Indonesia, West Papua – On 15 March 2025, Police officers arbitrarily arrested Mr Ortizan F. Tarage, 34, while fishing in a pond behind the Training Complex on Education Road, Kilometer 8 in Sorong, Papua Barat Daya Province.
The officers failed to provide an explanation or a warrant at the time of the arrest. Later, the officers allegedly tortured Mr Tarage at the Sorong City Police Station. According to Mr Tarage, the torture involved beatings with bamboo, wood, a hose, and a metal object, causing serious bodily harm. He confessed to stealing one scooter but was coerced to admit to two additional thefts, which he had not committed under duress. After days of alleged ill-treatment, Mr Tarage was hospitalised, later diagnosed with stage five kidney failure, and is now seeking justice for the abuse he claims to have endured in custody.
Following his arrest, Mr Tarage was brought to the Sorong City Police Station, where he was immediately placed in a detention cell. From noon until late afternoon, he was reportedly tortured. He described being beaten continuously, leading to visible injuries across his face, shoulders, hands, thighs, and calves (see photo: source: Jubi). Despite fainting during one particularly brutal assault that resulted in bleeding from his ear and head, the violence allegedly persisted.
Following the torture, he was taken to Sele Be Solu Hospital, where he received only minimal treatment despite severe swellings, bruises, and the inability to walk. Police officers allegedly forced Mr Tarage to walk unaided to the hospital, collapsing in front of it without police officers assisting him. He was hospitalised for four days without substantial care. Upon release, he reported being chased and assaulted by one of the perpetrators from the police, with threats to silence him.
The arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of Ortizan Tarage indicate a lack of procedural safeguards, including the right to be informed of charges, the right to legal counsel, and the right to humane conditions of detention. Furthermore, threats made to deter him from filing a complaint obstruct his right to an effective remedy under Article 2(3) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Relatives demand that the officers involved be suspended and held criminally accountable. They want to file an official complaint to the Profession and Security Division of the Police (Propam). Mr Tarage should be granted full access to medical treatment, legal aid, and reparations – including rehabilitation and compensation – in line with General Comment No. 31 of the Human Rights Committee on the ICCPR. The case underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms within Indonesia's law enforcement, especially regarding custody safeguards, accountability mechanisms, and the absolute prohibition of torture.