New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released after more than one and a half years in captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region, as reported by Indonesian police on Saturday. Mehrtens was taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army in February 2023 in an effort to push for independence from Indonesia.
The rebels outlined terms for his release, including allowing media access and suspending military operations, which the Indonesian government agreed to. The New Zealand government was also called upon to provide space for Mehrtens to share his experiences during captivity.
Mehrtens’ kidnapping has shed light on the ongoing conflict in West Papua, where Indigenous Papuans continue to demand self-determination. The TPNPB, the armed wing of the Free West Papua Movement, has been at the forefront of this struggle.
Indigenous Papuans face harsh reprisals for peaceful acts of civil disobedience, such as raising the banned “Morning Star” flag. The region has been plagued by serious human rights abuses, including child killings, disappearances, torture, and mass displacement of people.
UN human rights experts have called for urgent humanitarian access to the region, highlighting the need to address the ongoing atrocities against Indigenous Papuans. Mehrtens’ release marks a small victory in a long-standing and deadly conflict that has gripped West Papua since Indonesia’s annexation of the region in 1969.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
