Indonesia: Armed insurgents briefly detained foreign national at Wangbe Airstrip in Puncak, Papua, March 12

Event

Belated reports indicate that around 30 armed insurgents briefly detained a New Zealander pilot and three local passengers aboard a plane at Wangbe Airstrip in Wangbe District, Puncak Regency, Papua Province, the morning of March 12. The aircraft had flown from Timika's Mozes Kilangin Airport (TIM) to Wangbe. Reports suggest the assailants detained the victims immediately after the plane landed and released them after several hours following negotiations between the passengers and abductors; it is unclear whether the victims handed money to the rebels. The victims flew back to Timika unharmed.

Wangbe is around 98 km (61 miles) northeast of Timika.

Context

The rebels attributed the March 12 incident to a dispute with local officials over village development funds. Officials have denounced the incident and said that armed insurgents are not entitled to financial aid. The incident follows several clashes involving armed groups in Papua Province, including Intan Jaya and Puncak regencies, in recent months. Armed insurgents typically target Indonesian soldiers and police officers and workers and facilities of foreign-owned resource extraction companies, specifically PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), whose operations are centered on Mimika Regency, Papua Province. The incidents point to the continued tension between the Papuan people and Indonesian authorities. The Papuan people claim that the Indonesian central government racially discriminates Papuans and does not sufficiently develop the province's infrastructure. Further incidents may occur in the near term.