Mimika blockade

Mimika blockade
Part of the Papua conflict
DateNovember 2017
Location
near Tembagapura, Mimika Regency, Papua
Result Blockade lifted, civilians evacuated
Belligerents
 Indonesia Republic of West Papua Free Papua Movement
Strength
Local personnel
300 additional personnel[1]		 135 (TNI data)[2]
Casualties and losses
2 dead At least 2 dead

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]

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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Berikut Kejahatan Kelompok Bersenjata di Tembagapura Sejak Agustus 2017". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 16 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Papuan hostage claims a distortion says Indonesian lawyer". Radio New Zealand. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Papuan militants accused of hostage situation in Mimika". Radio New Zealand. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b Anderson, Bobby (28 November 2017). "Putting Indonesian Papua's tensions in context". The Interpreter. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  6. ^ Nathalia, Telly (17 November 2017). "Security Forces Free 344 People Held Hostage by Gunmen in Papua". Jakarta Globe (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Papua, special forces free 345 hostages from separatists". AsiaNews. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.