Komnas HAM Reports Pregnant Woman Killed in Crossfire Between TNI and OPM

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has reported a tragic incident resulting from a firefight between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the armed separatist group TPNPB-OPM in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, last week. In a report published on Sunday, Komnas HAM revealed that Meliana Duwitau died along with her unborn child after being struck by a bullet during the exchange of fire.

Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah explained that based on reports, monitoring, and field checks, the firefight between the TNI and TPNPB-OPM occurred on Thursday night, Western Indonesia Time. The incident took place in Wandoga Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua.

“In this incident, a woman named Melkiana Duwitau, who was seven to eight months pregnant, died along with her unborn baby after being hit by a bullet while inside her own home,” Anis stated in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to her, Meliana Duwitau was a civilian who became a further victim of the never-ending escalation of violence in Papua. Anis said the incident is part of a series of violent events that have recently surged again in several areas of Papua.

Komnas HAM’s records show that over the past week, several other violent incidents involving the TNI’s Habema Command and the TPNPB-OPM armed group have recurred. “These include the deaths of a pastor and a foreign national pilot of a pioneer aircraft,” Anis said.

Komnas HAM also noted that the series of violent events resulted in the deaths of TNI soldiers and members of the OPM armed group. “The TNI stated that the shots that hit these victims came from the armed group. However, an independent verification process for this claim is not yet available to the public,” Anis said.

Regarding the incident that killed the American pilot, Komnas HAM received information that the event began with an OPM attack on the airline PT Associated Mission Aviation (AMA). The attack took place at Balinggama Pioneer Airport, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province, on Thursday.

During the attack, the armed group set fire to an AMA civilian passenger aircraft. “The attack and arson of the civilian airline are suspected to have been carried out by the TPNPB-OPM armed group from Yahukimo, led by Elkius Kobak,” Anis explained.