Dekai, Jubi – The Yahukimo Police in Papua Highlands released Kone Kobak, the International Diplomacy Chair of the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, for the Yahukimo region, on Wednesday (20/5/2026).

Kone Kobak was arrested by a joint team consisting of Marines, Brimob personnel, and police officers at his home in the Kali Merah area of Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo Regency, on Tuesday (19/5/2026).

Police released Kone Kobak after coordinating with KNPB Yahukimo officials. He had undergone questioning by investigators from the Yahukimo Police criminal investigation unit and was found not to have committed any offense.

“To all parties in the international community and across Papua, today, 20 May 2026, we welcome the release of Kone Kobak, Chair of Diplomacy for KNPB Yahukimo Region. We express our gratitude for all the support and prayers that have been answered,” said Nifal Enggalim, Chair of KNPB Yahukimo Region, to Jubi at the KNPB Yahukimo Secretariat on Wednesday (20/5/2026).

Nifal Enggalim said that prior to the arrest, Kone Kobak and other KNPB activists had been at the KNPB Yahukimo Secretariat. Brimob and Marine personnel allegedly came to the KNPB office and verbally intimidated them.

Several hours later, Kone Kobak returned home, where he was arrested by security personnel. He was taken to Yahukimo Police headquarters and allegedly subjected to abuse before being released.

According to Enggalim, Kone Kobak was freed after questioning showed he was not involved in acts of violence in the Yahukimo area.

He said that based on information provided by police during negotiations with KNPB Yahukimo representatives, authorities claimed Kone Kobak had been carrying a machete at the time. However, KNPB denied the allegation.

“Our struggle as KNPB across the homeland is a nonviolent struggle. It is a peaceful and dignified resistance that prioritizes humanitarian values. Therefore, we believe and state that what the police conveyed is not true,” he said.

He added that the arrest of activists advocating for human rights and democracy in Yahukimo had undermined Indonesian law and expressed hope that similar incidents would not happen again.

“KNPB Yahukimo Region will carry out peaceful resistance in the coming days. Peaceful resistance will continue because the red cloth has been raised on the asphalt [a reference to the KNPB flag], which means we will continue taking to the streets,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kone Kobak said he was arrested at his home.

“The Damai Cartenz Task Force team that has been patrolling Yahukimo entered [the house]. After entering, they conducted a search, and the result was that there was no suspicious evidence,” Kone Kobak said.

He said that when security personnel entered his home, he was ordered to raise his hands. However, Kobak said he was not worried because he felt innocent and did not resist.

After being arrested, Kone Kobak said he was taken to Yahukimo Police headquarters. Upon arrival, he was brought into an interrogation room.

“I was hit once on the cheek, then on my right ear. My hands were handcuffed, and one of my legs was tied. It did not stop there — I was hit four more times. My cheek and left eye still hurt, and my left eye was bleeding, but they cleaned it quickly. I was released today at 2:00 p.m. Papua time, Wednesday, 20 May 2026,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Yahukimo Police Chief had not provided any statement despite Jubi’s attempts to seek confirmation regarding the arrest and detention of the KNPB member. He said he was resting. (*)