Jayapura, Jubi – An 18-year-old girl from Wunambunggu Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Highland Papua, identified as Pendite Weya, was reportedly killed after an object suspected to be a landmine exploded on Saturday, June 6.

A Jubi source in Wunambunggu Village said Weya stepped on the suspected explosive device while returning home after gathering wild coconuts with other residents during the current harvest season.

“On her way home, Pendite Weya unknowingly stepped on a bomb allegedly planted by Indonesian Military personnel (TNI). The explosion killed her instantly. Her right arm was severed, while her left arm, face, and other parts of her body suffered injuries from the blast fragments,” the source told Jubi by phone on Friday.

According to the source, non-organic TNI personnel conducted security sweeps in several villages in Melagi District in 2025 and reportedly dropped bombs from helicopters during those operations.

Local residents therefore suspect that the explosive device stepped on by the victim had been buried underground by TNI personnel. They noted that Melagi District is inhabited solely by civilians and that no members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) operate in the area.

Meanwhile, Melagi District Head Arinius Kiwo said that based on information from the victim’s family and witnesses, Pendite Weya had gone into the forest with more than a dozen other residents to collect wild coconuts on the day of the incident.

The group later spread out to different locations in the forest before gathering their harvest at an open area.

“They roasted the wild coconuts and divided the harvest there. Before returning home, the girl went looking for some rope nearby to bundle the coconuts. While searching for rope, she walked through the area and suddenly the object exploded. She was thrown by the blast and died instantly,” Kiwo told Jubi by phone on Thursday.

According to Kiwo, several people who were collecting wild coconuts fled the scene in fear after the explosion.

“After they returned home, they only told others about the incident later that night. The following morning, on Sunday, June 7, community members went to retrieve the body,” he said.

Hernison Kogoya, Chair of the Lanny Jaya Development Care Forum (FPP-LJ), urged the Lanny Jaya Regency Government and the Lanny Jaya Regency Legislative Council (DPRK) to establish an investigation team to determine the circumstances surrounding Weya’s death.

He said the incident should not be treated as an ordinary occurrence because it concerns a serious humanitarian issue.

“This is the first time in Lanny Jaya that a civilian has become a victim without any attack or exchange of gunfire taking place. An investigation is necessary to determine who owned the explosive device,” Kogoya said in a voice recording sent to Jubi. (*)