On 3 July, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) announced a rapid response operation. They deployed 10 special forces soldiers and one helicopter to Balinggama village, Yahukimo district, Papua Highlands province, to retrieve the body of US pilot Nicholas Gosselin.
Gosselin, a civilian pilot for Indonesian airline PT AMA, was shot dead on 2 July by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). This occurred after his aircraft landed at the Ipdeheik airstrip in Balinggama village.
Ten soldiers from the Habema Operational Command landed from the helicopter, securing the airstrip area and accessing the house where Gosselin's body was located. His body was then transported by helicopter out of the area. The soldiers did not clash with the rebels during the entire operation.
Indonesian soldiers conduct operation to recover pilot Gosselin's body. *Video: Indonesian Armed Forces*
"We witnessed TPNPB's act of killing an innocent person, and we condemn this action", stated Lieutenant General Lucky Avianto, TNI spokesperson.
The Habema Operational Command is a special task force deployed by the TNI to manage conflict and maintain security in the Papua Highlands.
Pilot Gosselin lost contact shortly after reporting his landing. His plane was carrying 7 passengers. The TPNPB claimed the aircraft violated a ban on civilian flights in what they consider their operational zone.
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Pilot Nicholas Gosselin. *Photo: Instagram/amapapua*
The TPNPB confirmed shooting Gosselin and setting the plane on fire, accusing the aircraft of transporting Indonesian military personnel into Papua. The separatist group emphasized that the US pilot died because the plane continued operations despite their warnings.
The Indonesian military rejected the accusation that Gosselin's plane was used to transport soldiers. They stated that the pilot's body is being transferred to Jakarta for handover to the US embassy.
The US embassy in Indonesia is investigating the incident.
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Location of Indonesia's West Papua province. *Graphic: DW*
Clashes between armed separatist forces and government troops have been ongoing in Papua since the region's integration into Indonesia. This followed a United Nations (UN)-supervised referendum in 1969.
Papuan activists have criticized the 1969 vote, demanding another referendum, but the Indonesian government affirms UN support for Jakarta's sovereignty over the region.
Violence in Papua has escalated significantly since 2018, with separatist forces attacking more frequently and dangerously, believed to be due to their acquisition of modern weapons. Indonesian security forces reported that armed groups have killed soldiers and police in several clashes.
Papuan rebels previously kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens after he landed a small commercial plane in a remote mountainous area in Nduga, Papua Highlands. Mehrtens was released in 2024.
Ngoc Anh (According to AP, AFP)
