On 17 July 2026, a security force operation in the KM 4 Logpon area of Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province, resulted in the reported deaths of two members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and one civilian named Mr Yafoluk Heluka, according to independent human rights documentation. Joint personnel from the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the Damai Cartenz Task Force conducted the raid at approximately 05.45 am following intelligence reports regarding the presence of TPNPB members.
Authorities stated that officers faced armed resistance and returned fire near civilian settlements. The exchange forced local residents to flee their homes out of fear of being shot or arrested. Following the operation, security forces reported seizing three firearms, 43 rounds of ammunition, bladed weapons, a radio, and several mobile phones. Four individuals identified by the initials OH, SM, MM, and LM were taken into custody for questioning, while the three bodies were transported to Dekai Regional General Hospital.
Conflicting Claims and Human Rights Frameworks
Discrepancies emerged regarding the casualties from the Yahukimo Regency operation. While independent human rights sources identified Mr Yafoluk Heluka as a civilian, information published by the Damai Cartenz Task Force Unit claimed that all three persons killed were associated with the TPNPB. This contradiction has generated urgent calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the case.
Under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Indonesian authorities hold a legal obligation to protect the right to life. Furthermore, the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death mandates thorough investigations into any potentially unlawful death involving state agents. Law enforcement operations permitting lethal force require that such measures be strictly unavoidable to protect life.
Investigation Requirements and Custodial Actions
Compliance with the Minnesota Protocol obliges authorities to preserve the incident scene, conduct independent forensic examinations and autopsies, document all injuries, examine the seized weapons, and disclose the identities and legal status of those detained. Following the incident, the bodies of the two TPNPB members and Mr Yafoluk Heluka were buried next to each other.
The incident adds to a documented pattern of security force violence in the region, which includes previous reported cases of joint security forces killing internally displaced persons, torturing activists, and conducting military drone attacks on civilian structures in Dekai.
Did You Know? The incident documented under Case ID HRM-CAS-105-2026 occurred at exact coordinates -4.8638158, 139.4837298 in the Logpon area of Dekai district, Highland Papua.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the security operation take place?
The operation occurred on 17 July 2026 at approximately 05.45 am in the KM 4 Logpon area of Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province.
Which security units were involved in the Dekai District raid?
Joint personnel from the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the Damai Cartenz Task Force conducted the operation.
What conflicting accounts exist regarding the casualties?
Independent human rights sources stated that one of the three deceased individuals was a civilian named Mr Yafoluk Heluka, whereas the Damai Cartenz Task Force Unit maintained that all three persons killed were associated with the TPNPB.
What steps might follow regarding the disputed civilian status of the victim and the detained individuals?
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