Mimika blockade | |||||||
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Part of the Papua conflict | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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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]