Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered in the mineral-rich region, which is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a UN-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham. 'He will be safe with me as long as Indonesia does not use its arms, either from the air or on the ground.' 'I took him hostage for Papua independence, not for food or drinks,' rebel leader Kogoya said in the video with Mr Mehrtens standing next to him. He added: 'Indonesia must recognise Papua is independent.' In a third video, the pilot is ordered by the rebels to say: 'The Papuan military that has taken me captive to fight for Papuan independence, they ask for the Indonesian military to go home to Indonesia and if not, I will remain captive for my life.' Sitting in the plane's cockpit, leader Kogoya said he took the pilot hostage as part of their struggle 'to free Papua' from Indonesia.Īnother video showed Mr Mehrtens standing in a forest surrounded by the heavily armed rebels.
Sambom shared videos and photos on Tuesday that showed a group of gunmen setting fire to the plane on the runway. The rebels released all five passengers because they are indigenous Papuans, rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom said earlier. 'We deeply regret this incident.'įlying is the only practical way of accessing many parts of the mountainous area. 'Our plan to evacuate the workers angered the rebels, who responded by setting fire to the plane and seizing the pilot,' said Nduga district chief Namia Gwijangge, who was one of the passengers. Mr Mehrtens had landed his plane, with five passengers on board, on a small runway in Paro and was scheduled to evacuate 15 construction workers building a health centre in the district after the separatist rebels threatened to kill them. The separatist rebels from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), seized Mr Mehrtens before setting fire to his plane on the runway (pictured)
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