In a recent development, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released after more than one and a half years in captivity in Indonesia’s West Papua region. The move follows an offer of terms by rebels in the region, who had taken Mehrtens hostage as part of their push for independence from Indonesia.
Mehrtens, a former Jetstar pilot, was captured by the West Papua National Liberation Army in February 2023 after landing a small commercial passenger plane at Paro airport in Nduga, the epicenter of the Papuan insurgency. The rebels outlined conditions for his release, including media involvement and suspension of military operations during the process.
This incident has brought renewed attention to the ongoing conflict in West Papua, where Indigenous Papuans face brutality and long jail sentences for peaceful acts of civil disobedience. The Free West Papua Movement’s armed wing, TPNPB, continues to demand a fair vote on self-determination.
The international community, including UN human rights experts, has raised concerns about abuses against Indigenous Papuans in the region. Mehrtens’ release is a positive development in this long-standing conflict that has gripped West Papua since Indonesia’s control in 1969.
[ad_2]
Source link
