Jayapura — A teenage shooting victim in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, has alleged she was shot by personnel of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, according to the Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission.
Frits Ramandey, head of the commission’s Papua office, said the account was given directly by Anite Telenggen (17), who is six months pregnant, when she was visited by a monitoring team.
Anite sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jayapura.
“The victim, a six-month pregnant woman with a gunshot wound to the neck, told our team she was shot in Kembru Village, Kembru District, in front of a honai. She said she saw TNI personnel carrying weapons and wearing camouflage uniforms,” Ramandey said in a written statement on Saturday (April 18, 2026).
According to Ramandey, Anite also reported hearing aircraft overhead and bursts of gunfire before the incident. She said that afterward, a TNI member approached her inside the honai and asked to take her photograph for reporting purposes.
Anite was later evacuated by the Indonesian Red Cross from Puncak Jaya Regency on April 15 and taken to Mulia Regional General Hospital along with other victims for treatment.
The incident follows reports that at least nine civilians were killed and several others injured during a military operation in multiple villages in Kembru District on April 14.
Ramandey said the commission has received complaints over a series of violent incidents in Pogoma and Kembru districts between April 14 and 15 that resulted in casualties and injuries.
He added that the Papua office is coordinating with the commission’s headquarters in Jakarta to respond to the allegations.
“In the initial stage, we are coordinating case handling with victims, local authorities in Puncak Regency, and the Central Papua provincial government,” he said.
Preliminary findings indicate there was an exchange of fire between the West Papua National Liberation Army and a TNI task force in Pogoma on April 13. The military later carried out follow-up operations in Pogoma and Kembru Village on April 14, resulting in further casualties.
However, Ramandey said the joint team has not yet been able to confirm whether there were fatalities among civilians, TPNPB members, or TNI personnel during the April 13 firefight.
“The team has so far only confirmed injured victims currently being treated at Mulia Hospital,” he said.
Ramandey called on the TNI commander to clarify the deployment of the Rajawali Task Force and the 600 Border Security Task Force in Puncak, including the reported use of weapons from helicopters and drones targeting civilian areas in Pogoma and Kembru.
He also urged the military to improve preparation and provide adequate training for personnel assigned to Papua.
Ramandey added that the commission appreciates the Central Papua administration, led by Governor Meki Nawipa, for visiting injured victims at Mulia Hospital and establishing a joint team to search for other victims in Pogoma and Kembru.
“The Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission also expressed its appreciation to the Central Papua regional leadership forum, led by Governor Meki Nawipa, for visiting injured victims receiving treatment at Mulia Regional General Hospital and for establishing a joint team to search for other victims in Pogoma and Kembru,” Ramandey said. (*)
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