A civil servant named Yemis Yohame was fatally shot in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains Province, on April 21, 2026, shortly after Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s visit to the area. This tragic shooting has ignited widespread grief and outrage, leading to accusations against both the West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) and military forces. Eyewitnesses reported that Yemis Yohame died by the roadside while accessing the internet at a local kiosk. As his family tirelessly seeks justice for the perpetrator, the local community highlights the “repeated violence” endured by the people of Papua.
Gibran’s Official Visit to Yahukimo
On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Dekai City presented an unusual sight. Citizen activities were more orderly than usual, and security forces maintained a heightened presence. At approximately 12:26 PM WIT (Eastern Indonesia Time), a Boeing aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force touched down at Nop Goliat Airport in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency.
Emerging from the aircraft, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka was warmly greeted by the Deputy Governor of Papua Mountains, Ones Pahabol; Provincial Secretary Redison Manurung; and other key officials from Yahukimo’s Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda). This visit marked a successful endeavor after a similar plan two months prior had been canceled due to security concerns.
From the airport, Gibran proceeded directly to Anugerah Dekai Christian School. There, he observed the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) and distributed books to students. His itinerary continued with a visit to Dekai Regional General Hospital (RSUD). Engaging in dialogue with hospital management and specialist doctors, Gibran received firsthand accounts of the limited healthcare services available in Yahukimo. Local officials reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting specialist doctor education for Papua. The final engagement was a visit to the local Koramil (military district command) in Dekai City. As the afternoon waned, the presidential entourage departed from the city.
However, as the sun set and Dekai began to settle into its customary rhythm, a tragic incident unfolded.
A Sudden Gunshot Shatters the Evening Calm
At approximately 6:30 PM WIT on April 21, 2026, Yemis Yohame, a dedicated civil servant with the Yahukimo Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (Dinas PUPR), was unwinding. According to Yanto Suhuniap, an Angguruk resident who later assisted with Yemis’s mourning ceremonies, Yemis had just participated in a Women’s Organization Movement (GOW) event at Narema Futsal Field earlier that day. After returning home, bathing, and changing, he went out to access the internet.
At the kiosk, Yemis sat with two other individuals, all engrossed in their mobile phones, as Yanto recounted. “Suddenly, there was the sound of a gunshot,” Yanto described the harrowing initial moments. “Then, when the shot rang out, my brother [Yemis] was startled. He exclaimed, ‘Oh no, my headset exploded.’ After that, he removed his headset and, simultaneously, he fell backward. Beside him, the two people saw blood flowing.”
The kiosk owner rushed out to seek help and contacted an ambulance from the nearby Brasa Community Health Center (Puskesmas). Yemis was promptly evacuated to Dekai Regional General Hospital (RSUD). For about an hour, medical personnel valiantly attempted to save his life. However, at 9:00 PM WIT, Yemis Yohame was pronounced dead from his gunshot wound.
The devastating news spread rapidly, casting a pall of grief over his family’s home. Yemis Yohame was known as a calm and active individual, born in Erika, Anggruk District, on April 14, 1988. He was unmarried and had served as a civil servant for approximately six years. “Yemis Yohame was the best child, a child who never knew anger,” shared Orpa Yohame, the victim’s aunt, on Saturday (April 23). “He was a civil servant for only six years; God called him before he could serve longer.”
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The following day, April 22, 2026, the victim’s extended family, joined by six members of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRK) from Electoral District 5, nine district heads, and the Yali and Meek tribal chiefs, collectively visited the Yahukimo Police Resort. Yafet Saram, a Yahukimo DPRK member and Chairman of Commission B, confirmed that an official report had been filed. “We have reported this matter to the authorities,” Yafet stated, adding, “We also urge the Yahukimo Police Chief, through the Head of Intelligence and the [Resort Police] Head, to investigate and handle this case seriously, honestly, and justly.”
A Pattern of Recurring Violence in Yahukimo
A similar sentiment echoed from the youth community. Otniel Sobolim, Chairman of the Yahukimo Youth Solidarity, emphasized that this shooting is part of a disturbing pattern of recurring violence. “After Tobias Silak, Viktor Deyal, now Yemis Yohame,” he remarked, drawing a grim connection between recent fatalities. Viktor Bernadus Deyal, a Papuan man, died on September 3, an incident that sparked widespread anger among residents of Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains. Several police officers were allegedly involved in beating Viktor to death without legal justification.
A similar tragic event occurred in Yahukimo in August 2024, when a young man named Tobias Silak lost his life due to a gunshot wound to the head, allegedly fired by a police officer. Otniel cautioned families against hastily accepting a single narrative, stating, “Therefore, we should not immediately trust one party and then surrender this issue and believe in that.”
Otniel also commented on the nature of the weapon used. “Today’s murder was clearly carried out with a bullet, not a knife or another sharp object,” he pointed out. He further elaborated, “Those who are authorized to carry weapons are only official institutions and the organizations that oppose official institutions in armed conflict: the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), Polri (Indonesian National Police), and TPNPB-OPM.” This statement underscores the limited groups capable of such an act in the region.
Conflicting Narratives: Police Silence and TPNPB Denials
This assertion directly clashes with clarifications issued by the TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo Commander, Elkius Kobak, and Operations Commander, Kopitua Heluka. In a video statement, they vehemently denied any involvement of their forces. “We saw in the media that the shooting of brother Yemis Yohame was attributed to TPNPB, but we declare that information is a hoax,” Kopitua Heluka stated in a video received by BBC News Indonesia journalists. “As the operations commander, I have contacted several of my forces everywhere, and it is truly clear that this killing was not carried out by TPNPB.” He went further, accusing security forces of being the perpetrators, drawing parallels between this incident and previous shootings in the Yahukimo region.
In stark contrast, the Yahukimo Police Resort has yet to release any statement. Days after the incident, the Yahukimo Police Chief has not provided official information regarding the crime scene investigation results or witness examinations. Repeated attempts by journalists to obtain confirmation have proven fruitless, highlighting a lack of transparency.
As the legal process slowly unfolds, Yemis Yohame’s family laid his body to rest on April 23, 2026, in Dekai City. Amidst their profound grief, they remain steadfast in their desire for justice for Yemis. “We will continue to pray that we can find the person who committed this crime in Yahukimo Regency, especially the one who shot my child, Yemis Yohame, because my child was innocent,” expressed Orpa Yohame, holding onto hope for accountability.
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Summary
Yemis Yohame, a civil servant in Yahukimo Regency, Papua, was fatally shot on April 21, 2026, shortly after a visit by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The incident occurred while Yemis was using the internet at a local kiosk, leading to his death at a nearby hospital. This tragedy has sparked widespread public outrage and calls for justice from his family, who continue to seek accountability for the senseless killing of an innocent public servant.
The shooting remains a subject of intense controversy, as authorities have yet to issue an official report, and the TPNPB-OPM has denied any involvement in the act. Local community leaders and youth activists have labeled the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of recurring violence in the region, noting that responsibility lies with either state security forces or armed insurgent groups. As the investigation remains stalled, the family and local community continue to demand a transparent and just legal process to uncover the truth behind Yemis’s death.