Correction On Shot Down Aircraft Border Incident

Correction On Shot Down Aircraft Border Incident

Further and conflicting information has been received about the alleged C130 Hercules incident, alleged to have been shot down on Easter eve by unknown parties at at Batas, adjacent to Wutung on the West Papua/ PNG border. According to witnesses returning to PNG side that have been interviewed, the alleged incident of shots disabling an aircraft did occur, however the previous identification by the PNG Post Courier and PNG officials of the aircraft is incorrect.

An incident occurred at Wlara Tami on Easter eve, in which a large Helicopter (potentially either a Puma or the Mil Mi-24 Hind both the only large helicopters in the area), NOT a Hercules, took rifle fire whilst attempting to land near the scene of an alleged bomb blast under the Tami River bridge, about 8 km west of the Border.. This helicopter then, with visible damage and trailing smoke, took off to the south west, where it allegedly crash landed at a military facility at Waena, near Abepura. No details of any casualties are available.

At this point, there is no information of the fate, or if a C130 was involved, however this cannot be ruled out, until it is formally ruled out or denied. Once again, in the absence of definitive statements from the OPM AND the Indonesian military, conflicting stories will abound.

All other points about the border incidents are still correct, although the toll is said to have risen above 12.

ENDS

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