New Zealand Pilot Killed in Ambush by Papua Separatists Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a tragic incident, separatists in Indonesia’s restive Papua region ambushed a helicopter and murdered its New Zealand pilot on Monday. The pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed after landing in Alama, a remote village in Central Papua province, according to Indonesian authorities. Conning worked for the Indonesian air cargo firm PT Intan Angkasa Air Service.

Military forces retrieve New Zealand pilot’s body in Papua: killed by Papuan terrorists #terrorism https://t.co/D4c4DZhR3r

— Phil Gurski (@borealissaves) August 6, 2024

“The helicopter carrying four passengers was ambushed upon arrival by the armed criminal group, resulting in the death of the pilot, Mr. Glen Malcolm Conning,” stated Faizal Ramadhani, a member of the Indonesian National Police who is in charge of the joint security peace force in Papua. The rebels allowed the four Indigenous passengers on the helicopter to go free.

Conning is believed to have been killed by the West Papua National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement. This incident follows the captivity of another New Zealand pilot, Philip Mark Mehrtens, who was taken by the Free Papua Movement in February 2023 and is still being held in the province of Highland Papua.

Conning’s body was retrieved on Tuesday in a search led by a joint task force of police and soldiers.

Background of the Papua Conflict
The Free Papua Movement seeks the independence of Papua from Indonesia. West Papua, which borders New Guinea, was formerly a Dutch colony that came under Indonesian control in 1969 after a UN-backed referendum known as the Act of Free Choice. This referendum was controversial, as the participants were selected by the Indonesian military.

Satgas Operasi Damai Cartenz 2024, #PaulusWaterpauw, and #MathiusDFakhiri are responsible for killing a New Zealand pilot to blackmailing the West Papuan guerrilla. Indonesian military killed a New Zealand pilot.https://t.co/fWbPGhApXL pic.twitter.com/vo7bUiGVSh

— Free West Papua (@HevalZenar) August 6, 2024

Supporters of West Papuan independence argue that the Indonesian government manipulated the Act of Free Choice referendum in its favor. The Indonesian government is accused of running a police state in the West Papua region and suppressing pro-independence sentiments.

Key Points:

• Separatists in Papua ambushed a helicopter and killed New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning.
• Conning worked for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service and was attacked upon landing in Alama.
• The West Papua National Liberation Army is believed to be responsible.
• Conning’s body was retrieved by a joint task force of police and soldiers.
• The Free Papua Movement seeks independence from Indonesia, claiming manipulation in the 1969 referendum.

Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News