New Zealand pilot held hostage by separatist fighters in Indonesia | CNN

CNN
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Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s restive Papua area have captured a pilot from New Zealand and are holding him hostage after setting hearth to his aircraft, the group mentioned in an announcement.

The pilot, recognized by native police as Philip Merthens, was captured after touchdown a industrial constitution flight at Paro Airport within the distant highlands of the Nduga regency on Tuesday.

5 passengers together with a child have been on the Susi Air flight, nevertheless it stays unclear what has occurred to them, Papua Police Chief Inspector Mathius Fakhiri informed reporters on Tuesday.

A search staff made up of police and army personnel has been despatched to the world.

On Tuesday, the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB) mentioned it had burned the aircraft in an airfield and “arrested” the pilot earlier than taking him hostage.

“He’s our second hostage,” TPNPB commander spokesperson Eganus Kogeya mentioned in an announcement seen by CNN, in what seemed to be a reference to an incident in 1996 when the Free Papua Motion held captive 26 members of a wildlife analysis mission within the neighboring district of Mapenduma. Some hostages have been held for greater than 4 months, in response to the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC).

Within the assertion, Eganus additionally demanded that every one incoming flights to Paro Airport be stopped and mentioned the pilot wouldn’t be launched till the Indonesian authorities acknowledged Papuan independence.

The Indonesian authorities designates the TPNPB as a terrorist group.

New Zealand authorities officers informed CNN they have been “conscious of the state of affairs involving a New Zealand pilot in Papua” and that the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta was offering consular help to the household.

Susi Air founder Susi Pudjiastuti said on Twitter that she was praying for the protection of the pilot and the passengers.

Separatist fighters in Indonesia’s easternmost area of Papua have been demanding independence because the area was introduced underneath Indonesian management following a controversial 1969 vote overseen by the United Nations.

Nevertheless, combating within the impoverished however resource-rich area, the place the Indonesian army maintains a heavy presence, has escalated in recent times.

Rights teams within the area condemned the assault.

“We urge that the pilot and folks being held hostage be launched safely instantly. We additionally name on events to the battle to respect worldwide humanitarian regulation,” mentioned Usman Hamid, the director of Amnesty Worldwide Indonesia.

He mentioned the incident confirmed civilians have been the victims of the “repetition of violence within the Papua area.”

“All events should prioritize non-violence in an effort to save civilians,” he added.

Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch, mentioned seizing hostages was against the law.

“The Nationwide Liberation Military for West Papua ought to instantly and unconditionally launch all hostages in Nduga,” Harsono mentioned.