TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A military officer approached Liborius Kodai Moiwend and Kanisius Dagil as they sat in the waiting area of Wanam Airport in Wogekel village, Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency, South Papua. On that Wednesday afternoon, June 3, 2026, the brothers were waiting for a pioneer flight to Merauke. “He (the soldier) asked about our destination,” Liborius said.
The two men did not answer immediately. Only when passengers were about to board the aircraft did Liborius bid farewell to the man, whom residents commonly referred to as Commander Mandala. “I told him I was going to take care of matters related to my youngest child, who is in college,” Liborius said.
Liborius is the head of the Moiwend clan. The 59-year-old is the younger brother of Yasinta Moiwend—whose identity card lists her name as Sinta Gebze Moiwend—one of the leading indigenous activists opposing the national strategic project (PSN) to build access roads supporting the government’s rice field development program in South Papua.
In fact, Yasinta was the reason Liborius and Kanisius had traveled to the regency capital. The family had been unable to locate the 62-year-old woman since Sunday, May 24, 2026.
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