JAKARTA: Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region said on Monday that they have killed at least 13 Indonesian soldiers after the army sent troops in search of captured New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who was taken hostage in February.
The military stated that the Indonesian forces were attacked on Sunday while hunting for Mehrtens near a separatist stronghold in the hilly Nduga district. According to First Admiral Julius Widjojono, gunmen shot a soldier who fell into a 15-meter-deep gully, then launched a second attack, killing 13 more soldiers hunting the kidnappers.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed responsibility for the incident, saying it was carried out to hinder military efforts to rescue Mehrtens. For decades, Papua rebels have sought independence from Jakarta.
In a statement, rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom stated that the United Nations and the New Zealand government have an obligation to pressure Indonesia to end the military operation. The pilot, 37, was captured shortly after landing his single-engine plane in Nduga to drop off passengers. A video showing Mehrtens surrounded by heavily armed men was then published by rebels, who have stated that if Papua is granted independence, they will release him.
According to a TPNPB spokeswoman, Mehrtens is being kept in a distant rebel stronghold and would be used as “leverage” in discussions.
According to the group, he was targeted due of New Zealand’s military cooperation with Indonesia. Separatist rebels have previously issued threats and targeted aircraft carrying soldiers and equipment bound for Jakarta. Papua and West Papua are the two provinces that comprise the area. It is distinct from autonomous Papua New Guinea.
West Papua, a former Dutch territory, obtained independence in 1961. However, two years later,
Indonesia seized over and was formally granted authority in an UN-supervised vote in 1969. The UN vote is considered invalid because just about 1,000 Papuans participated. Soon after, a pro-independence movement erupted, which continues to this day. Indigenous Papuans and Indonesian authorities frequently clash, with separatist fighters intensifying their attacks since 2018.
