Gunfire in Intan Jaya: Four OPM Members Killed, TNI Seizes SS2 V1 and Trijicon

Four people suspected of belonging to the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) Kodap VIII/Intan Jaya were killed after a firefight with personnel from the TNI Habema Joint Operations Task Force in Balamai Atas village, Hitadipa district, Central Papua, on Friday (25/9). The incident adds to the long list of armed contacts in Papua's central highlands that have so far shown no sign of easing.

According to the commander of TNI Habema, Brig. Gen. Riyanto, the operation began with an intelligence report on the presence of an armed group led by Daniel Aibon Kogoya in the area. Personnel from Yonif 315/Garuda and the Taipur Team were then deployed to secure the area. "Personnel carried out checks and monitoring carefully to ascertain the situation and prevent threats to the public," Riyanto said in a written statement on Friday.

It was during that security operation that the firefight broke out. Based on initial field reports, two members of the armed group were found dead near the scene, while two others were reported to have fallen into a ravine during the exchange of fire. As of this report, there has been no official confirmation of the identities of the four victims or of further evacuation efforts at the site.

From the scene, authorities secured a number of items of evidence which, according to initial identification, included one SS2 V1 rifle, one long-barreled firearm equipped with a Trijicon sight, 50 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, one SS2 V1 magazine, communication equipment, mobile phones, and a number of other field supplies. All the items are now being held for further investigation in accordance with applicable regulations.

"Firmness against threats and protection of the public must go hand in hand. Every action by a soldier must be measured, selective, professional, and continue to respect humanitarian values," Riyanto said.

Riyanto stressed that the ultimate goal of the operation was not merely to address security disturbances, but to create a safe space so that residents could go about their lives in peace. He also urged members of the armed group still in the forests and mountains to abandon violence and return to their families and communities. "To our brothers and sisters still outside the village, the road back is always open," he said.

The incident in Hitadipa is not the first in the Intan Jaya area. Districts in Papua's central highlands have often been flashpoints between security forces and armed groups demanding secession. The hilly geography and limited access make security operations complicated, while also hampering independent verification of every field report.

For Indonesia, the escalation in Central Papua has direct implications for stability in the eastern region. The government continues to push infrastructure development and welfare programs in Papua, but security tensions risk hampering investment, residents' mobility, and the distribution of basic services such as health and education. A security approach resting on force alone is often judged insufficient without addressing the socio-economic root causes.

Going forward, the big question is whether the pattern of armed contacts such as in Hitadipa will keep recurring, or instead become a turning point toward more serious dialogue. Without comprehensive steps combining law enforcement, civilian protection, and inclusive development, the safe space envisioned for Papua will remain difficult to realize.