On 23 October 2026, joint security force personnel, reportedly belonging to the Rajawali VI Task Force, shot dead two indigenous Papuans and injured another in the Yosoma Village, Kenyam District, Nduga Regency, Papua Highlands Province. Local sources identified the deceased as Mr Masut Serera, 25, and Mr Helkia Kerebea, 16 (see photo on top: source: independent HRD). The injured survivor Mr Kambara Kerebea, 18, sustained a bullet wound to the right arm. The incident raises serious concerns about the potentially unlawful use of lethal force against civilians.
The operation reportedly involved military drone surveillance followed by a ground operation in a residential area. While military authorities claimed that soldiers had encountered armed members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), a leaked internal police report acknowledged that two civilians were shot dead and subsequently concluded that neither deceased victim was a member of an armed group or listed as a wanted person. Human rights defenders also reported that six other persons, including a woman and a child, were arbitrarily detained during the operation. Their identities, legal status and whereabouts have not been independently confirmed.
According to a report attributed to the Nduga District Police Criminal Investigation Unit, personnel from the Rajawali VI Task Force conducted a drone patrol over Yosoma Village at approximately 09:15 am on 23 October 2026. Soldiers reportedly observed an unidentified individual carrying what appeared to be a long-barrelled firearm and subsequently launched a ground operation to conduct an arrest. When the individual allegedly fled, military personnel opened fire, striking two civilians. The victims were taken to Military District Command 1706/Nduga (Kodim 1706), where police investigators arrived at approximately 2:41 pm to collect fingerprints and preliminary evidence (see photos below, source: independent HRD).
Accounts from local residents differ substantially. According to a witness testimony, three civilians were preparing food and drinking coffee at a residence when military personnel approached in a vehicle at about 10:00 am. Frightened by the sudden arrival of soldiers, the men reportedly fled towards a nearby garden. Soldiers allegedly opened fire, killing two and injuring a third. The survivor denied carrying firearms or participating in armed activities. The police report documented severe injuries to the head, torso, buttocks and hands of one deceased victim and to the chest and back of the other (see photos below, source: independent HRD).
On 24 October 2026, the Habema Joint Operations Command claimed that its personnel had exchanged fire with suspected members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) near Nonggoloit Village, Kenyam District. Military authorities reported recovering air rifles, traditional weapons, communications equipment and approximately IDR 88 million in cash. However, the internal police report did not describe an exchange of gunfire and stated that the deceased were neither members of an armed criminal group nor wanted persons.
On 26 October 2026, the Papua Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity (YKKMP), working with PAHAM Papua, reported visiting the injured survivor, Mr Kambara Kerebea, at Timika General Hospital. Humanitarian representatives confirmed that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm and was scheduled to undergo surgery on 27 October 2026. Separately, initial reports alleged that six civilians had been apprehended following the shooting, while the police document referred to five witnesses questioned at the Nduga District Police Headquarters. It remains unclear whether these accounts concern the same individuals.
Public protest and reactions from civil society and authorities
On 24 October 2026, hundreds of residents, including relatives, students, church representatives and community leaders gathered in Kenyam to protest the killings. The demonstration began at approximately 06:40 am at the Kenyam Cross Roundabout before participants marched to the Kenyam Community Health Centre to collect the victims' bodies. At approximately 10:00 am, demonstrators brought the bodies to the Nduga District Police Headquarters, demanding an independent investigation and criminal accountability. Family representatives rejected allegations that the deceased belonged to any armed organisation and reportedly requested forensic examinations. According to local human rights defenders, their request was not accommodated. The bodies were subsequently returned to the families and cremated in Yosoma Village at approximately 6:00 pm in accordance with local customary practices (see video below, source: independent HRD).
The demonstration was attended by the Regent and Secretary of Nduga Regency, alongside other local government representatives (see video below, source: independent HRD). Protesters demanded the identification and prosecution of the soldiers responsible, the withdrawal of non-organic military personnel from Nduga Regency and measures to prevent further violence against civilians. They also called on the local administration and the Nduga Regency Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) to oversee the investigation until accountability was established.
Civil society and religious organisations condemned the shootings. The Department of Justice and Peace of the Kemah Injil Church (KINGMI) in Papua called on President Prabowo Subianto, the TNI leadership, the National Police and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to ensure an independent and transparent investigation. YKKMP and PAHAM Papua began documenting the incident and providing humanitarian assistance to the injured survivor.
The Habema Joint Operations Commander, Brigadier General Riyanto, expressed regret over the fatalities but maintained that military personnel had acted professionally and proportionately during an alleged armed confrontation.
Human rights analysis
The incident raises serious concerns regarding the right to life under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Articles 28A and 28I(1) of the Indonesian Constitution. Under international human rights standards governing law enforcement operations, intentional lethal force is permissible only when strictly unavoidable to protect life against an imminent threat. The available accounts do not establish that the deceased posed such a threat when soldiers opened fire. The alleged possession of a firearm or flight from security personnel cannot, by itself, justify lethal force.
Given the ongoing armed conflict in West Papua, international humanitarian law may also be applicable if the operation had a sufficient nexus to a non-international armed conflict. Under customary international humanitarian law, civilians are protected against direct attack unless and for such time as they directly participate in hostilities. The possession of hunting equipment, traditional weapons or other civilian belongings does not sufficiently establish direct participation in hostilities. The conflicting descriptions of the incident, particularly the military's allegation of an exchange of fire and the police's acknowledgement that the deceased were not identified as members of an armed group, require careful scrutiny.
The deaths also trigger Indonesia's obligation to investigate potentially unlawful deprivation of life. Under the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016), investigations must be prompt, thorough, effective, independent, impartial and transparent. Investigators should preserve and examine the drone footage, operational orders, firearms and ammunition records, medical documentation and witness testimony. The reported cremation of the deceased makes the preservation of existing forensic and medical evidence particularly important.
Any unlawful deprivation of liberty would additionally engage Article 9 of the ICCPR, while the reported killing and detention of minors requires scrutiny under of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The authorities must ensure continued medical treatment for the injured survivor, protection of witnesses, access to information for the victims' families and effective remedies.
Detailed case data
Document ID: HRM-CAS-149-2026
Location: Kenyam, Nduga Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia (-4.6049794, 138.3863687) Yosoma Village
Region: Indonesia > Highland Papua > Nduga > Kenyam
Total number of victims: 4
1. Kambara Kerebea, diverse 18 Indigenous Peoples ill-treatment
2. Masut Serera, mixed 25 Indigenous Peoples right to life, unlawful killing
3. Helkia Kerebea, diverse 16 Indigenous Peoples right to life, unlawful killing
4. Mixed unknown Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 23/10/2026-23/10/2026
Perpetrator: Republic Indonesia > Indonesian Security Forces
Perpetrator details: joint security force personnel, reportedly belonging to the Rajawali VI Task Force
Issues: drones and cluster ammunition, indigenous peoples, security force violence, women and children