On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Today, on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Merdeka West Papua Support Network stands firmly with West Papuans who have endured the horrors of torture and human rights violations at the hands of the Indonesian military (TNI), police, and special forces.

Decades of systemic violence, torture, mutilation, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings have left deep wounds that demand global attention and justice.

Indonesian military personnel torturing a Papuan man in a barrel was caught in video and circulated in the internet.

Zero Justice

One of the most harrowing incidents is the Gome (Omukia) torture scandal on February 3, 2024, where Defianus, 19, Alianus, 21, and Warinus, 20, were beaten with bayonets, doused with water, and slashed while bound in a barrel, and subjected to racial slurs by soldiers of Raider Battalion 300 Brajawijaya. The 20-year-old was dragged to his death; while the others survived but suffered lasting trauma.

13 TNI soldiers were named as suspects by the police in March 2024. While military authorities acknowledged the abuse and even issued apologies, no transparent trial has taken place, and no conviction has been made public.

In February 2023, two brothers, Albertus and Daniel Kaize, were tortured inside a Merauke naval post. Albertus succumbed to his injuries a day later after being beaten and possibly executed, according to eyewitnesses.

Human Rights Monitor reported about Abner Karet, died on 16 February after being tortured by the Indonesian military in Sorong following a personal dispute.

In February 2025, 23‑year‑old Abner Karet was detained by approximately 40 TNI personnel in Sorong.

After Abner Karet died from torture injuries in February 2025, seven TNI soldiers were investigated, and the military publicly apologized while offering compensation to his family.

However, even with mounting public pressure, no criminal trial or conviction has been reported yet—the legal process remains ongoing, with no verdict in sight.

Nduga Regency is one of the regencies in the Indonesian province of Highland Papua.

Earlier, in April 2023, Guardian Australia documented that Indonesian soldiers burned alive and tortured a 17‑year‑old boy, Wity Unue, along with other youths in Nduga, using heated machetes and knives.

In 2010, military forces tortured farmers Tunaliwor Kiwo and Telangga Gire Kiwo. They had his genitals burned, sustained beatings with helmets, suffocation, and crushing of toes, while Gire faced threats with a knife. The same year saw others tortured with plastic bags, pliers, chilli rubbed into wounds, and threats to family safety.

Historical atrocities remain unpunished. The Biak Massacre of 1998 saw 40–150 civilians killed, including cases of rape and murder of children, with zero justice to date.

"Deeply Regrettable"

The Indonesian Embassy in Wellington described the incident as “deeply regrettable”, affirmed the nation’s “strict policy of zero impunity for misconducts by security forces, referring to the the Gome (Omukia) torture scandal.

TNI commander Major General Izak Pangemanan publicly apologized, labeling the soldiers involved as “rogue” and promised they would “not be exempted; everyone will be punished in accordance with existing laws.”

But none of these brutal torture cases has produced serious legal accountability. Perpetrators remain largely unpunished, and trials have not met international standards for justice.

Seemingly defensive and elusive to the West Papua issue, the Indonesian government’s communications always emphasize their commitment to upholding human rights standards and refuse to allow impunity.

In reply to UN Special Procedures dated August 9, 2023, Indonesian officials defended against claims of widespread violations in West Papua, saying that allegations are “unbalanced,” and based on unreliable data.

Collective Torture

When entire Indigenous Peoples communities are subjected to village raids, mass arrests, public beatings, and the use of torture to extract confessions or punish activism for human rights and the right to self-determination, it's a collective torture tantamount to genocide and crimes against humanity.

The brazen impunity reflects the systemic and state-sponsored terrorism, silencing, or erasing of an entire community, which is exposed to violence, helplessness and trauma day by day.

Torture against West Papuans is fascism. It is an unacceptable and barbaric, a state-led oppression to suppress dissent, intimidate resistance, and punish perceived enemies by perpetuating impunity, fear, and authoritarianism.

West Papuans, as peoples, deserve freedom from psychological intimidation, sexual violence and humiliation, destruction of culture, and collective punishment. Their fight for self-determination is legitimate under a repressive and brutal subjugation.

Freedom of West Papuans end the historical and systematic injustice.

Thus, we enjoin all to honor the victims of torture and never stop demanding justice.

Demand transparent, independent investigations into these torture cases!

Ensure perpetrators, military and officials are tried in civilian courts!

Lift access restrictions in West Papua to allow impartial ad independent observers, journalists, and UN experts!

Give survivors just reparations, medical care, psychosocial aid, and legal representation!

Papua, merdeka!