of 2014).
Community response and advocacy
The Justice for Tobias Silak Front, representing 12 major tribes in Yahukimo Regency and civil society groups across 12 cities, had advocated for the case throughout the 14-month legal process. Before the verdict, the Front issued a statement demanding maximum penalties under Article 340 for all defendants and calling for an investigation of command responsibility.
The Front also raised broader concerns about patterns of violence in West Papua, calling for the withdrawal of military forces implicated in human rights violations and urging the Yahukimo Regional People’s Representative Council to formulate regulations for resolving cases involving extra-judicial killings by state officials.
Next steps
The legal team representing the Silak and Dapla families has announced plans to coordinate with the Public Prosecutor and oversight institutions, including the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), and the Ombudsman, to pursue comprehensive accountability.
“We respect the ongoing legal process, but justice for the victims has not yet been fully realized,” the legal team stated. “Justice will only be achieved if the perpetrators are punished in accordance with their actions and if those responsible for command are also held accountable.”
The families are calling on:
- The Indonesian National Police to conduct ethics hearings and dismiss the four convicted officers
- The Attorney General’s Office to prosecute command-level officials involved in the incident
- The state to provide mandatory restitution, rehabilitation, and compensation to victims’ families
- Authorities to investigate the case as an extrajudicial killing by state officials
The case represents one of many incidents of alleged excessive force by security personnel in West Papua that human rights organisations have documented over the years. The victims’ families and advocacy groups emphasize that without full accountability, such violations will continue to occur with impunity.
Peaceful protest in Wamena organised by the Justice Front for Tobias Silak on 28 October 2025
According to an official press release issued on Thursday, the meeting aimed to enhance the long-standing military cooperation between Indonesia and Australia.
Head of the Information and Public Relations Bureau at the Defense Ministry Secretariat General, Brigadier General Frega Ferdinand Wenas Inkiriwang, confirmed to Antara in Jakarta on Thursday that several key issues were discussed during the meeting, including the ongoing development of a new territorial battalion.
Brig. Gen. Inkiriwang said the discussion took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, reflecting the long-standing friendship between the two figures.
“General (Retd.) Hurley has been a long-time friend of Minister Sjafrie since their days together at the Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon in Australia,” Inkiriwang said.
“The friendship that began during their military education has continued, and both have played key roles in establishing the Indonesia-Australia Defense Alumni Association (IKAHAN),” he added.
Inkiriwang expressed hope that the meeting would further strengthen military relations between Indonesia and Australia and foster continued cooperation between the two nations’ defense establishments.
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Translator: Walda, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Primayanti
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