Sushi Air commercial pilot Philipp Mertens was captured from an airstrip in the troubled Indonesian province.
New Zealand has called for the immediate release of pilot Filip Mertens, who was captured by militants in Indonesia's troubled Papua province a year ago.
Mertens, who was flying a single-propeller plane for Indonesia's Sushi Air, was snatched from the plane by a group of West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB) fighters on February 7 last year, and was told he would only be released if: Stated. Papua was given independence.
The group, led by regional commander Elias Kogoya, later released images and videos of Mertens surrounded by rebels, some armed with guns and some with bows and arrows, in a remote forest area. .
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the New Zealanders were providing “vital flights and supplies to remote communities” at the time they were kidnapped.
“We urge those holding Philip to release him immediately and without harm. His continued detention is in no one's interest,” Peters said. He said this in a statement commemorating the one-year anniversary.
The incident in the remote highland region of Nduga, one of the province's most reactionary regions, drew new attention to one of the world's least-known and longest-running conflicts. .
Papuans are a Melanesian people who occupy the western half of the island of New Guinea, just 200 km (124 miles) north of Australia and bordered by Papua New Guinea (PNG).
A low-level fight for independence has been ongoing since Indonesia took control of the resource-rich former Dutch colony following a controversial referendum in 1969.
Mr Peters said New Zealand was working with Indonesian authorities and others to secure Mr Philip's release.
“Let me be clear,” he said. “You can never justify taking hostages.”
Mr Peters' statement came after it was revealed that TPN-PB, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), had asked Mr Kogoya to release Mr Mertens, but did not say when that would happen. Announced.
“We will proceed with the release on humanitarian grounds,” TPN-PB spokesperson Sebi Sanbom said, according to the Associated Press.
“We believed that most Australians and New Zealanders supported Papuan independence,” he added. “If a pilot dies while being held hostage by our fighters, we don't want to be condemned by the international community.”
Ms Peters said Ms Mertens was able to reach some friends and family before Christmas and assured them she was fine.
New Zealand is “exploring all avenues” to bring the pilot home, he added.
Immediately after Mertens was taken prisoner, Indonesia sent police and soldiers to the highlands in an attempt to rescue him, and a number of clashes ensued.
Outsiders such as foreign journalists, international organizations and diplomats require special permission from Jakarta to visit the region, which is home to some of the world's largest gold and copper deposits.
Papua has seen a surge in violence since 2018, when rebels killed 24 Indonesian men who were building a new main road linking the coast to the highlands.
UN human rights experts have expressed concern about the deteriorating situation.
