Rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region have proposed terms for the release of the New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens a year and seven months after he was detained.
It comes hours after the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) released a statement saying the Indonesian army bombed its headquarters in Alguru, which is where Mehrtens is being kept. The statement also said Mehrtens “survived the attack”.
Mehrtens, a former Jetstar pilot, was taken hostage by the TPNPB in February 2023 as a bargaining chip for its push for independence from Indonesia. It came after he landed a small commercial passenger plane at Paro airport in Nduga, the centre of the growing Papuan insurgency.
In February, a year to the day since Mehrtens was taken hostage, the army announced Mehrtens would be freed “to protect humanity and ensure human rights”, but it had not confirmed when he would be released.
On Tuesday, the army released a statement outlining the terms of his release, detailing a number of conditions “to be followed” by the Indonesian government, including allowing “open access” for media to be involved in the release process.
It also called for the Indonesian government to suspend military operations during Mehrten’s release, and for the New Zealand government to “provide space” for Mehrtens to convey “what he felt” during his year and seven months with the TPNPB.
“This is a humanitarian mission that must be supported by all parties,” the army said.
The terms were planned for release on Monday, according to a spokesperson, but were delayed to Tuesday due to the Indonesian military operation.
The terms proposed that Mehrtens should be escorted from Ndugama by New Zealand police and army to Sentani airport in Jayapura, on a plane arranged by the New Zealand government or an Air Niugini aircraft chartered by the army.
It also said a number of others should be present, including one UN representative, two senior and international journalists as “witnesses”, and two human rights figures from Indonesia.
The army proposed he would then catch another plane which would pass through Papua New Guinea. A press conference would be held at Jacksons international airport in Port Moresby.
The statement said the process should be facilitated by members of the New Zealand government and the Indonesian government, and bodies including the Human Rights Monitor and PNG Council of Churches.
Andreas Harsono, who covers Indonesia for Human Rights Watch, said the proposal was “realistic”, despite Indonesia’s ongoing restriction of reporters and human rights monitors into the region.
“The top priority should be to release this man who has a wife and kids,” Harsono said.
Mehrtens’ kidnapping has renewed attention on the long-running and deadly conflict that has raged in West Papua, which makes up the western half of Papua New Guinea, since Indonesia took control of the former Dutch colony in 1969.
West Papua National Liberation Army is the armed wing of the Free West Papua Movement, which has continued to demand a fair vote on self-determination.
Peaceful acts of civil disobedience by Indigenous West Papuans, such as raising the banned “Morning Star” flag, are met with police and military brutality and long jail sentences.
In 2022, UN human rights experts called for urgent and unrestricted humanitarian access to the region because of serious concerns about “shocking abuses against Indigenous Papuans, including child killings, disappearances, torture and mass displacement of people”.
In December last year, the army filmed a video of Mehrtens, in which he tells his family he loves them and is being treated well by his captors.
“I’m OK, they are treating me well, I’m trying to stay positive,” Mehrtens said in the video message directed to his family.
“I love you both lots and miss you both lots and hope to be able to talk with you soon.”
A spokesperson for the New Zealand ministry of foreign affairs said it was aware of the document.
“Our focus remains on securing a peaceful resolution and Phillip’s safe release. We continue to work closely with all parties to achieve this and will not be discussing the details publicly.”
