Indonesia: Plane arson incident occurred in Intan Jaya, Papua, Jan. 6

Event

Reports indicate that unknown men torched a foreign humanitarian organization's plane in Pagamba Village, Biandoga District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province, the morning of Jan. 6. The plane had landed at an airstrip in the village when the assailants ordered the pilot, who is reportedly an American national, and passengers to alight before burning the plane. Reports indicate that the incident did not result in any injuries. Authorities attributed the attack to armed groups operating in the area.

The incident site is around 100 km (62 miles) north-northwest of Timika.

Context

Unknown armed men had also shot at a commercial helicopter hired by a mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), in Tsinga, Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Jan. 6; the incident did not cause any casualties. It is unclear whether the two incidents involved the same armed groups. Armed organizations are active in Papua and West Papua provinces, including in Intan Jaya and Mimika regencies, pointing to the continued tension between the Papuan people and Indonesian authorities. Reasons for the tension include the Papuan peoples' claims that the Indonesian central government racially discriminates against Papuans, that it does not sufficiently develop the provinces' infrastructure, and that it is working with international corporations to exploit resources without benefiting the locals. The armed groups typically target Indonesian soldiers and police officers, as well as workers and facilities of PTFI.