New Zealand has appealed for the release of a pilot taken hostage by rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region a year ago as a bargaining chip in an independence movement against Indonesia.
Reactionary Papuan Central Highlands guerrilla fighters seeking a declaration of independence from Indonesia, New Zealander Philippe Mertens, lands a small commercial airliner at remote Paro Airport in the Nduga Mountains on February 7, 2023. kidnapped Mr.
On Monday, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Mertens’ continued detention was in no one’s interest.
“We urge those holding Philip to immediately release him without harm,” Peters said.
A year after her abduction, little is known about where Mertens is being held or what kind of conditions she is living in. There has been little update from Mertens’ captors, only that he is safe. “Top priority” And he is healthy and well fed. Meanwhile, Mertens’ family refused to speak.
“While we know that Philip was able to contact some friends and family just before Christmas to reassure them that he was safe, we remain unsure of the length of time he will be in custody. I have concerns,” Peters said.
talk to Indonesian magazine “Tempo”, February 2, a spokesperson for the opposition said the movement would issue an update on the pilot’s condition this week, adding that Mertens was in good health. “He’s fine. He eats well,” he told the publication.
The incident draws renewed attention to the long and increasingly deadly conflict in resource-rich Papua since it came under Indonesian rule. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), circulated videos and photos of Mertens while he was in captivity, along with demands for independence for the region.
The area where Mertens is being held remains extremely dangerous for West Papuans. TPN-PB regularly launches attacks and skirmishes with Indonesian security forces, and the Indonesian military has been accused of atrocities, including torturing and killing civilians.
The region is also home to a much larger, peaceful civil movement demanding independence, stemming from Indonesia’s violent crackdown on West Papuans.
In May 2023, rebels threatened to kill Mertens if their demands for independence negotiations were not met within two months. Many news outlets chose not to broadcast the video in which Mertens laid out the group’s demands.
In the video, Mertens is seen carrying the banned Morning Star flag, a symbol of West Papuan independence, and surrounded by Papuan fighters brandishing rifles.
Last year, Papuan police said they had difficulty gaining access to the isolated, rugged, high-altitude area where Mertens was reportedly being held. Police Chief Matius Fakiri said authorities are prioritizing peaceful negotiations, including sending tribal and church officials.
Peters said the government had worked with Indonesian authorities to secure Merten’s release and provide support for his family.
“Let me be clear: There is never any justification for taking hostages,” Peters said.
Mr Peters said he had recently spoken to the Mertens family and assured them that the government was exploring all avenues to bring Philipp home.
“They have requested privacy and we ask that their wishes be respected.”
new zealand news media reported Mertens, who was 37 when he was abducted, grew up and trained as a pilot in New Zealand. According to staff, he had been living in Bali with his wife and children in recent years.
According to , Mr Mertens was originally from Christchurch. new zealand herald. The newspaper said he was fluent in Bahasa and was one of a number of foreign pilots employed by Indonesian airline Sushi Air.
At the time of Mertens’ kidnapping, rebel spokesman Sebi Sangbom said independence fighters attacked the Susi Air plane shortly after landing, setting it on fire and capturing the pilot. Mr Sangbom said all five passengers, including the infant, were released because they were indigenous Papuans.
He added that the trials were being conducted as New Zealand, along with Australia and the United States, has military cooperation with Indonesia. Nduga district chief Namia Gwijange said the plane was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers building a health center in Paro after receiving death threats from separatist rebels.
talk to Indonesian magazine “Tempo”, February 2, Sangbom said the movement would issue an update on the pilot’s condition this week, adding that Mertens was in good health. “He’s fine. He eats well,” he told the publication.
Mr Sangbom said Mr Mertens was not released because the Indonesian and New Zealand governments were unwilling to engage in dialogue with the militants.
“We opened up, but the governments of Indonesia and New Zealand don’t want to talk to us. We don’t know why.”
Papua’s conflict has escalated significantly since 2018, with pro-independence fighters launching more dangerous and frequent attacks, largely because they have been able to acquire more sophisticated weapons. It began after the region was placed under Indonesian control following a controversial 1969 UN-supervised vote.
