Over a year has passed since Egianus Kogoya-led separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) group in Nduga, Papua Mountains province, kidnapped a New Zealand pilot in February 2023, a separate Mimika-based OPM group took hostage and murdered a helicopter pilot also of New Zealand nationality in Alama district, Central Papua province, on Monday morning, August 5, 2024.
“An armed separatist OPM group took hostage and murdered 50-year-old Glen Malcom Conning, a helicopter pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, upon arrival in Alama District , Mimika Regency, from Moses Kilangin Airport in Timika,” Chief of the 2024 Joint Military-Police Cartenz Peace Operation, Brigadier General Fiazal Ramadhani, said in a statement on Monday, August 5, 2024.
Spokesman of the 2024 Cartenz Peace Operation, Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno, said while quoting a witness’s account that the armed separatist group members intercepted the MD 500 ER helicopter upon arrival in Alama District.
“The pilot [Conning] and the four passengers − two adults (health workers ), a baby and a toddler − got off the helicopter and were gathered in the open field where the helicopter had landed. The separatist group then killed the pilot on the spot, brought the pilot’s body into the helicopter and set the helicopter on fire along with the body,” Bayu said.
“A joint Indonesian military-police unit is now chasing the armed separatist group. We will continue to enforce the law against them,” he added.
A year has passed
The latest hostage-taking and murder of Conning serves as a reminder of the uncertainty surrounding the fate of Philip Mark Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot of New Zealand origin, who was held hostage by Egianus Kogoya-led OPM group on February 7, 2023 shortly after landing the plane at the Paro airfield, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains province. The group set the plane ablaze and took Mehrtens in their custody until today.
Previously, OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom revealed plans to release Mehrtens. However, the release has not been carried out as of today.
Sebby claimed to have communicated with Egianus Kogoya, Commander of TPNPB-OPM in Nduga region, Papua, who took Mehrtens hostage.
“I gave input about the advantages and disadvantages of holding the pilot hostage. He [Kogoya] agreed to release Mehrtens and asked me to discuss with the [OPM] chief of staff to issue a proposal for the pilot’s release,” Sebby said.
Mehrtens had appeared several times in videos distributed by the OPM. In addition, the group also stated several times that it would release Mehrtens.
