Indonesian security forces have recovered the body of an American pilot after a deadly attack on a civilian plane in the Papua Highlands.

印尼安全部隊在巴布亞高地發生一起民航機致命襲擊事件後，已尋獲一名美國飛行員的遺體。

The incident happened on Thursday at the Ipdeheik airstrip in Balinggama village. Nicholas F. Goselin, an employee of PT AMA, was shot and killed, and the aircraft was later destroyed by fire. The West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, claimed responsibility for the attack. They argued that the plane violated their rules against civilian flights in their operational zones. While the TPNPB claimed the aircraft was transporting Indonesian military personnel and equipment, the Indonesian military denied this, stating that the seven passengers were all local Papuan civilians who were not harmed.

這起事件發生在週四，地點位於 Balinggama 村的 Ipdeheik 飛機跑道。PT AMA 的員工 Nicholas F. Goselin 被槍擊身亡，飛機隨後被火燒毀。自由巴布亞運動的武裝分支——西巴布亞解放軍 (TPNPB) 聲稱對此次襲擊負責。他們辯稱該飛機違反了他們關於在行動區域內禁止民航飛行的規定。雖然 TPNPB 聲稱該飛機在運送印尼軍方人員與裝備，但印尼軍方予以否認，表示七名乘客均為當地巴布亞平民且未受傷害。

This attack is part of a long history of instability since the former Dutch colony became part of Indonesia in 1969, a process that many critics call unfair. Recently, there has been an increase in violence leading to more deaths among security forces, rebels, and civilians. Furthermore, there is a worrying trend of targeting foreign pilots. For example, New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was kidnapped in 2023, and another New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed in August 2024.

此次襲擊是自 1969 年前荷蘭殖民地併入印尼以來，長期不穩定歷史的一部分，許多批評者認為該過程並不公平。近期暴力事件增加，導致安全部隊、反叛軍及平民的死亡人數上升。此外，針對外國飛行員的趨勢令人擔憂。例如，紐西蘭飛行員 Philip Mark Mehrtens 於 2023 年被綁架，另一名紐西蘭飛行員 Glen Malcolm Conning 則於 2024 年 8 月被殺害。

From a strategic perspective, TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the killing was a message to the governments of Indonesia, the United States, and the Netherlands, as well as the United Nations. The TPNPB believes the conflict continues because the government has failed to solve the root causes of the problem. Consequently, the group has called for diplomatic talks led by the United Nations between Indonesia and Papuan representatives. However, they continue to threaten other civilian aircraft that they believe are helping the military.

從戰略角度來看，TPNPB 發言人 Sebby Sambom 表示，此次殺害行動是向印尼、美國、荷蘭政府以及聯合國發出的訊號。TPNPB 認為衝突持續是因為政府未能解決問題的根本原因。因此，該組織呼籲在聯合國領導下，在印尼與巴布亞代表之間進行外交談判。然而，他們將繼續威脅其他他們認為在協助軍方的民航機。

The recovery of the pilot's body ends the immediate security operation, but the deep political conflict in the region remains unsolved.

尋獲飛行員遺體結束了即時的安全行動，但該地區深層的政治衝突仍未解決。