Yasinta vanished after backing an Indonesian project she once opposed

Yasinta Moiwend, an Indigenous community leader from West Papua, has disappeared and reappeared under controversial circumstances, sparking widespread speculation and concern. Moiwend, known as Mama Yasinta, was last seen near her home in the Ilwayab district late last month. Her disappearance came after she gained national attention for opposing Indonesia's National Strategic Project (PSN), which involved the takeover of forests and wetlands vital to her family's livelihood.

Nearly a week after she went missing, Moiwend appeared on television in Jakarta, thousands of kilometers away, flanked by her lawyer. Her sudden presence in the capital, and her expressed support for the PSN, has led to a 'storm of rumour and controversy.' This shift in position is particularly jarring as it contradicts her previous stance, which was prominently featured in the widely viewed documentary 'Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time.'

Her nephew, Esau Maguo Kahol, expressed shock at the change, stating, "It felt like three years of struggle had been washed away in a single day." He reported that Moiwend left her village without her family's knowledge. Locals have suggested that she stayed at an Indonesian military post before allegedly being transported out of the village with military personnel and district officials linked to the PSN. Rumors also circulated about her traveling on a private jet, allegedly belonging to PT Jhonlin Group, owned by businessman Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, also known as Haji Isam.

Local legal aid organizations have echoed claims of private jet involvement and noted the presence of district officials. PT Jhonlin Group and the Ilwayab district head have not responded to requests for comment. The circumstances surrounding Moiwend's disappearance and her subsequent public statement supporting the development project remain unclear and are the subject of intense scrutiny and concern among her community and supporters.

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We were shocked when we saw the video. Mama had suddenly changed direction. It felt like three years of struggle had been washed away in a single day. I couldn't sleep after watching it.