Amnesty Indonesia hat den Mord an einem us-amerikanischen Piloten durch Mitglieder einer bewaffneten Gruppe in Papua verurteilt. Jemanden einfach zu ermorden um eine „Botschaft“ zu senden, verstärkt die Grausamkeit noch, erklärte der Direktor von Amnesty Indonesia, Usman Hamid. Alle Konfliktparteien in Papua müssten ihren Anhänger*innen unmissverständlich klarmachen, dass rechtswidrige Angriffe auf Bürger*innen nicht hinnehmbar sind.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA
QUOTE
3 July 2026
Indonesia: Unlawful killing of US pilot in Papua must be investigated
Responding to the killing of US pilot Nicholas F. Goselin in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua Province, by the Papuan pro-independence armed group (TPNPB-OPM), Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director Usman Hamid said:
“This is a tragic and profound violation of human rights. We extend our deepest condolences to Mr Goselin’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
“The deliberate murder of a civilian pilot and the subsequent burning of his aircraft represent a stark deterioration of civilian protection in the Papua region. The deliberate killing of civilians is a violation to the right to life and a grave breach of humanitarian principles. There can be no justification for this reprehensible attack.
“Killing anybody to send a ‘message’, after they have been detained and it has become apparent that all victims were civilians, compounds the cruelty. Nobody can claim that this is consistent with humanitarian principles and values.
“This unlawful killing and the attack on a commercial airplane must be promptly and thoroughly investigated, and all perpetrators must be held accountable. All parties to the conflict in Papua must send a clear message to those they lead that any unlawful attacks against everyday people are not acceptable.
“Survivors and the families of the victims have the right to know what happened, who was responsible, and what concrete steps the Indonesian government will take to deliver justice. Only independent and impartial investigations can lead to credible and fair trials.
“All parties involved in the prolonged conflict in Papua, including the Indonesian military and armed groups, must adhere to international law and recognize that the right to life is non-negotiable.”
Background:
An American pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, was shot after landing a commercial plane carrying seven civilian passengers on board in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua Province, on 2 July. Following the shooting, a group of attackers set the plane on fire. The pilot was killed but all the seven passengers survived the incident unharmed.
The Papuan pro-independence armed group (TPNPB-OPM) claimed responsibility for killing the American pilot and burning the aircraft. The group stated that the flight violated their ban on air travel within their operational area, as they alleged that the Indonesian military frequently uses civilian aircrafts to move troops and supplies into conflict zones in Papua. The group says they consider any civilian planes entering these areas to be legitimate targets, adding that the attack is a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments.
On 5 August 2024, New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning was killed by an armed group after landing his aircraft in Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province.
Previously, on 7 February 2023, New Zealander Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage by the TPNPB after landing a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous Nduga region of Highland Papua. He was held for over 19 months before being released on 21 September 2024.
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