A key Indigenous leader in West Papua appeared in a documentary criticising an Indonesian government program, but then changed sides and disappeared. Her family suspects foul play.

Yasinta Moiwend vanished without a trace.

She could not be reached by phone, and her family have no idea where she is after she was last seen near her home in Ilwayab district in West Papua late last month.

Nearly a week after her disappearance, the Indigenous community leader of the Marind people appeared on television thousands of kilometres away in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, flanked by her lawyer.

Exactly how she got there has sparked a storm of rumour and controversy.