Jayapura, Jubi – Four civilians in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, have reportedly been killed in separate shooting incidents over the past week, including an unborn child. The incidents occurred between June 29 and July 2, 2026.
A Jubi source in Intan Jaya, Marten Weya, identified the victims as shepherd Elianus Agimbau, young man Okto Tigau, and Melkiana Duwitau, who was seven months pregnant.
Duwitau and her unborn child were killed after she was struck by gunfire while inside her home in Sugapa, the capital of Intan Jaya Regency, on Thursday (July 2).
“Over the past week, non-organic Indonesian military personnel in Intan Jaya have allegedly killed four civilians. One of them was an unborn child who died in the womb,” Weya told Jubi in a voice message on Friday (July 3).
According to Weya, the series of deadly incidents sparked growing public anger in Intan Jaya, culminating in widespread protests following the deaths of Duwitau and her unborn child.
Thousands of residents, joined by students and university students, staged a protest on Friday, calling on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the shootings.
“We, the people of Intan Jaya, demand that this case be fully investigated and resolved immediately,” Weya said.
Protesters carried the bodies of Duwitau and her unborn child—who was delivered during emergency surgery at Intan Jaya Regional General Hospital (RSUD)—to the Sugapa football field on Friday afternoon before taking them to the family home in Wandoga Village, Sugapa District.
Weya, who served as the protest’s field coordinator, said residents, school students, and university students demanded that those responsible for the shootings be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The demonstrators also urged the Intan Jaya Regency Government to facilitate an independent investigation into what they alleged were human rights violations.
They further called on the local administration to arrange direct talks involving students and other community representatives with Indonesia’s Minister of Defence and President regarding what they described as a military emergency in Intan Jaya.
Weya said that if alleged human rights violations and shootings of civilians continue, residents would demand that Intan Jaya Regency be administratively reintegrated into Paniai Regency, from which it was originally carved out.
A university student in Intan Jaya, Yance Pogau, said Duwitau was taken to Intan Jaya Regional General Hospital after she was shot.
Medical staff performed emergency surgery to deliver the baby in an attempt to save its life. However, the fetus had already died in the womb. (*)
