Indonesia, West Papua – On 24 March 2025, violence escalated in the Moanemani Village, Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province, as a group of police officers reportedly released warning shots and dispersed the crowd at the local market with teargas.

According to the information received, 19-year-old student named Mr Perison Yobee was collectively beaten by the police officers during the incident. Mr Perison lost conscious as a result oft the torture which left him with critical head injuries (see photo on top, source: independent HRDs). Several other civilians were reportedly also affected by the police violence at the market. The officers' actions appeared to be related to the killing of an intelligence police officer by members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Moanemani in the morning of 24 March 2025.

At approximately 12:00 noon, a unit of police officers arrived at the market and began firing tear gas dispersing the people at the market (see video below, source: independent HRDs). The officers reportedly approached a group of Papuan men and began to beat them indiscriminately. Mr Perison Yobee was struck on the head by a tear gas grenade and subsequently beaten by the officers. The assault left him critically injured and unconscious. Following the incident, relatives brought Mr Yobee back to his village.

The family has been providing traditional treatment. The full extent of the injuries remains unclear. The police provided no justification for their actions, and the incident has sparked widespread condemnation from the local community, demanding justice and accountability for the arbitrary acts of violence against Mr Yobee and other people at the Moanemani Market.

Source: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/police-brutality-against-papuan-student-in-dogiyai-regency