Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – In a press release on Wednesday August 7, West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) national spokesperson Sebby Sambom said that three days after the fatal shooting of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcom Conning on Monday August 5, there has still been no confirmation reported to the TPNPB-OPM National Command by the TPNPB operating in the area.
"Therefore, an independent investigation is needed, because we suspect that this is part of a scenario to obstruct the mission to release the pilot from New Zealand [Philip Mark Mehrtens], with the aim of thwarting the good intentions of Ndugama Derakma Défense Command Area III TPNPB commander Brigadier General Egianus Kogoya and his troops", said Sambom.
The TPNPB-OPM spokesman conveyed a number of things that he said were suspicious about the shooting. Among other things, it occurred shortly after the TPNPB National Commission Headquarters management announced that it plans to release Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens from New Zealand who was taken hostage by the TPNPB in February last year.
Then, Sambom accused the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian Police (Polri) of carrying out a public deception by claiming that Conning's body was burnt along with his helicopter.
"They said the corpse of the helicopter pilot from New Zealand was burned along with the helicopter, but in these photos the body and helicopter are still intact, meaning that the TNI-Polri is conducting a massive public deception, and we are suspicious that the murder of the helicopter pilot from New Zealand was planned by the Indonesian military and police themselves", said Sambom in the press release.
Another reason cited by Sambom was a separate incident that occurred four years ago. The TPNPB, he said, had the experience of the shooting of employees from the PT Freeport gold and copper mine in Kuala Kencana in 2020, in which New Zealand national Graeme Thomas Wall was also shot dead. The TNI claimed the perpetrators were the TPNPB. "But later on we found out that it was planned by the Indonesian military", he said.
"We believe that the Indonesian military collaborated with a cultivated TPNPB [group], they attacked the Freeport employees in Kuala Kencana on March 30, 2020, then the cultivated TPNPB member, the TNI killed him in Timika city, because the Indonesian military was concerned that he was a witness to the scenario", he said.
The TPNPB's Papua Intelligence Service (PIS), said Sambom, reported this to the management of the TPNPB National Committee Headquarters three years later.
"So from this experience, we suspect that the murder of helicopter pilot from New Zealand is part of an Indonesian military and police scenario", said Sambom.
In the press release Sambom also criticised Indonesian mainstream media reports which according to Sambom largely report fake news.
"Why? Because almost all the media in Indonesia reported that the pilot had been taken hostage, then killed and burned along with the helicopter, but the fact is that we see in the photographs we received from the TPNPB PIS, it shows that the corpse of the pilot is still intact and the helicopter is also not burnt", he said.
According to Sambom, the cases are almost identical. The two victims are both New Zealand nationals and also both Freeport employees. "Therefore, an independent investigation is needed and we are waiting for the legal facts", he said.
Jubi.id contacted the head of the public relations division from the joint military and police Cartenz Pease Operations Taskforce, Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno via WhatsApp message on Wednesday afternoon.
Suseno responded briefly saying, "That's KKB [Armed Criminal Group] propaganda. Yesterday [they said they] killed the pilot because he was a spy, now they're saying something different. That's the propaganda of the perpetrators", he said.
Independent investigation needed
Papua Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Coordinator Sem Awom is also calling for a full investigation into Conning's killing. According to Awom, this must be done through an independent investigation involving Indonesia and New Zealand.
"Because this is not just a shooting, then they die. It cannot be that the [joint military and police] Nemangkawi Task Force claims it was carried out by the TPNPB and the TPNPB claims the shooting was carried out by the TNI-Polri, there must be an investigation", he told Jubi.id.
Awom said that it is necessary to involve trusted state institutions, such as the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and non-government organisations (NGOs) in Papua and Jakarta in order to conduct a thorough investigation.
"We ask that church institutions must also be involved in conducting an thorough and complete investigation", he said.
According to Awom, not conducting an investigation could have a negative impact on civilians in Timika. "It's enough already, 60 thousand refugees in the land of Papua. If there is no comprehensive investigation and the security forces are deployed, how many more villages will be burnt to the ground", he said.
If that happens, said Awom, it will be dangerous for ordinary people, civilians who don't know anything about the incident.
"[The Indonesian aviation company] PT Intan Angkasa Air Service must be transparent about the activities of the pilot Mr. Glen Malcom Conning, when he's on duty and what exactly his job is, how long he works, whether he transports goods, transports passengers, this must all be looked at", he said.
It is best, said Awom, that security forces, the church, and companies agree to arrange flight schedules and look at the potential for conflict so that the correct solution can be found.
"If in a situation like this where there isn't yet any clarity that is precise, then emotions surface and there's military operations, this is dangerous for civilians", he said.
Awom suspects that behind the pilot's shooting there is the operation to release Mehrtens who is still being held by the TPNPB. "Because the pilot being held hostage is a New Zealand national and the pilot who was killed is also a New Zealand national, this [should be] the central point, the focus of the investigation", he said.
Awom also suspects that there is a larger plan to use up the budget. "Instead of spending the budget on security operations, these funds could be used to improve public welfare. So it must be investigated thoroughly", he said.
Komnas HAM condemns killing
On Wednesday meanwhile, Komnas HAM issued a press release signed by commission Chairperson Atnike Nova Sigiro.
In the press release titled Komnas HAM condemns the murder of New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning and the attack on civilians in Mimika, Sigiro said the interception of the helicopter and the passengers, as well as the murder of Conning, according to information circulating in the mass media, was carried out by an Armed Civilian Group (KSB) at the Alama Airport runway in Alama district, Mimika regency, Central Papua.
Komnas HAM conveyed five things related to the incident. In addition to expressing deep sorrow over the death of Conning and for the survivors, four adults and two children, Komnas HAM condemned the attack on the pilot and the helicopter passengers, and attacks on other civilians.
"[This attack] will do irreparable damage to efforts to realise peace in Papua" said Sigiro.
Komnas HAM also urged that the law be enforced against the KSB that perpetrated the attack which resulted in civilian victims and the loss of live.
"The right to life, the right to be free from fear, and the right to humane treatment is a human right that must be guaranteed and protected, and is the responsibility of the state", she said.
Komnas HAM is asking government to take measures to protect and ensure the recovery of the victims and families due to the violence and that the government and security forces ensure the security of civilians in Papua.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Curigai Ada Skenario, TPNPB Minta Investigasi Independen Pembunuhan Pilot Asal Selandia Baru".]
