Jakarta. The US government is keeping an eye on Indonesian authorities’ probe after Papua separatist rebels shot dead an American pilot on Thursday.

West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) had claimed responsibility for the death of an American pilot Nicholas F Goselin. This armed wing of the Free Papua Movement said it had set his plane on fire when it landed at an airstrip in the Yakuhimo region. Papua — a resource-rich yet underdeveloped region —  has long witnessed separatist movements, and armed conflicts have become more intense in recent years. 

A US State Department spokesperson said Friday that they were aware that Indonesia had launched an investigation into “the reported death of an American in Papua”. 

“We are in touch with the authorities and the family, and are closely tracking developments,” the spokesperson told the Jakarta Globe via text.

They, however, refused to give further comment “out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones during this difficult time”.

“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the spokesperson said. 

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comments. 

Goselin was a pilot for an Indonesian aviation company PT AMA. Indonesian security forces had recovered his body. Seven Papuans were on board, but they were unharmed. 

Rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom said the plane had violated the ban on civilian flights in the group’s operational zones, hence the torching. He went on to say that civilian planes have been dropping Indonesian military troops and logistics into the Papuan interior. 

The group even pinned the blame on the Indonesian government for “intentionally allowing civilian flights” to enter the Papuan red zone. The Indonesian, US, and Dutch governments were also culpable “for failing to address the root causes” of the decades-long conflict, according to Sebby.

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