Yalimo, Papua Highlands — A joint TNI-Polri team successfully evacuated six personnel of the Indonesian Army’s Satgas Maleo Kopassus who were besieged behind the Maleo Post in Pirip Village, Elelim District, Yalimo Regency, on Tuesday afternoon (September 16, 2025). Three of the soldiers sustained serious injuries from arrows, stone attacks, and burns.
The evacuation began at 5:26 p.m. local time with the deployment of three six-wheeled vehicles and three four-wheeled vehicles. The operation was led by Police Inspector Second Class Abdul Azis of the Papua Police Mobile Brigade, supported by TNI personnel and Yalimo Police. Despite facing assaults from groups of rioters on multiple sides, the joint team managed to extract the personnel safely.
Head of Operation Peace Cartenz 2025, Brigadier General of Police Dr. Faizal Ramadhani, S.Sos., S.I.K., M.H., stated that by 6:16 p.m., all six soldiers had been evacuated to Yalimo Police Headquarters. “Three members with severe injuries — Sergeant Nando Manurung, Sergeant Kantum, and Second Lieutenant Infantry Supardi — have received intensive medical treatment at Er Dabi Hospital, Yalimo,” he explained.
The riot was triggered by a violent incident linked to alleged racism involving several students of SMA Negeri 1 Elelim. The clash escalated, forcing about 500 residents to seek refuge at Yalimo Police Headquarters. Dozens of buildings were destroyed by fire, including shops, government housing, district offices, and TNI-Polri facilities. Several vehicles were also burned.
Deputy Head of Operation, Chief Commissioner of Police Adarma Sinaga, S.I.K., M.Hum., confirmed that security forces also suffered casualties. “Some of our members were injured, including Police Brigadier Fitrah H. Naing who was hit in the face by a stone, Police Brigadier Muh Aksa Almuthadin struck by an arrow to the head, and an army soldier named Charles who sustained a wound to the back of his head,” he reported.
Civilian casualties were also recorded. A man named Nasir Daeng Mappa (44) and his son, Arsya Dafa (9), were reportedly burned to death inside a car. Another child, Atifa (10), sustained a slash wound to the neck, while a Papuan student, Sadrak Yohame, died of a gunshot wound.
Head of Public Relation of Operation Peace Cartenz 2025, Chief Commissioner of Police Yusuf Sutejo, S.I.K., M.T., emphasized that the situation in Yalimo remains under tight security. “As of Tuesday night, security forces continue to guard around the Elelim Police Post and Yalimo Police Headquarters. The city remains tense, with a blackout across the area, fires still uncontrolled, and evacuations of migrant residents hiding in houses and shops yet to be fully carried out,” he stated.
