Mapenduma hostage crisis

Date	8 January – 15 May 1996
Location	Mapenduma, Jayawijaya, Irian Jaya, (now Papua Province), Indonesia
Status	Indonesian victory, hostages released

Belligerents

Kopassus

Free Papua Movement

Commanders and leaders

Prabowo Subianto

Kelly Kwalik

Strength

100 Special Forces soldiers

200 fighters

Casualties and losses

Five soliders killed in helicopter crash

Eight FPM fighters killed, two captured

Two hostages killed

The Mapenduma hostage crisis began on 8 January 1996 after the Free Papua Movement (FPM) took 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission captive at Mapenduma in Irian Jaya province, Indonesia. The hostages were subsequently moved to Geselama. The International Committee of the Red Cross acted as an intermediary between the FPM and the Indonesian authorities. Fifteen hostages, all of Indonesian nationality, were released relatively quickly, but eleven (comprising four Britons, two Dutch, and five Indonesians) remained in FPM hands. After lengthy negotiations the ICRC secured an agreement for the release of the remaining hostages on 8 May. However, the FPM leader, Kelly Kwalik, backed out of the agreement on the day of the intended release. The ICRC removed itself from the negotiations and stated that the Indonesian Army was no longer bound by an agreement not to engage in combat with the hostage takers.

On 9 May Indonesian special forces moved into the village but found it unoccupied. Five personnel were killed in a helicopter crash. A small observation force was left behind and, after this confirmed the FPM and their hostages had returned to the site on 15 May, a second assault was made. This was successful and effected the release of nine of the hostages, two being killed by their captors. Eight FPM fighters were killed and two captured versus no loss on the Indonesian side. There was some international controversy over the use of an unmarked civilian helicopter by the Indonesian forces, which may have misled the FPM.

On 8 January 1996, 200 members of the Free Papua Movement (FPM) took 26 hostages from the village of Mapenduma in Irian Jaya province, Indonesia. The hostages comprised 20 Indonesians, four Britons, and two Dutch – the latter including a pregnant woman – and all were part of a World Wildlife Fund mission conducting biodiversity research. Fifteen of the Indonesian hostages were released swiftly by the FPM leader Kelly Kwalik. On 14 January the FPM demanded the use of an aircraft and a meeting with four priests or missionaries.

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Wikipedia