A teacher and six students from SMP N 1 Senior Highschool Sinak were reportedly apprehended without warrant and subsequently tortured by military personnel during an operation in Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, on 25 March 2026. According to information received, the arrests occurred whilst classes were in progress on the school premises.
According to the information received, Indonesian military personnel entered the school grounds on the morning of 25 March 2026 during teaching activities and apprehended one teacher together with six students. The detainees were subsequently taken to a military post in Sinak, where they were allegedly subjected to physical violence, intimidation and coercive interrogation. While three of the students and the teacher were released on the following day, the students Nikanus Murib, Arendis Murib and Ois Tabuni were reportedly detained for three days and forced under torture and death threats to confess to being affiliated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
On the morning of 28 March 2026, the three detained students were reportedly taken to the grounds of SMP N 1 Sinak and forced to participate in a ceremony pledging loyalty to the Republic of Indonesia. The students were allegedly compelled to kiss the Indonesian flag in front of assembled teachers, parents, community members and a pastor whilst heavily guarded by military personnel. The ceremony appeared intended to legitimise the arbitrary detention retrospectively (see photo on top, source, independent HRD).
Public statements issued by the Indonesian military described the three students as former TPNPB members who had "repented" and voluntarily pledged allegiance to Indonesia during a ceremony at SD Inpres 1 Sinak on 28 March 2026.
Human rights analysis
The incident raises serious concerns under international human rights law and international humanitarian law applicable to non-international armed conflicts. The arbitrary detention of students and a teacher within an educational institution and without clear evidence or warrant may violate Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects individuals against arbitrary arrest and detention. The reported torture, beatings and death threats constitute grave violations of Article 7 ICCPR and the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, to which Indonesia is a State Party. The use of coercion to obtain confessions further contravenes fair trial guarantees under Article 14 ICCPR.
The detention also raises serious concerns regarding the protection of children and educational institutions during armed conflict. Schools are civilian objects protected under international humanitarian law and should not be used as sites for military operations, intimidation or coercive political activities. The forced public oath-taking ceremony involving children may amount to degrading treatment and psychological intimidation. The conduct described further undermines the right to education protected under Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The reported acts may additionally violate Indonesian domestic law, including provisions of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) prohibiting assault and coercion, as well as protections under Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. The arrests and interrogations of minors without due process safeguards may also contravene protections contained in Law No. 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System and provisions of the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) regulating lawful arrest and detention procedures.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-069-2026
Region: Indonesia > Central Papua > Puncak > Sinak
Total number of victims: 7
1. Nikanus Murib, diverse minor Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
2. Arendis Murib, male minor Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
3. Ois Tabuni, minor Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
4. 4 unknown Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
Period of incident: 25/03/2026-28/03/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence, women and children