Between 21 and 23 February 2026, joint forces of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force conducted a series of arbitrary arrests against at dozens of civilians, including minors and students, in the Kali Biru area, Seradala Road (Kilo 4), and at the old KPU/Bawaslu office on Sohosa Road. Both areas are located in the district of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, where the police has launched a series of arbitrary arrests since January 2026 due to the deteriorating armed conflict in the regency.
The initial mass arrest occurred on 21 February 2026 at the residence of Mr Iwan Payage in Kali Biru and along Seradala Road (Kilo 4). Eleven students and youths were reportedly detained without presentation of arrest warrants. Four detainees were subsequently released on 22 February 2026. Further arrests reportedly occurred on the following day, with another fourteen persons being detained. Mr Amonto Nato, 20, Sonai Giban. 17, Panus Payage, 14, Meli Heluka, 14, Mika (Homi) Eluka, Kris Giban, 16, and Arnius Heluka, 17, remained in custody as of 3 March 2026. and continue to be under investigation without access tp legal counsel. Credible allegations indicate that at least one detainee, Mr Melkim Selek, 30, was subjected to beatings amounting to torture during interrogation at the Yahukimo Police Station.
On 21 February 2026, at approximately 6:00 am, several armoured tactical vehicles operated by the Cartenz Task Force entered the yard of Mr Wan Payage's residence in Kali Biru, Dekai. Officers surrounded the premises and arrested eleven Papuan youth, most of them still minors. Personal belongings, including motorcycles, mobile phones, bedding, and household utensils, were confiscated and taken to the Yahukimo Police Station. Further arrests reportedly occurred on 22 February 2026 at approximately 4:00 am along Seradala Road (Kilo 4). Members of the Damai Cartenz unit and the Habema Task Force detained the four Papuan youth Feri Alemdam, 15, Olan Alya, 17, Mr Erik Alya, 18, and Eli Malyo, 17, without warrant. Police officers arbitrarily detained another ten persons while patrolling town.
Mr Melkim Selak, 21, was released at 10:23 pm on 23 February 2026 and returned to his family home on Jalan KPU Lama. Security force members had arbitrarily detained him near the old KPU office on 22 February 2026. He stated that no arrest warrant had been presented at the time of arrest. Officers forced them to enter a in a military vehicle which brought them to the Yahukimo District Police Station (Polres Yahukimo). During interrogation, he was allegedly forced to confess to membership in the West Papua National Lioberation Army (TPNPB). Police officers allegedly punched and kicked him with boots to the face and on his back, causing dizziness and physical pain. He reported that the torture ceased only after the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit arrived.
On 23 February 2026, at 9:30 am, members and supporters of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Yahukimo region, together with the families, entered the Yahukimo police station to request an explanation for the arrests (see photo on top, source: KNPB). As of 24 February 2026, eight individuals remained under investigation at the Yahukimo Police Station, including minors aged 14-17. Families reported that in several cases no formal notification of arrest or clear legal basis had been provided, while police officers restricted access to legal counsel. Police officers at the Yahukimo District Police Office (Polres Yahukimo) twice prevented a team of lawyers from visiting the detainees on 27 February and 1 March 2026 under the pretext that their superiors were not present.
Human rights analysis
The pattern of arrests indicates prima facie violations of the right to liberty and security of person as enshrined in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly in relation to arbitrary arrest and detention. The absence of arrest warrants, failure to inform detainees promptly of the reasons for arrest, and lack of access to legal counsel contravene fair trial guarantees and procedural safeguards under Indonesian law and international human rights law.
The alleged beatings of Mr Melkim Selak during interrogation constitute credible allegations of torture or, at minimum, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as defined under Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The reported coercion to extract confessions raises serious concerns regarding the admissibility of evidence and the prohibition of compelled self-incrimination.
The arrest and detention of minors without demonstrable evidence of criminal conduct, and without the presence of guardians or legal representatives, further violate child protection standards and triggers state responsibility under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The apparent reliance on suspicion of affiliation with the TPNPB in the absence of material evidence suggests discriminatory and collective punishment practices in the context of the ongoing armed political conflict in West Papua.
While the armed confrontation between TPNPB combatants and security forces may amount to a non-international armed conflict in certain areas, civilians must at all times be protected from arbitrary deprivation of liberty and from torture. Security operations must comply with both international human rights law and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.
Detailed case data
Location: Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-4.8638158, 139.4837298) Various locations in Dekai
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Yahukimo, Dekai
Total number of victims: 26
1. Melkim Selak, male 27 Indigenous Peoples torture
2. Dartinus Esema, male 21 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
3. Yoten Giban, male 15 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
4. Amonto Nato, male 20 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary arrest
5. Sonai Giban, male 17 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary arrest
6. Panus Payage, male 14 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary arrest
7. Meli Heluka, male 14 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary arrest
8. Kris (Kotor) Giban, male 16 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary arrest
9. Mika (Homi) Heluka, male 17 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary arrest
10. Enake (Arnius) Heluka, male 17 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary arrest
11. Feri Alemdam, male 15 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
12. Olan Alya, male 17 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
13. Erik Alya, male 18 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
14. Eli Malyo, male 17 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
15. Benius Uow, male 14 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
16. Samuel Mare, male 15 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
17. Kutrom Suhun, male 19 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
18. Andi Heluka, male 17 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
19. Sanpe Nato, male 15 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
20. Jekson Giban, male 20 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
21. Pinaus Nato, male minor Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
22. Ania Nato, male minor Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
23. Meno Heluka, male 25 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
24. Menggel Soma, male 18 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
25. Arun Giban, male 0 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
26. Hilang Suhun, Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 21/02/2026-22/02/2026
Perpetrator: Indonesian Security Forces
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence