On 4 August 2025, 17-year-old Naris Kalakmabin, a motorcycle taxi driver from Alutbakon Village, Oksop District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Highland Papua Province, was shot in the right leg by members of the Border Security Task Force (Satgas Pamtas RI – PNG Statis Koops Swasembada Yonif 751/VJS).
The incident occurred in the Serambakon Village, Serambakon District, while Naris was transporting passengers from Seram Village to the town of Oksibil, the regency capital. After being shot, soldiers tortured Naris and later admitted him to the Marthen Indey Army Hospital in Jayapura City. Naris' parents were not informed of his transfer and only learned of his condition afterwards.
On the morning of 4 August 2025, Naris Kalakmabin was driving on the route between Seram Village and Oksibil. At around 08:53 am, military members wanted to stop Naris while passing a TNI checkpoint in Serambakon. Having a negative experience with such checks, Naris continued driving. In response, TNI personnel began shouting, "There is an enemy". About 100 meters after the post, Naris saw that the military members had set up a second checkpoint. Being afraid of the military personnel, he stopped the motorcycle on the roadside and ran into the forest. Thereupon, military members released multiple shots, one of which struck Naris below the right knee.
Following the shooting, military members tortured Naris on the roadside. Punching and kicking him on the temple and forehead while interrogating him at the scene. Thereupon, military personnel brought a chicken and other food supplies, trying to force a confession, saying that Naris intended to bring the food supplies to West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) members hiding in the forest. Various residents witnessed the torture as they were passing the road. Despite torture and psychological pressure, Naris kept denying that the supplies belonged to him. The soldiers eventually admitted Naris to a local hospital after the interrogations did not reveal any ties with the TPNPB. At around 1:00 pm, he was transferred to Jayapura for surgery at the Marthen Indey Military Hospital (see photos on top and below, source: independent HRDs), where he remains under strict military guard. Doctors indicated that the full recovery may take up to 6 months.
Relatives demand the immediate and unconditional release of Naris Kalakmabin to his family, with access to independent medical care and legal counsel.
Human rights analysis
This case constitutes multiple grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the right to life and physical integrity (Article 6, ICCPR), the prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 9, ICCPR), the prohibition of torture (Article 1, CAT), and the rights of the child (CRC), particularly the obligation to ensure protection from violence and unlawful detention for persons under 18 years of age.
Naris Kalakmabin was shot without due cause while unarmed and engaging in lawful civilian activity. He was apprehended without a warrant, judicial oversight, or justification, following a broader pattern of militarisation and disproportionate force used by Indonesian security forces in the central highlands. The targeting of civilians, especially minors, under the pretext of security operations reflects a systemic disregard for human rights norms.
Detailed case data
Location: Serambakon, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Papua, Indonesia (-4.8557903, 140.5009203) TNI Post at Serambakon Village
Region: Indonesia, Highland Papua, Bintang Mountains, Serambakon
Total number of victims: 1
# Number of Victims Name, Details Gender Age Group Affiliation Violations
1. 1 Naris Kalakmabin
Diverse 17 Indigenous Peoples
Period of incident: 04/08/2025-04/08/2025
Perpetrator: Indonesian Army (TNI-AD)
Perpetrator details: Satgas Pamtas RI-PNG Statis Koops Swasembada Yonif 751/VJS
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence
Source: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/military-members-shot-and-tortured-minor-in-pegunungan-bintang