TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Interim Nduga regent entrusted as negotiator to release pilot taken hostage
It has been five months since Philip Mehrtens, who works for the frontier airliner Susi Air, was abducted by the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), an affiliate of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) following a flight to Nduga, Papuan Highlands.
Change Size
A man, identified as Philip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot who is said to be held hostage by the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), an affiliate of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), stands among the separatist fighters in Papua, in this undated picture released on Feb. 14, 2023. (Reuters/The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB))
I
n an effort to release New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, taken hostage by Papuan separatists, the interim Nduga regent Edison Gwijangge will hold negotiations with the rebels, according to the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono.
“We are entrusting the interim Nduga regent to conduct the negotiations,” Yudo said in a statement on Tuesday after a meeting with Vice President Ma’ruf Amin to report on the latest situation regarding the pilot.
He went on to say that a plane was currently being prepared to reach the agreed negotiation venue between the government and the Papuan rebels, which has not been revealed.
“We are prioritizing the safety of the [Susi Air] pilot and people living around that area. We will prevent any casualties, so we will conduct a peaceful negotiation,” Yudo said.
The statement came after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated that the government would prefer a peaceful resolution to release the pilot taken hostage, while also acknowledging potential alternatives.
“We will keep trying to negotiate. Actually, there are a lot of [options] we can take, but I can't talk about it publicly,” Jokowi said just before setting off to Australia to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
