Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua province have kidnapped pilot Philip Mehrtens after carrying out an attack on a civilian aircraft and setting it on fire in a mountainous region of the province.
The group itself, which advocates independence for Papua, has confirmed these reports and demanded that the government recognize its independence in exchange for the release of the hostage.
It has also asked for a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at a meeting organized by the international community, according to a spokesman for the group. It is not the first time that separatist rebels have carried out such attacks in the area.
Police and Armed Forces personnel have already been deployed in the area to search for the pilot, who according to the separatists «is in good health», as reported by the newspaper ‘The New Zealand Herald’.
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that it is offering consular support to the pilot’s family, but has declined to comment on the current situation.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
