On 26 September 2026, Indonesian Marine personnel allegedly apprehended Mr Wilem Wakom, a civil servant (ASN) and resident of Wakom Village, East Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province. Military members subsequently took him to a Marine post in Aisa Village, East Aifat District. Where the soldiers allegedly detained and tortured Mr Wakom inside the military post. Relatives and members of the local community were prevented from seeing him or verifying his physical condition, while the legal grounds for his detention remained unclear.
According to media reports published on 28 September 2026, Marine personnel detained Mr Wilem Wakom on 26 September 2026 at the Marine post stationed in Aisa Village. Information by LBH Kaki Abu indicated that Mr Wakom was subsequently locked inside the post and subjected to acts of violence. When family members and residents came to the post to look for Mr Wakom, military personnel reportedly denied access to him. The reason for the detention, the legal basis for his deprivation of liberty, the authority that ordered the operation, and the duration and conditions of his detention remained unknown.
On 28 September 2026, LBH Kaki Abu in Sorong publicly condemned the alleged treatment and called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation stressing that any investigation of a civilian suspected of an offence or security-related activity must be conducted under applicable law and procedural safeguards. LBH Kaki Abu demanded clarification regarding Mr Wakom's detention, the grounds for his deprivation of liberty, and immediate access for lawyers and relatives.
Human rights analysis
The circumstances reported in the case raise concerns under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects everyone against arbitrary arrest and detention. A deprivation of liberty must have a lawful basis and be accompanied by procedural safeguards. The reported detention of Mr Wakom inside a military post, without publicly disclosed grounds and with his family allegedly unable to ascertain his condition, therefore requires urgent clarification by Indonesian authorities. The fact that the alleged detention was carried out by Marine personnel also raises questions regarding the legal authority under which military personnel deprived a civilian of liberty. Indonesian criminal procedure assigns arrest powers in ordinary criminal investigations to legally authorised investigators and requires statutory procedures to be followed.
The allegations of physical violence engage the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including under Article 7 ICCPR and the UN Convention against Torture (CAT). Violence against a person in custody may constitute prohibited ill-treatment and must be investigated. The victim should therefore receive prompt access to an independent medical examination capable of documenting possible injuries and other evidence of ill-treatment.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-140-2026
Location: Wakom Village, Aifat Timur District, Maybrat Regency
Region: Indonesia > Southwest Papua > Maybrat > East Aifat
Total number of victims: 1
1. Wilem Wakom, male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention, torture
Period of incident: 26/09/2026-26/09/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces > Indonesian Military (TNI) > Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence
Sources: Satukan Indonesia, Jubi, Suara Papua