New Zealand Pilot Shot Dead in Papua as Rebel Gunmen Incinerate Helicopter
A 50-year-old New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot dead in an incident in Indonesia’s Papua region by members of the rebel Free Papua Movement shortly after he had just landed his helicopter in the remote village of Alama. The incident happened on 5th August, 2024. Helicopter operated by PT Intan Angkasa Air Service carried four passengers, which includes two health workers, a baby, and a child from Moses Kilangin Timika airport.
Tragic Incident
Well, the Indonesian police have said that the OPM militants not only killed Conning but also briefly held the passengers of the helicopter hostage. The rebels set the helicopter on fire after the attack. This is an escalation of the grim situation that has been going on in that region.
Details of Attack
Brigadier General of the National Police Faizal Ramadhani, the commander of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force 2024, corroborated the details of the attack in a statement to local media. “There was a hostage-taking and murder conducted by the OPM against Glen Malcolm Conning, a helicopter pilot who worked for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service,” Ramadhani said.
Local media, however, said the passengers on board were later released unharmed. The incident has again sparked very serious concerns over the safety of foreign nationals and increasing violence from separatist groups in Papua.
The Indonesian armed forces and national police have launched a massive search to find the rebels involved in Conning’s murder and the attack on the helicopter. Members of the joint security force are aggressively pursuing the members of the OPM, known to be violent in their ways for the separatist struggle for independence in the region.
A History of Bloodshed in Papua
This is not an isolated tragedy; Papua has a history of violence and disturbances associated with its complex political situation. The region was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 following a UN-sponsored ballot that has since been roundly condemned as a sham. Since then, various separatist groups, of which the OPM is one, have waged a low-level insurgency for independence for Papua, a resource-rich area they feel has been drained by Jakarta.
The OPM has a record of victimizing foreign nationals, especially those in the aviation industry. As recently as February 2023, a Susi Air plane was burned in Nduga Regency, and its pilot, Captain Philip Mark Merthens of New Zealand, was taken hostage. He is still missing up to today, with negotiations still going on over his release, an incident that had raised concerns about the safety of pilots and crew flying in this troubled region.
In yet another incident in 2020, gunmen attacked seven employees of PT Freeport Indonesia, including a New Zealand miner named Graeme Thomas Wall, in Tembagapura mining town. Wall was shot and later succumbed to his injuries, thus pointing out how dangerous it had become to work in Papua.
International Reaction and Security Concerns
The death of Glen Malcolm Conning has shocked and disturbed the international community, New Zealand authorities, and human rights groups. The New Zealand government has expressed its condolences over the event and is closely monitoring the situation developing in Papua. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has sought an audience with Indonesian authorities over the issue concerning the safety of its citizens there.
Again, this brings in broader questions about security for foreign workers in Papua. Many organizations and individuals who operate in the area are now reviewing their security protocols in light of increasing violence.
The Way Forward: A Call to Peace
A crackdown on the OPM rebels alone is not going to end as long as the Indonesian government and the international community fail to address the root causes of the conflict in Papua. Unrest and violence will have fertile ground because of the combination between rich natural resources of the region and a history of marginalization.
There is an instant need to open up a dialogue with separatist groups and try to find a peaceful resolution of the long-standing grievances of the Papuan people. The international community, too, should participate and facilitate in such discussion that leads towards lasting peace in the region.
Conclusion: Grim Reminder
It should be recalled that Glen Malcolm Conning died in a place where two of the critical elements for conflict the short fuse and the ready gun have persisted. This was in Papua, where grievances from history and independence hopes have fanned flames of violence. In responding to the killing of this journalist, all parties need to do their best to defuse tensions and create an atmosphere conducive to peace and reconciliation. The international community should be alarmist in supporting efforts to ensure the safety and protection of all persons within the region, including foreigners.
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