An armed separatist group in Indonesia’s Papua province has demanded negotiations with New Zealand’s government for the release of their pilot who they abducted on Feb. 7, according to multiple reports.
The plane, operated by Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was carrying five passengers. The rebel group reportedly released the five indigenous Papuan passengers and set fire to the plane.
TPNPB has said that Mehrtens would not be released until the Indonesian government recognizes Papuan sovereignty. The group was classified as a terrorist group by the Indonesian government in 2021.
The rebel group’s spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, said on Tuesday that Mehrtens is safe.
He said the group targeted New Zealand because it supplies Indonesia with weaponry and trains Indonesia’s military. TPNPB urged “face-to-face” negotiations with New Zealand’s government for the pilot’s release.
Sambom did not specify the demands that the group made of New Zealand in exchange for Mehrtens’ release.
Akouboo Amatus Douw, chairman of TPNPB’s diplomatic council, said the separatist group would formally send its demand to New Zealand and urged New Zealand to cease its assistance to Indonesia.
Douw said that Mehrtens will not be freed until their demands were fulfilled.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said last week that his country’s embassy in Indonesia was leading its response to the hostage taking.
“Consular support is being provided to the family,” Hipkins said. “You’ll be familiar with the fact that in these kinds of cases, we keep our public comments to a bare minimum.”
Hipkins was referring to a policy of avoiding any discussion that could further endanger hostages or detainees during diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
Decades of Conflict
West Papuan separatist forces have clashed with Indonesian authorities after the Dutch, and the United Nations handed over governance of the region to the Indonesians in 1963 under the New York agreement.According to the agreement, the United Nations would oversee a referendum in 1969 where the people would choose whether to remain a part of Indonesia or become independent.
The result—to be integrated into Indonesia—was rejected by the Free Papua Movement due to its allegations that there was strong evidence showing the vote was rigged.
The separatist movement, however, has gained momentum following the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, causing the escalation of violent conflict in 2018.
The U.N. has raised concerns with the Indonesian government of allegations of security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, inhuman treatment, and human rights abuses towards the native Papuans.