New Zealand appeals for release of pilot kidnapped last year by Papua New Guinea rebels

New Zealand has made an appeal for the release of a pilot who was kidnapped a year ago by rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region. The pilot, Phillip Mehrtens, was taken as a bargaining chip by guerrilla fighters in the central highlands of Papua, who seek independence for the province from Indonesia. Mehrtens was kidnapped after landing a small commercial passenger plane at the remote Paro Airport in the mountainous area of Nduga on February 7, 2023. Despite efforts to secure his release, his whereabouts and conditions remain largely unknown. Updates from his captors have been scarce, with assurances only about his well-being. Winston Peters, New Zealand’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, highlighted the urgency of Mehrtens’ release, stating that his continued detention serves no one’s interests. Peters urged those holding Mehrtens to release him immediately and without harm. The case has brought renewed attention to the longstanding conflict in Papua, which has escalated since the region was brought under Indonesian rule. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has been circulating videos and photos of Mehrtens, along with demands for independence. Efforts to negotiate Mehrtens’ release have been hindered by the rugged terrain of the area where he is believed to be held, as well as the ongoing conflict between TPN-PB and Indonesian security forces. Despite calls for peaceful negotiations, the situation remains precarious. Peters reassured Mehrtens’ family of the government’s commitment to securing his release and urged respect for their privacy. Mehrtens, a New Zealand native, had been living in Bali with his family and working as a pilot for an Indonesian airline at the time of his abduction. The conflict in Papua, which dates back to Indonesia’s controversial control over the region in 1969, has seen a recent escalation in violence, with pro-independence fighters mounting deadlier attacks.