Amnesty International Demands Probe Into Deadly Drone Strike in Yahukimo

JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Amnesty International Indonesia has called for a swift and independent investigation into a suspected drone strike in Dekai City, Yahukimo Regency, in Indonesia’s Papua Pegunungan Province. The incident, which occurred on 25 November 2025, reportedly killed one civilian and injured another, prompting public outrage and renewed concerns over the escalating conflict in the region.

Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an act of brutality that further demonstrates the vulnerability of civilians amid ongoing clashes between Indonesian security forces and armed groups in Papua. He emphasized that state authorities have repeatedly failed to take adequate measures to protect non-combatants.

According to initial media reports, the drone strike destroyed a civilian home in Dekai, killing a student from SMK Negeri 2 Dekai who had been asleep when the explosion occurred. Another resident sustained injuries from the blast, raising alarm over the indiscriminate nature of the attack.

Hamid stressed that the use of armed drones resulting in civilian casualties constitutes a violation of international law. He noted that international humanitarian law requires all parties in an armed conflict to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants and prohibits indiscriminate attacks.

Amnesty International urged Indonesian authorities, including the national police, to conduct a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation into the deadly incident. The organization also called for the immediate establishment of a fact-finding team to uncover the circumstances of the strike.

As part of this investigation, police are being pressed to publicly identify the owner or operator of the drone responsible for the attack. Questions remain about whether the strike was carried out by state forces or by non-state armed actors operating in the region.