On 30 August 2025, at approximately 11:07 am, a serious incident occurred on Jalan Mayon in front of the TNI 754/ENK Kuala Kencana headquarters in the Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province. Indonesian military personnel driving a Yonif 754 vehicle were driving in the opposite direction, hitting a civilian motorcycle driven by Mr Paulinus Tabuni.
Mr Tabuni was driving along the road in accordance with traffic regulations. The accident was recorded by a CCTV camera. While the entrance gate to the military compound was located to the left, the driver turned right and collided with Mr Tabuni's motorcycle. Following the accident, military members carried Mr Tabuni's unconscious body to the pavement on the opposite side of the road without following medical emergency procedures or conducting 1st aid treatment (see video below, source: independent HRD).
The chronology of events indicates that Mr Tabuni was lawfully crossing the road when the military vehicle approached. Witnesses confirm that the vehicle did not signal before turning. Rather than entering the headquarters through its gate on the left, the vehicle manoeuvred to the right, crashing directly into Mr Tabuni. The video has been widely shared on social media, with many Papuan groups interpreting the ramming as deliberate. As of now, HRM was not able to verify whether Mr Tabuni passed away as a result of the accident.
Given the structural impunity for perpetrators of criminal acts and human rights violations affiliated with the military in West Papua, human rights organisations are concerned that the military officer responsible for the accident will not be held accountable for the traffic accident, with possibly lethal consequences.
Human rights analysis
From a human rights perspective, the Indonesian state is obliged to protect the right to life and the right to physical integrity, as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Accordingly, the incident must be followed by a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation, and the perpetrator must be held accountable in a public and fair trial. The investigation shall be conducted by a civilian body rather than military authorities, to ensure credibility and avoid conflicts of interest.
The ramming of a civilian by a military vehicle, if intentional, falls well outside these standards and constitutes an unlawful use of force. It further highlights the ongoing problem of military forces exercising powers over civilians without proper accountability. In criminal law terms, the conduct could amount to intentional assault, grievous bodily harm, or attempted murder under Indonesian law. The principle of command responsibility requires military superiors to prevent, investigate, and punish such acts. Evidence, including video footage and medical reports, must be preserved and subjected to forensic analysis.
Reparations, including compensation and rehabilitation for the victim and his family, must be guaranteed. Structural reforms to ensure transparency, civilian oversight, and accountability of military forces in West Papua are urgently necessary.