CNN
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Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s restive Papua area have launched a collection of pictures exhibiting a pilot from New Zealand who was taken hostage greater than every week in the past.
The images launched on Tuesday present the pilot, recognized by native police as Philip Mehrtens, standing absolutely clothed and apparently unhurt amongst a gaggle of fighters who’re holding weapons, bows and arrows and different weapons.
Mehrtens was captured after touchdown a industrial Susi Air constitution flight at Paro Airport within the distant highlands of the Nduga regency final week, with the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB) claiming duty and saying it had burned his airplane.
The group beforehand demanded that every one incoming flights to Paro Airport be stopped and stated the pilot wouldn’t be launched till the Indonesian authorities acknowledged Papuan independence.
The TPNPB launched the images of Mehrtens on its Fb web page together with a press release reiterating its place.
“TPNPB has admitted the duty for the burning of the airplane and taking hostage of a Susi Air pilot who’s a citizen of New Zealand, and we hold our promise and are politically accountable,” it stated within the assertion.
New Zealand’s Ministry of International Affairs and Commerce informed CNN it was “conscious of the images and video circulating however gained’t be commenting additional at this stage.”
Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s easternmost area of Papua – a former Dutch colony – have been demanding independence because the area was introduced beneath Indonesian management following a controversial 1969 vote overseen by the United Nations.
Nevertheless, preventing within the impoverished however resource-rich area, the place the Indonesian navy maintains a heavy presence, has escalated in recent times.
The Indonesian authorities designates the TPNPB as a terrorist group.
Papua Police Chief Inspector Mathius Fakhiri beforehand informed reporters that 5 passengers together with a child had been on the identical flight as Mehrtens, however it stays unclear what has occurred to them. They weren’t talked about within the newest assertion.
