At the end of March 2023, the Free Papua Movement was still holding the pilot Susi Air hostage. Phillip Mark Mehrtens (35) as Susi Air’s pilot was taken hostage on 7 February 2023. The hostage taking was carried out by the Free Papua Movement led by Egianus Kogoya. The Free Papua Movement has not yet released the Susi Air pilot, during March 2023 the Free Papua Movement carried out a number of acts of cruelty.
Shooting of the Trigana Air Plane
The shooting of a Trigana Air plane in Yahukimo, Papua occurred on Saturday 11 March 2023. The shooting was carried out by the Free Papua Movement at Dekai Airport, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains Province.
The KKB opened fire on a Trigana Air plane at Nop Goliat Dekai Airport, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains. The Boeing IL 222 Series 300 aircraft with flight number PK-YSC was shot down after flying from Dekai Airport at around 14.06 WIT. The plane was shot 9 times. As many as 66 passengers on the plane were declared safe from the Trigana Air shooting by the Free Papua Movement at Yahukimo. It was recorded that one passenger was injured by metal fragments.
Shooting of Soldier-Police during worship security to death
One Indonesian soldier and one policeman were shot dead while guarding the Tarawih prayer service. Located at the Al-Amaliah Ilu Mosque, in the Ilu District, Puncak Jaya, Highlands Papua Province on Saturday 3 March 2023 at night.
A Bripda Maesar Indey policeman was shot in the stomach and a soldier Serda Risawar was shot in the spine and lower chin.
Two shooters were reported using long and short barrel firearms. The shooting was carried out from the direction of one of the stalls around the Al-Amaliah Ilu Mosque.
Teacher’s house burning
The Free Papua Movement burned down a house in Gome District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, on Tuesday 28 March 2023. Two of the houses were elementary school teachers’ houses and one community house.
It was reported that there were no victims as a result of the burning, however, there were material losses from the owners of the houses that were burned.
