On 18 August 2026, personnel of the Marine Corps reportedly arrested Mr Kelgi Bayage and Mr Dais Sikap in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. According to information provided by relatives, Mr Bayage and Mr Sikap, a student at Cenderawasih University (Uncen), were appreheded on Paradiso Road in Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo Regency. The families allege that the arrests were arbitrary and have called for the immediate intervention of the authorities and human rights organisations.
Marine personnel apprehended Mr Kelgi Bayage and Mr Dais Sikap on Paradiso Road at approximately 4:30 pm. Both men were described by their families as ordinary civilian residents who lived in the regency capital and were not involved in activities that would justify their arrest. Following the arrests, relatives publicly appealed to the Chief of Yahukimo District Police and Marine personnel stationed in Yahukimo Regency to end the recurring arbitrary arrest of civilians in Dekai.
Human rights analysis
The reported detention raise concerns regarding the right to liberty and security of person under Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a State Party. Article 9 prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and requires every deprivation of liberty to have a lawful basis and comply with prescribed legal procedures. Under Article 9(2), arrested persons must be informed of the reasons for their arrest and promptly notified of any criminal charges against them. The absence of information concerning the alleged offences, the legal grounds for the arrests and the subsequent whereabouts of Mr Bayage and Sikap warrants further investigation. An arrest conducted without a lawful basis, or detention that is unnecessary, unreasonable or disproportionate, may constitute an arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
The involvement of Marine personnel in the reported apprehension of two civilians raises additional questions concerning the legal authority under which the operation was conducted. Military involvement in civilian law enforcement does not remove the obligation to respect fundamental procedural safeguards. Where individuals are detained on suspicion of criminal activity, Article 9(3) of the ICCPR requires prompt judicial oversight. Article 9(4) further guarantees the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention before a court and to obtain release if the detention is unlawful. The authorities must also ensure that both detainees are protected against incommunicado detention, intimidation, torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Article 10(1) of the ICCPR requires all persons deprived of their liberty to be treated with humanity and respect for their inherent dignity. Their relatives should be informed of their whereabouts and permitted to establish contact with them, while both men should have access to independent legal assistance and any necessary medical care. These safeguards are particularly important where individuals are held by military personnel outside ordinary civilian detention arrangements.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-125-2026
Location: Jl. Paradiso, Massi, Kec. Dekai, Kabupaten Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan 99571, Indonesia (-4.8647987, 139.478889)
Region: Indonesia > Highland Papua > Yahukimo > Dekai
Total number of victims: 2
1. Kelgi Bayage, male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
2. Dais Sikap, male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 18/08/2026-18/08/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI) > Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL)
Issues: indigenous peoples