Indonesia’s Peace Cartens operation law enforcement force has confirmed that the armed group Bakusib was behind the killing of U.S. pilot Nicholas F. Jocelyn.
According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, the Pakusib group is a newly formed rebel faction led by a person named M. Mbalinga.
Task Force Chief, Police Commissioner Eji Ira Adhinata, stated on Saturday: "Based on a number of posts circulating on social media, the Pakoseep group claims to be part of the network led by Elkeos Kubak in the Yahokimo area."
He explained that the task force, following the attack on Thursday that killed the pilot, began a wide-ranging investigation that included questioning witnesses, conducting interviews, gathering intelligence, and intensive monitoring of social media sites.
It was noted that authorities are still investigating the nature of the relationship between the Pakousib group and the faction led by Elkeos Kubak. Adhinata said: "The identification process has confirmed that M. Mbalinga is the perpetrator of the attack."
Investigations are still underway to determine the motive behind the attack, but a recording circulating on social media shows the armed group threatening any aircraft operating in the area it has declared as its area of operations.
The rebel group in Papua province in far eastern Indonesia announced the day before yesterday that it had killed an American pilot after targeting the small plane he was piloting as it landed on a runway in a remote area, claiming that he had "violated the ban" it had imposed on civilian flights within the area it considers to be its operational zone, while the rest of the plane's passengers survived.
Later, the Indonesian military announced that the pilot's body had been recovered.
