Reuters reported on May 27 that rebels in Indonesia's Papua province threatened to kill a New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February if countries do not begin negotiations on the province's separation into an independent nation within the next two months.
Guerrilla fighters in Papua's central highlands, who want the province to be independent from Indonesia, kidnapped pilot Phillip Mehrtens after he landed a commercial plane in the Nduga mountains, according to a video released on May 26.
Papua rebel group in Indonesia
In the new video, Mehrtens appears haggard and surrounded by Papuan fighters with rifles. He says the separatists want countries other than Indonesia to join the dialogue on Papuan independence. "They said if that doesn't happen within two months, they will shoot me," Mehrtens said.
New Zealand said it was aware of the video and called ensuring the pilot's safety a top priority. "We are doing everything possible to ensure a peaceful resolution and the safe release of Mr. Mehrtens," CNN quoted a statement from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Indonesian military spokesman Julius Widjojono said on May 27 that the military would act according to procedure.
A low-level but increasingly dangerous war for independence has been raging in resource-rich Papua since it was placed under Indonesian control in a UN-supervised vote in 1969.
The conflict has escalated significantly since 2018, with pro-independence fighters carrying out more frequent and deadly attacks, largely due to their acquisition of more sophisticated weaponry.
Earlier, Rumianus Wandikbo, a representative of the "Free Papua" movement, called on countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the West to start negotiations with Indonesia and the separatists, according to Reuters.
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