In November 2017, tensions developed in Mimika Regency of Papua following a blockade of two villages by the National Liberation Army of West Papua, the military arm of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). The Government of Indonesia described the situation as a "hostage crisis",[3] with the Indonesian Police reporting that 1,300 people were held hostage.[4] Other sources, such as human rights lawyer Veronica Koman,[3] or, later, local authorities, denied the "hostage crisis" claim, as OPM had been primarily establishing roadblocks impeding access to the affected villages.[5]
| Mimika blockade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Papua conflict | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Indonesia |
 Free Papua Movement | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
Local personnel 300 additional personnel[1] | 135 (TNI data)[2] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 dead | At least 2 dead | ||||||
Prior to the blockade, tensions in the region has flared up, with shooting incidents killing 1 Indonesian police officer and wounding 6 others.[6] Following a breakdown in negotiations, a military operation was held on 17 November, which resulted in the OPM fighters abandoning the villages. AsiaNews reported that two dead OPM members were found.[7] In total, 2 police officers were killed and seven were injured.[5]
References
edit- ^ Jensen, Fergus; Da Costa, Agustinus Beo; Wanda, Sam (9 November 2017). "Armed separatists occupy villages near Freeport's Indonesia mine". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Berikut Kejahatan Kelompok Bersenjata di Tembagapura Sejak Agustus 2017". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 16 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Papuan hostage claims a distortion says Indonesian lawyer". Radio New Zealand. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Papuan militants accused of hostage situation in Mimika". Radio New Zealand. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ a b Anderson, Bobby (28 November 2017). "Putting Indonesian Papua's tensions in context". The Interpreter. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ Nathalia, Telly (17 November 2017). "Security Forces Free 344 People Held Hostage by Gunmen in Papua". Jakarta Globe (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Papua, special forces free 345 hostages from separatists". AsiaNews. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.