West Papua National Liberation Army

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) is a local separatist group operating in Indonesia's resource-rich easternmost region of Papua. This region has a long-standing low-level conflict for independence from Indonesia, with attacks by independence fighters being a recurring issue. The TPNPB recently gained international attention by shooting dead an American pilot, Nicholas F Gosselin, and setting his civilian plane on fire. A spokesperson for the group, Sebby Sambom, stated this act was intended as a 'message' to both the US and Indonesian governments. This incident highlights the ongoing struggle for Papuan independence and the methods employed by groups like the TPNPB to draw attention to their cause and assert their presence.