A five-year-old boy and two adults have been wounded during an Indonesian military operation in West Papua’s Intan Jaya regency, Papua Tengah province, according to local human rights defenders.
The pre-dawn military sweep occurred on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, at approximately 4:00 AM across several villages in the Hitadipa District of Intan Jaya, Papua. Indonesian forces conducted operations in Ndugusiga Village, Jaindapa Village, and Old Sugapa Village.
During the operation, five-year-old Minus Yegeseni suffered a critical gunshot wound to his ear. A woman in her thirties, Jumite Zanambani, was shot in the hand and remains in a critical condition at her home.
The military operation reportedly triggered retaliatory action from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). A firefight between the two forces erupted around 7:00 AM and continued until the evening. Three TPNPB members were reportedly killed and others were wounded.
Independent human rights defenders on the ground report that six civilians have gone missing in Hatadipa District following the Indonesian military operation and have yet to be located. Young Minus Yegeseni was transported by family members from Hatadipa District, approximately 15km to Sugapa Regional Hospital in the early hours for emergency medical treatment. Meanwhile, Jumite Zanambani is receiving traditional medical care at the Hitadipa Classis House alongside other civilians injured during the operation.
The human rights defenders also reported that civilians from villages throughout Hitadipa District have fled to forests and to Sugapa city centre seeking safety following the dawn military operation. Exchanges of gunfire reportedly continued into the night, though the number of civilian casualties and losses on both sides remains currently unknown.
