9-8-2024 (JAKARTA) The recent killing of a New Zealand helicopter pilot in Central Papua has prompted human rights organisation Amnesty International Indonesia to demand a thorough investigation into the incident. Glen Malcolm Conning, who was working for air cargo transportation company PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, was allegedly shot dead by armed rebels on Monday after landing at an airstrip in Alama district.
Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty Indonesia, condemned the attack as “a grave breach of humanitarian international laws” and called for swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice. “It is imperative that those responsible for the unlawful killing are held accountable and that measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future,” Hamid stated on Wednesday.
The incident occurred when Conning’s helicopter, which had departed from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika, landed carrying four health workers and two children. All passengers survived the attack, according to local authorities.
In response to the tragedy, four teams from the Operation Cartenz Peace task force, comprising police and military personnel, have been deployed to hunt down the armed rebels responsible for the attack. Adj Sr Comr Bayu Suseno, spokesperson for the Cartenz task force, affirmed their commitment to bringing justice to the victim and his family.
This latest incident adds to the growing list of violent encounters in the region. Amnesty International has recorded at least five shootings targeting civilian aircraft, allegedly carried out by armed separatist groups in Papua, between February and August 2 of this year. The organisation has also documented 130 alleged incidents of unlawful killings by either security forces or armed groups since January 2018.
The attack on Conning comes less than two years after another New Zealand pilot, Phillip Mehrtens, was abducted by a faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the neighbouring province of Papua Highlands. Mehrtens remains in captivity.
While TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom could not immediately confirm the group’s involvement in Monday’s killing, he stated that the aircraft had entered a prohibited area.
The ongoing conflict in Papua, which has simmered for decades, has seen a significant escalation since 2018. Pro-independence armed groups have intensified their attacks, leading to increased tensions in the region. Despite its rich mineral deposits, Papua remains one of the most impoverished areas in Indonesia.
Amnesty’s Usman has urged all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from targeting civilians, emphasising that such actions are unacceptable under any circumstances. The Indonesian government, which has faced accusations of human rights violations due to its security-focused approach, claims to be shifting towards a strategy prioritising development and welfare in the region.
