Papuan separatists claim they will release kidnapped Kiwi pilot Philip Mehrtens’s ‘through UN’

Commanders for the rebel group said it ‘will return the pilot Philip Max Martherns to his family through the Jurisdiction of the Secretary-general of the United Nations’ after 12 long months.

Video from the separatist Free Papua Movement appears to show kidnapped New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens. Picture: Twitter

Commanders for the Papuan separatists group that took New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrten hostage exactly 12 months ago claim they will release him to his family “through the … UN”.

The West Papuan National Liberation Army (TPNPB) gave no further details about how or when this would occur.

It comes a day after TPNPB spokesman Sebby Sambom told The Australian on Tuesday it is time for the 38 year-old father of one to be returned to his family.

“The pilot must be released for the sake of humanity, based on the International Humanitarian Law of War,” Sambom said.

In a further statement on Wednesday, the TPNPB National Command Central Headquarters said it “will return the pilot Philip Max Martherns to his family through the Jurisdiction of the Secretary-general of the United Nations (UN)” in order to “protect humanity and ensure human rights”.

The statement, on behalf of TPNPB high commander chief Major General Terianus Satto, also took aim at the New Zealand government which, they said, “still does not want to accept a good offer from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the release of the Pilot”.

“We announce that in one year the Government of the State of Indonesia and the Government of the State of New Zealand are unable to open up to Peace Negotiation with the Papuan nation in the context of the release of Pilot Philip Max Marthens.”

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday that his government was continuing to work with Indonesian authorities to secure Mr Mehrtens’ release, and that his “continued detention serves the interests of no one”.

“We strongly urge those holding Philip to release him immediately and without harm,” Mr Peters said.

Sambom said TPNPB commanders now agreed there was nothing to be gained in keeping the Mr Mehrtens hostage, and much to lose should he die in the inhospitable Papuan jungle where he has been held among tribal groups.

“But if (he) dies in a place of ­detention then we will be blamed by the International community and the UN.”

Yet the TPNPB still appeared divided this week over what to do with Mr Mehrten – between the commanders who want him ­released and hardened foot soldiers who insist first on the liberation of West Papua from Indonesian control.

The commercial pilot for Indonesia’s Susi Air was seized by TPNPB division leader Egianus Kogeya and his soldiers after landing a routine passenger flight in mountainous and conflict-racked Nduga district, part of a region ­formerly known as West Papua but since cleaved into five provinces by Jakarta.

In the seven-point statement released on Wednesday, TPNPB National Command Central Headquarters said it was holding the pilot to as “a guarantee of the Indonesian Government’s Violation of allowing Civil flights to enter the war area between the TPNPB-OPM (Milter of the Papuan Nation) and the Indonesian Military” and that his kidnapping “took place according to the standards of the law of war”.