PAPUA — An arbitrary arrest and shooting against indigenous people occurred again in the Kali Biru residential area, Old KPU Street, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua.
Joint forces of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) together with the Indonesian National Police (Polri) raided the residents' settlement suddenly using five operational vehicle units on September 1, 2026, at around 17:00 WIT.
The event that shocked local residents took place very quickly without being accompanied by an official explanation or an arrest warrant at the location. Indonesian military soldiers directly carried out shooting actions toward the settlement and secured six local residents who were in the area.
The arrest victims consisted of Yefri Kabak, aged 26, Daniel Kabak, aged 19, Asa Salak, aged 20, Meki Salak, aged 40, Pace Kambui, aged 30, who serves as a village official, and Pistir Moloma, aged 16, who is still a student or a minor.
In a separate place but at the same time, a shooting also hit a West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) member named Meck Salak from the XVI Yahukimo Defense Regional Command Headquarters (Kodap), who was shot in the upper left hand. All arrest and shooting victims from Walma District, Waniok Village, Yahukimo Regency were directly escorted to the Yahukimo Resort Police Headquarters (Polres) in Dekai using officers' operational vehicles.
Human Rights Defender (HRD) strongly condemned the raid and arbitrary arrest actions targeting non-combatant civilians in Dekai District. "The six citizens who were arrested and became shooting victims were not included in the Wanted List (DPO)," HRD released, Tuesday (1/9/2026).
The arrest of these six civilians triggered strong protests from surrounding residents who directly witnessed the ambush action in the Kali Biru area. Bursts of gunfire fired in various directions dispersed the community's protest action until the situation in central Dekai City was tense. Dekai Regional General Hospital (RSUD) even applied a standby status to handle injured victims evacuated from the shooting location.
Meanwhile, the police together with the Peace Cartenz Operation Task Force (Satgas) mentioned that the raid action in Kali Biru was carried out in the framework of law enforcement against TPNPB.
The joint operation of the Indonesian military and police in Yahukimo continues to be tightened at several points to anticipate subsequent escalation in Dekai District. (One Papua)