Jakarta and Wellington have refuted claims made by rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region regarding the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens. The West Papua National Liberation Army released Mehrtens after 19 months in captivity, but the rebels allege that payment was involved.
The insurgent group spokesman, Sebby Sambom, accused the Indonesian government of providing money to a local leader who then paid the rebels without providing any evidence. Sambom claimed that the funds were transferred through a family system, eventually leading to Mehrtens’ release.
In a recent development, Jakarta and Wellington have denied allegations made by rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region regarding the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens. The rebels claim that a payment facilitated Mehrtens’ release after 19 months in captivity. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to support these claims. The situation remains complicated, with accusations of bribery being thrown around. It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds and whether more information will come to light. Check back for updates on this ongoing situation in Papua.
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