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Papua separatists want guns in exchange for pilot: Police
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri said authorities had rebuffed the demand from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
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Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Mathius D. Fakhiri speaks to reporters on the progress of efforts to rescue abducted New Zealand pilot Philips Mehrtens on Feb. 14, 2024. (The Jakarta Post/Antara )
P
olice in Papua have said the separatist group holding New Zealand national Philip Mehrtens hostage has demanded the delivery of guns and ammunition in exchange for the release of the Susi Air pilot.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri said authorities had rebuffed the demand from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
"It's definite that we rejected the demand," Mathius said, as quoted by Tempo, adding that the demand could further aggravate the security situation in the region.
Mathius noted that a team of negotiators was continuing to push for the release of Mehrtens, who was taken hostage in early February after landing in the remote region of Nduga.
"We need more time to secure the release of the Susi Air pilot so that we can do this without the loss of life," he said.
A local military commander in Papua said last week that a "law enforcement operation" was being prepared to free Mehrtens, but only as a last resort if negotiations failed.
A senior foreign ministry official in Jakarta said New Zealand diplomats had traveled to Papua to help in the effort to secure the release of Mehrtens.
