YAHUKIMO — The Indonesian National Armed Forces Law Enforcement Habema Task Force (Satgas Habema) along with Marine Corps personnel allegedly forcibly arrested and tortured four civilians at the Serdala Road Post, Kukamo Village, Yahukimo Regency.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, when the victims were heading towards a gold mining location. After receiving pressure from various parties, the four civilians were finally released on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 14:30 WP.
The incident began on Wednesday morning at 09:23 WP when three Strada double-cabin vehicles prepared at Base 88 to transport passengers and logistics consisting of fuel and basic food supplies. Around 10:50 WP, one of the cars driven by Sapius Ou was stopped by security forces while passing the Serdala Road Post. The Indonesian military conducted a total inspection after receiving intelligence information regarding the presence of West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Yallenang Battalion members riding in the vehicle.
While the tracking took place, forces ordered all passengers to get down, kneel, and raise their hands, while all belongings were strictly searched. Officers then detained four people, namely Sapius Ou (25, driver), Beicham (27, university student), Alpini Soll (16, high school student), and Ober Magayang (25, conductor). Meanwhile, two other passengers, including a woman, were allowed to continue their journey, while two other Strada cars that were behind chose to turn back toward the city center.
During the detention, the four youths were interrogated with their eyes covered with duct tape, and their vehicle was confiscated in the yard of the military post. The victim named Beicham reportedly received the most severe violence after being separated from his colleagues. Forces took Beicham using a car to the riverbank to be beaten before finally being brought back to the Serdala Road Post in a severely injured condition.
Inside the post, the victim who began losing consciousness was allegedly forcedly electrocuted and beaten using wooden blocks on the back spine area. The verbal interrogation was also accompanied by acts of intimidation, including wrapping a snake around the victim's neck until having difficulty breathing, as well as threats of being soaked in boiling water. Due to the heavy physical pressure, Beicham was forced to comply with the forces' demands and confessed to being a TPNPB member so that the torture would be stopped.
"Every organic or non-organic military action is carried out without clarity of arrest and detention warrant letters based on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) so that the public feels resentful and condemns the Indonesian military anarchism actions," said General Secretary of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Yahukimo, Nifal Enggalim, Thursday (11/6/2026).
Responding to the arrests, a number of independent parties and community representatives then urged the Yahukimo Regional Police (Polres) to intervene in the detention process. The efforts bore fruit until the four civilians who were confirmed not part of the TPNPB were officially released from the military post. Local advocacy parties also emphasized their demands that the central government immediately withdraw all non-organic military forces from the Papua region. (One Papua)