On 22 March 2026 at approximately 5:00 pm, military members and Marine Corps personnel reportedly detained seven Papuan civilians, primarily pupils, in the Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua province. The detainees, consisting of one female and six males, namely, Ms Meri Murib,18, Nikanus Murib, 17, Erendis Murib, 17, Ois Tabuni, 18, Yusmin Murib, 10, Tendis Tabuni, 18, and Urundi Murib, 18. As of 25 March 2026, four detainees had been released, while three individuals remained in detention without confirmed legal status.

According to the information received, the group was traveling from Oneri District to the Gigobak Village to attend school exams scheduled for the following day when they were intercepted by joint military personnel. The group was immediately detained without arrest warrants being presented at the time of apprehension, and without indication that the individuals were engaged in any unlawful activity. Following the apprehension, the detainees were taken into custody at an undisclosed location. Ms Meri Murib, Tendis Tabuni, Urundi Murib, and Yusmin Murib were later released whereas Nikanus Murib, Erendis Murib, and Ois Tabuni reportedly remain detained, with no clear information regarding access to legal counsel or formal charges.

Human rights and legal analysis

The detention of minors and students in this context raises serious concerns under international human rights law. The deprivation of liberty appears to be arbitrary, as defined under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), due to the absence of legal basis, lack of warrant, and failure to inform the detainees of the reasons for their arrest. The involvement of children, including a 10-year-old minor, further engages protections under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Articles 37 and 40, which prohibit unlawful or arbitrary detention of children and require that detention be used only as a measure of last resort.

Furthermore, the disruption of access to education for students travelling to participate in school exams may constitute a violation of the right to education under Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The arbitrary detention of persons, particularly minors, also raises concerns regarding compliance with Indonesian domestic law, particularly provisions under the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) governing lawful arrest procedures, including the requirement of an arrest warrant and prompt notification of charges.

Detailed case data

Location: Gigobak/Gogobak, Sinak, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, Indonesia (-3.8363934, 137.7736217)Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Puncak, Sinak
Total number of victims: 7
1. Meri Murib, female 18 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
2. Nikanus Murib, male 17 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary arrest
3. Erendis Murib, male 17 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary arrest
4. Ois Tabuni, male 18 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary arrest
5. Yusmin Murib, male 10 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
6. Tendis Murib, male 18 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
7. Urundi Murib, male 18 Indigenous Peoples, Student arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 22/03/2026-22/03/2026
Perpetrator: Indonesian Military (TNI)
Perpetrator details: military members and Marine Corps
Issues: indigenous peoples, women and children

Source: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/arbitrary-detention-of-seven-pupils-in-sinak-puncak-regency