The Indonesian Military (TNI) reportedly arrested Mr Neos Bahabol, a 25-year-old Papuan motorcycle taxi driver, in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua Province. The arbitrary arrest, which took place on 9 October 2023, at a sand company mill in the town of Dekai. Unlike standard procedures, the TNI made the arrest without a warrant or providing an explanation for the arrest.

Mr Neos Bahabol was subsequently transferred to the Yahukimo police station for investigation, raising concerns about arbitrary arrests by the TNI. The incident is part of an alarming trend of extrajudicial arrests in Dekai, Yahukimo, by the TNI, Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) since 2021. These arrests have created fear and uncertainty among civilians, affecting their ability to engage in essential activities like farming, hunting, and fishing.

This situation not only violates basic human rights but also erodes trust between the security forces and civilians in Yahukimo