DOGIYAI – Mourning has once again shrouded the land of Central Papua. Amidst the tranquility of Sunday, May 10, 2026, the roar of gunfire instead ended the life of an innocent teenager in Dogimani Village, Dogiyai District. Nopison Tebai, a 17-year-old high school student, was reported dead after becoming a victim of a shooting in an incident that occurred precisely at 09:00 Papua Time.
This heartbreaking event adds to the long list of civilians who have fallen victim amidst the ongoing armed operations in remote areas. The presence of security forces pushing deep into residential villages has once again raised major questions from the community regarding safety guarantees for those who are unarmed. The killing of Nopison, who was still a student, serves as a deep wound as well as an alarm for an increasingly critical humanitarian situation.
A human rights defender (HRD) reporting this incident emphasized that such repressive actions cannot be justified for any reason. "If it is true that there are allegations regarding the victim's or the community's connection to certain previous events, then it should be proven through a fair, open legal process that respects human rights, not through acts of violence that victimize civilians who are not necessarily guilty," HRD stated in the written report.
Until now, the people of Dogiyai are urging for an independent and transparent investigation to uncover the veil behind this shooting so that justice for the victim can be upheld. The demand is also directed at the state to immediately stop repressive actions that endanger the lives of citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as children, students, and women trapped in conflict zones.
The situation in Dogimani is currently reported to remain tense, while Komnas HAM RI, church institutions, and the international community are expected to provide serious attention immediately. The Papuan people await the certainty of protection on their own land, so that no more lives of students like Nopison Tebai have to end tragically at the tip of a gun barrel. ***