On 18 August 2026, Indonesian Marine Corps personnel and the Police reportedly arrested Mr Dan Menegiy, 50, the village head of Walehikma, and his 17-year-old son, Ordi Menegiy, outside Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) branch in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. Both were taken into custody at the Yahukimo District Police Station. Mr Dan Menegiy was released on 21 August 2026, while his son reportedly remained in police custody when the incident was documented on 22 August 2026.
At approximately 3.20 pm, Mr Dan Menegiy and his son, Ordi Menegiy, visited a BRI bank branch in Yahukimo Regency on 18 August 2026 to withdraw money. As they left the bank, they were reportedly intercepted by Indonesian Marine Corps personnel and members of the police. The security personnel brought them to the Yahukimo District Police Station, where they were detained.
On 21 August 2026, Mr Dan Menegiy was released after spending approximately three days in police custody. His 17-year-old son was not released alongside him. According to the information available on 22 August 2026, Ordi Menegiy remained detained at the Yahukimo District Police Station.
Human rights analysis
The reported circumstances of the arrests raise concerns under Article 9(1) – (4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and guarantees the right to be informed of the reasons for arrest, to challenge the lawfulness of detention and to obtain judicial review. Although the available information does not establish whether the authorities had reasonable grounds to suspect either individual of a criminal offence, the reported arrest of a father and his minor son warrants an independent examination of the legal basis, necessity and proportionality of the deprivation of liberty. In the absence of lawful grounds and compliance with applicable procedural safeguards, their arrest and detention may constitute violations of Article 9 of the ICCPR.
The prolonged detention of Ordi Menegiy raises additional concerns under Article 37(b) – (d) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Convention requires that the detention of a child be lawful, used only as a measure of last resort and limited to the shortest appropriate period. Children deprived of their liberty must receive treatment appropriate to their age, be separated from adult detainees unless contrary to their best interests, maintain contact with their families and have prompt access to legal assistance and independent review of their detention. The reported continuation of Ordi Menegiy's detention after his father's release requires particular scrutiny.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-127-2026
Location: Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-4.8638158, 139.4837298) In front of BRI Bank Branch in Dekai
Region: Indonesia > Highland Papua > Yahukimo > Dekai
Total number of victims: 2
1. Dan Menegiy, male 50 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
2. Ordi Menegiy, male 17 Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 18/08/2026-21/08/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces
Issues: indigenous peoples