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New Zealand pilot taken hostage by separatists in Indonesia New Zealand pilot taken hostage by separatists in Indonesia
(about 9 hours later)
Susi Air's founder has said she is praying for those who were aboard a flight that was attacked in Papua Papuan insurgents have taken Philip Mehrtens as hostage in a remote mountainous region of Papua
A New Zealand pilot has been taken hostage by separatist fighters in Indonesia's Papua region who have threatened to kill him. A New Zealand pilot has been taken hostage by separatist fighters in Indonesia's breakaway Papua region.
The man was taken after his plane was set alight when it landed in the mountainous district of Nduga. Mr Mehrtens, 37, was taken after his plane carrying five passengers was attacked after it landed in the remote mountainous province of Nduga.
Five passengers who were on board, including a young child, are thought to have been released. His abductors, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), have told BBC Indonesian he is "safe".
The separatists want Indonesia to recognise the independence of the province of West Papua. But they say they won't release him until the independence of West Papua is recognised.
Police have said they are investigating the incident - but say this is logistically difficult as the area can only be reached by air. The five passengers who were also onboard, including a child, had been released because they were native Papuans, Sebby Sambom, a TPNPB spokesman, told BBC Indonesian.
The pilot has been named as Philip Merthens, although different spellings for his name have been given. Indonesian authorities say they are deploying a search and rescue team. But police noted it was logistically difficult because the remote area can only be reached by air.
The West Papua National Liberation Army - which Indonesia has designated as a terrorist group - has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the country's embassy in Jakarta was "working on the case". The foreign ministry had earlier said it was "well aware" of the situation.
The group's spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, has said the pilot will be executed if Indonesia "is obstinate" and fails to negotiate over the independence of West Papua. The small passenger plane, which belongs to Indonesia's Susi Air, had departed from the Mozes Kilangin airport in Central Papua early on Tuesday, and was meant to return a few hours later after dropping off the passengers in Nduga.
The New Zealand government has said that it is aware of the situation and its consulate in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is providing assistance to the pilot's family. A TPNPB spokesman told BBC Indonesian that Mr Mehrtens had been moved to a stronghold district for the group in a remote area, and he would be used as "leverage" in political negotiations.
The plane, which belonged to Susi Air, was carrying supplies from the mining town of Timika in the neighbouring district, according to the Associated Press. "The pilot is safe. That is our responsibility... We take him as our hostage in a remote area," said Mr Samborn.
The airline's founder, Susie Pudjiastuti, has said on social media that she is praying for those who were captured. But he added the group would hold Mr Mehrtens captive until countries "like New Zealand and Australia" took responsibility for their role in the ongoing historical conflict and violence in Papua.
The Papua region is a former Dutch colony that is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua. Papuan rebels seeking independence from Indonesia have previously issued threats and even attacked aircraft they believe to be carrying personnel and supplies for Jakarta.
It was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 following a disputed UN-supervised ballot and since then fighting between separatists and the Indonesian military has become common. The resource-rich region has been caught in a battle for independence since it was brought under Indonesia's control in a UN-supervised vote in 1969.
Papua is separate to Papua New Guinea, which was given independence by Australia in 1975. Conflicts between indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian authorities have been common since, with pro-independence fighters mounting more frequent attacks since 2018.
The region is a former Dutch colony divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua. It is separate from Papua New Guinea, which was given independence by Australia in 1975.