Brutal, OPM Shoots Dead Woman in Intan Jaya

Intan Jaya – The violence carried out by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has again claimed lives. This time, an elderly woman with mental disorders, Mama Hertina, became the brutal target of the armed separatist group. She was shot dead without mercy in Dugusiga Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, simply because she was accused of being a TNI spy.

This heartbreaking incident has become a widespread spotlight because the victim was known as a civilian who was completely unarmed and living in a mentally limited condition. According to the Head of the TNI Information Center (Kapuspen), Major General Kristomei Sianturi, Mama Hertina was last seen alive on May 15, 2025, after fleeing to Mamba Bawah Village to avoid threats from armed groups. She was then reported missing from the refugee post, and residents suspected that she was trying to return to her home village in Jaindapa.

“It was on her way home that she was intercepted and executed by the OPM group led by Daniel Aibon Kogoya. They accused Mama Hertina of being a TNI intelligence officer, even though the victim was an elderly woman with mental disorders who often walked alone in the forest,” said Major General Kristomei.

Kristomei emphasized that there was no involvement of TNI soldiers in the incident. He said that the narrative blaming the authorities was just a hoax deliberately created by the OPM to build false opinions and divide relations between the community and the security forces.

“In fact, since May 15, the TNI has been withdrawn from Sugapa Lama Village at the request of the Regent and local community leaders. This incident was purely the result of the brutal actions of the armed separatist group,” he explained.

Mama Hertina’s body was buried according to traditional customs by local residents on the same day it was found. The TNI expressed its deepest condolences and called on the community not to be easily provoked by provocations or misleading information circulating on social media.

“We urge the public to be wiser and more vigilant against the slanderous narratives spread by separatist groups. This incident actually proves that the OPM does not hesitate to spread terror against anyone, even the most vulnerable civilians,” Kristomei emphasized.

He added that every attempt to divide the authorities and the Papuan people is a cunning strategy carried out by separatist groups to weaken public trust. The government and security forces, he continued, remain committed to maintaining the safety of citizens and encouraging a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Papua {}