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NZ pilot hostage takers call for UN mediation in video
A New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage last month by rebels in Papua Highlands province has appeared in videos put out by separatists calling for the United Nations to mediate in the conflict in the resource-rich region.
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New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage last month by rebels in Papua Highlands province has appeared in videos put out by separatists calling for the United Nations to mediate in the conflict in the resource-rich region.
Pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who works for Susi Air, was abducted by the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) on Feb. 7 after landing at an airstrip in Nduga district.
"OPM requests the United Nations to mediate between Papua and Indonesia to work toward Papuan independence," Mehrtens said in one video, echoing comments in an earlier video statement, in which he said he would only be released if Papua became independent.
Reuters could not independently verify where and when the videos were taken. Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the rebels, said they were shot on March 6.
The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the videos.
Since the rebels seized the pilot, officials have sought to use dialogue to secure his release, saying a "law enforcement operation" would be a last resort.
In one of the videos, Mehrtens read out a statement while sitting in a jungle clearing and surrounded by a group of men, some with guns and one with a bow.
Wearing a blue jacket, beige trousers and a camouflage hat, Mehrtens said he had been instructed to read the statement with new demands from the OPM.
"No foreign pilots are permitted to work and fly in Papua until Papua is independent," said Mehrtens.
Hostage-taking of foreigners has been rare in the region, but conflict has escalated since 2018, with rebels mounting deadlier and more frequent attacks.
In another of the videos, Mehrtens sent his love to his family and asked that any salary he was owed be given to them for food and bills.
"Try not to worry about me I am being taken care of as well as can be expected given the situation," he said, adding he was getting enough food and water, warm clothes and medicine.
"Hopefully we can be together soon," he said.
In a third video, a separatist called on countries such as New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia to stop military cooperation with Indonesia.
