Indonesia’s vice-president cancelled a planned visit to the restive region of West Papua after reports that an aircraft was shot at by armed Papuan militants, raising fresh concerns over security in the highlands.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka had been scheduled to land in Yahukimo regency on Wednesday as part of a tour of Papua to inspect government development projects. However, Indonesian military and government officials confirmed on Thursday that the visit to Dekai, the regency’s capital, was called off due to what they described as “serious security concerns”.
The decision followed reports that fighters from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fired on an aircraft approaching the area a day earlier. In a statement, the group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its forces had been targeting planes entering Dekai airspace. It also released videos purportedly showing armed Papuan fighters shooting at an aircraft overhead.
TPNPB commander-in-chief Goliath Tabuni warned that his fighters remained on standby and issued a direct threat against the vice-president, claiming they were prepared to kill him should he proceed with the visit to Yahukimo.
Raka had already completed visits to several major Papuan centres, including Biak and Wamena, without incident, according to officials. Authorities said those stops went ahead as planned under tight security arrangements. Yahukimo, however, was deemed too risky, with local and national security agencies advising that the threat level posed a danger to both officials and civilians.
The government said it could not independently verify claims that a civilian aircraft was hit by gunfire, but suggested the TPNPB may have been mistaken in believing the plane was linked to the vice-president’s delegation. “As of now, we have heard that fortunately there were no casualties or victims from that unprovoked attack,” a government spokesperson said.
Yahukimo Regency is a remote and rugged area where clashes between separatist guerrillas and Indonesian security forces have intensified in recent years. The TPNPB has long opposed Jakarta’s rule over Papua, with Major Tabuni reiterating that members of the Indonesian government do not represent the Papuan people.
