Mahaz News
 — 

Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s restive Papua area have launched a sequence of photographs exhibiting a pilot from New Zealand who was taken hostage greater than every week in the past.

The photographs launched on Tuesday present the pilot, recognized by native police as Philip Mehrtens, standing absolutely clothed and apparently unhurt amongst a bunch of fighters who’re holding weapons, bows and arrows and different weapons.

Mehrtens was captured after touchdown a industrial Susi Air constitution flight at Paro Airport within the distant highlands of the Nduga regency final week, with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claiming duty and saying it had burned his airplane.

The group beforehand demanded that every one incoming flights to Paro Airport be stopped and mentioned the pilot wouldn’t be launched till the Indonesian authorities acknowledged Papuan independence.

The TPNPB launched the photographs of Mehrtens on its Facebook web page together with a press release reiterating its place.

“TPNPB has admitted the responsibility for the burning of the plane and taking hostage of a Susi Air pilot who is a citizen of New Zealand, and we keep our promise and are politically responsible,” it mentioned within the assertion.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised Mahaz News it was “aware of the photos and video circulating but won’t be commenting further at this stage.”

Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s easternmost area of Papua – a former Dutch colony – have been demanding independence for the reason that area was introduced beneath Indonesian management following a controversial 1969 vote overseen by the United Nations.

However, preventing within the impoverished however resource-rich area, the place the Indonesian navy maintains a heavy presence, has escalated in recent times.

The Indonesian authorities designates the TPNPB as a terrorist group.

Papua Police Chief Inspector Mathius Fakhiri beforehand advised reporters that 5 passengers together with a child have been on the identical flight as Mehrtens, however it stays unclear what has occurred to them. They weren’t talked about within the newest assertion.