14-4-2024 (JAKARTA) The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), a separatist group fighting for independence from Indonesia, has unveiled its demands regarding the release of New Zealand pilot, Captain Philips Mark Mehrtens. According to a spokesman for the TPNPB, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), the separatists seek United Nations-mediated negotiations before agreeing to liberate the hostage pilot.
“We will release the pilot through negotiations facilitated by a third party, namely the UN,” declared Sebby Sambom, the TPNPB-OPM spokesperson, in a written statement on Saturday. Sambom emphasised that Mehrtens’ freedom could also be secured if the Indonesian government and New Zealand, the pilot’s home country, fulfill the separatists’ undisclosed demands.
However, the spokesperson refrained from elaborating on the specific nature of these demands, leaving both Jakarta and Wellington in a state of uncertainty. Simultaneously, the TPNPB has urged the Indonesian military to cease aerial bombardments and drone surveillance in the area where Mehrtens is being held captive.
“Indonesia must stop using helicopter bombings, drones, and surveillance cameras. The actions undertaken by the Indonesian state through its military and police against us are entirely disproportionate,” Sambom asserted.
Accompanying the written statement was a chilling video depicting Mehrtens pleading for the Indonesian government to halt airstrikes in the region where he is being detained. “In this area, the Indonesian military is using fighter jets and dropping large bombs,” the captive pilot can be heard saying in the footage shared on Saturday.
Mehrtens expressed concern for the safety of those around him, as several bombs dropped by Indonesian forces have already caused distress. “The people here are asking for help; don’t use fighter jets, don’t use large bombs, just use firearms. Don’t use aircraft or large bombs like that. Please stop,” he implored.
In a desperate appeal, the hostage pilot called upon foreign nations to intervene and persuade Indonesia to abandon its aerial campaign in Papua. “Foreign countries, countries from outside, please help, please talk to Indonesia, talk to them not to use large bombs, please stop, this cannot continue,” Mehrtens pleaded.
