On 10 February 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI AD) reportedly tortured Mr Kristo Gonus Okui Kaize, an indigenous Papuan of the Malind Maklew tribe at the National Strategic Project (PSN) site in Wanam, Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. Mr Kaize was employed as labourer at the PSN Wanam Project. He sustained open head wounds, broken teeth and a toe injury as a result of the torture. TNI members forcibly removed a toenail using pliers and threatened to kill him. The assault reportedly occurred without prior questioning.
On the evening of 10 February 2026, Mr Kaize was drinking alcohol with several workers and a TNI member named Moris inside one of the mess halls at the PSN Wanam Project site. Another TNI member called Legion, later joined them. After the men finished the drinks, the group moved to another mess hall where other TNI personnel were also drinking. When the alcohol supply was exhausted, Mr Kaize returned alone to his room. Shortly thereafter, he took a pocket torch and left the mess hall, intending to return to Wanam Village. Moments later, he heard shouting. Approximately five TNI AD personnel ran towards him shouting "kill him" and immediately began beating him without asking any questions.
The perpetrators struck him repeatedly with their bare hands and blunt metal objects. According to the victim, he was struck with an iron bar on his ribs causing him to fall down several as the assault continued. Thereupon, several soldiers restrained him while others allegedly used pliers to forcibly pull out his right large toenail. Mr Kaize suffered four open lacerations to the head, a split and swollen lower lip, broken lower teeth, swollen temples, extensive bruising, and injuries to his left elbow and ribs (see photos below, source: Pusaka).
Mr Kaize eventually managed to escape by crawling underneath the mess structure into a large excavation pit filled with mud. In the early hours of 11 February 2026, while still bleeding and in severe pain, he crawled through the excavation site until reaching the Domokalok hamlet bridge. He then attempted to walk towards Wanam Village but lost consciousness on the road.
Early that morning, villagers from Wanam found him unconscious and escorted him to Wanam Village. He was subsequently admitted to Ilwayab Health Centre in Wogikel District for medical treatment. During his treatment, TNI personnel reportedly guarded the facility and monitored visitors, including members of his family. Mr Kaize has returned home but remains physically weak and unable to work, currently unable to meet the daily needs of his wife and two children.
Human rights analysis
The alleged conduct constitutes serious violations of international human rights law and Indonesian domestic law. The beating, threats to kill, and forcible removal of a fingernail using pliers meet the definition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as enshrined under Article 1 of the Convention against Torture (CAT), to which Indonesia is a State Party. The deliberate infliction of severe physical pain by state agents for punitive or arbitrary purposes is strictly prohibited and non-derogable. The described acts also violate Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which prohibits the use of torture and ill-treatment;
The presence of military personnel guarding the victim during medical treatment raises additional concerns regarding intimidation of witnesses and obstruction of access to independent medical and legal assistance. The case must be assessed in the broader context of recurring patterns of violence by security forces in South Papua Province, particularly in areas of indigenous land affected by strategic national projects (PSN). The cumulative record of previous cases in the regencies Mappi, Boven Digoel, and Merauke between 2014 and 2023 indicates a pattern of excessive force, impunity, and lack of accountability. The recurrence of serious abuses in Merauke Regency and surrounding areas underscores structural deficiencies in accountability mechanisms.
List of documented military violence in South Papua
The following cases illustrate a concerning continuity of human rights abuses:
2014 (Mappi Regency): Violence by Indonesian Navy personnel against Mr Blasius Sumaghai (23).
2015 (Mappi Regency): Shooting of Mr Talema Waitipo (19) and stabbing of Mr Yance Doga by Navy personnel.
2017 (Kimaam area): Fatal violence against Mr Isak Dewayekua (23) by members of Infantry Battalion 755/Yalet.
2020 (Boven Digoel Regency): Abuse leading to the death of Mr Oktovianus Warip (18) by Task Force 516/Caraka Yudha.
2021 (Merauke City): Abuse of a deaf youth, Mr Steven Yadohamang, by Air Force personnel.
2022 (Mappi Regency): Killing of Mr Bruno Amenim Kimko (29) and serious injury of Mr Yohanis Kanggun by Raider 600/Modang Task Force personnel.
2023 (Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency): Fatal abuse of Mr Albertus Kaize and serious injury of Mr Daniel Kaize by Navy personnel.
2025 (Mappi Regency): On 29 January 2025, Mr Herlis Pakaimu died after reportedly being tortured and shot by military members in Mappi Regency, Papua Selatan Province.
Detailed case data
Location: Wanam, Ilyawab, Merauke Regency, South Papua, Indonesia (-7.4207243, 139.1625989) Wanam Village
Region: Indonesia, South Papua, Merauke, Ilwayab
Total number of victims: 1
1. Kristo Gonus Okui Kaize, male 34 Indigenous Peoples, Labourer right to life, torture
Period of incident: 10/02/2026-10/02/2026
Perpetrator: Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence