PNG rebels murder New Zealand helicopter pilot
Rebels from Papua New Guinea have attacked a helicopter and killed its New Zealand pilot right after it landed in a remote mountain region.
A group of gunmen believed to be affiliated with the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) – the armed branch of the Free Papua Movement – ambushed a helicopter transporting health workers and two children as it touched down in Alama, a secluded village in Mimika district of Central Papua province on Monday. This area is only accessible by helicopter.
They murdered the pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, 50, who was from New Zealand, but let the Indigenous Papuan passengers go before setting fire to the aircraft with the pilot’s body inside.
The TPNPB stated they were not informed about the incident and could not provide details on the pilot’s killing. Nonetheless, Faizal Ramadhani, a National Police officer leading the joint security peace force in Papua, confirmed the assault.
“His body was placed inside the helicopter and both were set on fire,” stated Bayu Suseno, the public relations head for the Cartenz Task Force, as reported by local media.
Suseno assured that the passengers, all residents of Alama, were unharmed.
Another NZ Pilot Abducted
A separate incident involved the abduction of another New Zealand pilot, Phillip Mehrtens, on February 7 last year after landing a small plane in the remote Nduga mountains.
Police indicated that he is being held by the same rebels responsible for Monday’s attack.
Egianus Kogoya, a regional commander in the Free Papua Movement, declared that they will not release Mehrtens unless Papua is liberated as a sovereign nation.
A representative for the TPNPB stated on August 3 that they had agreed to release Mehrtens “for the sake of humanity.” However, there have been no developments on this promise, with the spokesperson mentioning a potential two-month timeframe without explaining the delay.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) acknowledged reports of Conning’s death but refrained from making substantial comments.
The MFAT has also been engaged in negotiations for Mehrtens’ release since his capture.
In a previous statement, MFAT disclosed that they were informed about “reports and speculation online” regarding the surviving pilot’s fate but had nothing further to add.
“Phillip Mehrtens’ safety and well-being remain our main concern. We are actively pursuing a peaceful resolution and working towards his safe return, collaborating closely with Indonesian authorities and deploying New Zealand consular staff,” the statement noted.
“We are also providing support to Phillip’s family, both in New Zealand and Indonesia.”
