American civilian pilot killed by separatists in Papua
Nicholas F. Goselin of Associated Mission Aviation was on one of the essential shuttle flights serving the most isolated communities. He was fatally shot after landing; the seven Papuans on board were unharmed. The West Papuan National Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The US government has stated that it is closely monitoring the Indonesian authorities’ investigation into the killing of American pilot Nicholas F. Goselin, who was the victim of an armed attack in the Papua region.
The man was at the controls of a Pilatus aircraft operated by Associated Mission Aviation (AMA), an organisation that has been connecting the island’s most isolated communities for over sixty years.
The attack took place on Thursday 2 July at the Balinggama airstrip, in Yahukimo Regency, in the Highlands of Papua. According to the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s account, the aircraft had taken off from Wamena Airport at 6.30 am with the pilot and seven passengers on board. The flight had taken place in favourable weather conditions and, prior to landing, no security risks had been reported in the area.
After landing, however, communications with ground staff were suddenly cut off. Goselin was fatally shot shortly after stepping off the aircraft. The seven passengers, all indigenous Papuans, survived and managed to return to their homes.
AMA’s director, Bob Kayadu, described the incident as the first fatal attack suffered by a member of the company’s crew in its 67 years of operation in Papua. He expressed his deepest condolences on the pilot’s death, emphasising that this was a completely different event from an air crash, as Goselin was carrying out a service for the region’s most remote communities.
The head of Regional Joint Defence Command (Kogabwilhan) III, Lieutenant General Lucky Avianto, also confirmed that all passengers had been brought to safety and thanked the traditional authorities, religious leaders and local residents who had assisted in the recovery of the pilot’s body.
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). Spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the operation was carried out by the Yahukimo unit, claiming that the aircraft had entered an area considered to be under rebel control. Sambom also accused the Indonesian authorities of frequently using civilian aircraft to transport military personnel and logistical supplies to the interior of Papua.
In addition to the pilot’s killing, the separatist group also claimed responsibility for setting fire to the AMA aircraft. In its statements, the TPNPB attributed responsibility for the ongoing conflict to the governments of Indonesia, the United States and the Netherlands, accusing them of failing to address the root causes of the crisis that has affected Papua for decades.
Associated Mission Aviation is one of the oldest missionary aviation organisations in the region. Founded in 1959 as the air service of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Jayapura, the airline provides essential connections to communities accessible only by air, transporting healthcare workers, missionaries, humanitarian aid and local residents. Throughout its history, it has played a vital role in assisting the populations of Papua’s most isolated areas.
The Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), an international Christian organisation active since 1945, has also been operating in the region for many years with similar aims, providing air links for humanitarian and medical missions.
At the international level, the US State Department has confirmed that it is in contact with both the Indonesian authorities and the victim’s family. A spokesperson stated that Washington is closely monitoring developments in the investigation into the death of the US citizen, without providing further details out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The incident draws attention once again to the ongoing conflict in Papua, where for years Indonesian security forces and separatist groups have been clashing against a backdrop of political tensions, armed violence and difficulties in access for civil society organisations operating in the region’s most remote areas.
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02/08/2023 18:59
