CNN
—
Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s Papua region have released a series of images showing a New Zealand pilot taken hostage over a week ago.
A photo released Tuesday showed the pilot, identified by local police as Philip Mertens, standing among a group of fighters fully clothed and carrying guns, bows and arrows and other weapons. shows the situation.
Mehrtens said he was arrested last week after landing a private Susi Air charter flight at Paro airport in the remote highlands of Nduga province and that the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) had claimed responsibility and burned his plane.
The group has previously called for all incoming flights to Paro airport to be stopped, and said the pilots would not be released until the Indonesian government recognizes Papua’s independence.
TPNPB published a photo of Mehrtens on its Facebook page and issued a statement reiterating its position.
“TPNPB accepts responsibility for burning the plane and holding hostage a New Zealand citizen Susie Airways pilot, keeping its promises and being politically responsible,” the statement said.
New Zealand’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told CNN, “We are aware that photos and videos have been circulated, but we do not intend to comment further at this stage.”
Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region (a former Dutch colony) have claimed independence since the region fell under Indonesian rule after a controversial UN-supervised vote in 1969. have requested.
But fighting in poor but resource-rich areas, where the Indonesian military maintains a large presence, has escalated in recent years.
The Indonesian government has designated TPNPB as a terrorist group.
Papua Police Chief Inspector Matius Fakiri previously told reporters that five passengers, including a baby, were on the same plane as Mertens, but it remains unclear what happened to them. Not mentioned in latest statement.