An armed separatist group in Indonesia’s Papua province has demanded negotiations with New Zealand’s government for the release of their pilot who they abducted on Feb. 7, according to multiple reports.
The pilot was identified as Philip Mehrtens, a citizen of New Zealand. He was kidnapped by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), who stormed his commercial plane after it landed at Paro village in the Nduga.
The plane, operated by Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was carrying five passengers. The rebel group reportedly released the five indigenous Papuan passengers and set fire to the plane.
TPNPB has said that Mehrtens would not be released until the Indonesian government recognizes Papuan sovereignty. The group was classified as a terrorist group by the Indonesian government in 2021….