Sunday, September 22, 2024

1) Phillip Mehrtens' hostage-takers claim bribe was paid to secure release


2) Winston Peters slams West Papua National Liberation Army’s claim bribe was paid to secure release
3) Indonesia: Release of New Zealand pilot held hostage ‘a significant moment amid conflict in Papua’


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1) Phillip Mehrtens' hostage-takers claim bribe was paid to secure release 
28 minutes ago  

Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist



New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, left, after being rescued from captivity. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP


The Foreign Minister has called claims a Papua New Guinea politician paid a bribe ahead of the release of kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens "a disgrace".
Mehrtens was seized by rebels from the West Papua National Liberation Army in February 2023 after he landed a small commercial plane in a remote area of Indonesia's Papua region and was held for 19 months.
West Papua National Liberation Army spokesperson Sebby Sambom has now claimed the leader of the group that took Mehrtens hostage, Egianus Kogoya, was bribed with money by a local politician.
However, Foreign Minister Winston Peters told Morning Report the suggestion a bribe was paid was "a disgrace".
He said New Zealand does not involve itself in bribes and ransoms.
"All the work that's done by these people of all sorts, including officials, working as hard as they can and as cautiously as they can - not to make a mistake or be offensive and for things to fail - has now been trammelled by the allegation of a bribe," he told Ingrid Hipkiss.
The release was the result of a huge diplomatic effort, Peters said.
"Now it's tainted with an argument that somehow there was a bribe involved, but not from the point of view of New Zealand.
"After 594 days of the capture of him we've got him free and I have to say it's an enormous relief. His family will be absolutely over the moon I believe. And also we want to thank the media for unusually not saying a thing on the critical months and months of work."
Mehrtens was in good health and had since been reunited with his immediate family in Jakarta.
West Papua Action Aotearoa spokesperson Catherine Delahunty told Morning Report Sambom had made it clear that the bribe had nothing to do with the New Zealand government.
"The leadership of that military group had not mandated that, but that was what actually happened between the people on the ground, between a local politician paying a bribe to General Kogoya who's from the group that was holding Philip."
"It's pretty much an internal political situation that's nothing to do with our government's negotiation.”

Sambom said they did not regret taking Mehrtens hostage.
"The hostage-taking is reasonable, because we are still fighting for an independent Papua," he said.
Sambom said Mehrtens was treated well by the Liberation Army.
"In this case we know the international humanitarian law on war, so we order the pilot to be guarded properly."
The group had used Philip Mehrtens to promote their fight for independence, and had released intermittent videos of him wearing free West Papua T-shirts, often surrounded by rebels holding military assault rifles, while he was being held captive.
At the time he made this plea: "Indonesia's been dropping bombs in the area over the last week - there's no need and it's dangerous for me an everybody here".
Sambom said he was not worried about an Indonesian military assault now Mehrtens had been freed.
"The West Papua Liberation Army has never been afraid of the Indonesian military and police, and is ready to fight against Indonesia's illegal occupation of West Papua," he said.
The leader of the group that took Mehrtens hostage, Egianus Kogoya, was bribed with money by a local politician in Nduga province who then gave Mehrtens to Indonesian authorities, Sambom said. He said it was not in line with the captors' proposed release terms.
The family of Mehrtens had issued a statement thanking everyone involved with his release, including the New Zealand and Indonesian governments as well as the captors.
"We are also grateful to General Kogoya and his army for keeping Phil as safe and healthy and for allowing Phil to get several messages out to let us know that he was alive and okay. Those messages filled our souls and gave us hope and that we would eventually see Phil again."
Indonesia Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said Mehrtens was handed over peacefully, unlike a previous rescue attempt by Indonesia's military.
"Not a single bullet was fired, no one was killed, which is different from what happened in March 2023 when Indonesian military allegedly killed some West Papua militants and in return West Papua militants killed more than a dozen killed Indonesian soldiers," he said.
He added Mehrtens' captors have described looking after him with great care, like an egg.
"If you are being treated like an egg, you cannot be cracked at all of course. You have to be fed well, you have to be drinking well, sleeping well, but of course this is hostage taking, and he's not free to walk on his own."
While Mehrtens ordeal has made global headlines, Harsono said West Papuans continue to suffer.
However, Pacific leaders plan to meet with Indonesia over human rights abuses in West Papua within the next year.

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2) Winston Peters slams West Papua National Liberation Army’s claim bribe was paid to secure release

 NZ Herald 23 Sep, 2024 06:24 AM 3 mins to read

Jakarta.

West Papua National Liberation Army spokesman Sebby Sambom claimed a bribe was paid by a local politician in Nduga province to hand Mehrtens over to authorities.


Peters told RNZ’s Morning Report the allegations of a bribe are an “enormous disappointment”.

He deemed the publishing of these allegations as a “disgrace”.

”We don’t pay ransom, we don’t pay bribes.”

He said there is no evidence that a bribe was paid and questioned why the allegations were run without authorisation.

Peters did not provide specific details of the negotiation process.

Peters said the claim negatively impacts the reputation of the “good people” who worked to free Mehrtens.

”All the work that’s done by these people of all sorts, including officials, working as hard as they can and as cautiously as they can - not to make a mistake or be offensive and for things to fail - has now been trammelled by the allegation of a bribe,” he told RNZ.

Peters said the release was the result of a huge diplomatic effort.

The family of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens have expressed their immense relief following his release after the “long and arduous ordeal” he suffered.

“The last 19 and a half months have been very difficult for all of us, and we give our heartfelt thanks to our friends, family and community for their love and kindness during this time,” the statement said.

“There were so many people involved in the effort to find and release Phil, and we are grateful to each and every one of them for the parts they played in helping with Phil’s safe return.”

The family thanked the New Zealand Government, police, the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta, Hostage International, and Susi Air for support and care provided to the family throughout the ordeal.

“The team at Mfat and the embassy, in particular, went above and beyond from the minute Phil was taken. We are so grateful for the trust they placed in us and the daily updates they provided.”


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AI Indonesia September 21, 2024


3) Indonesia: Release of New Zealand pilot held hostage ‘a significant moment amid conflict in Papua’

Responding to the release of New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens after more than 19 months held in captivity led by a pro-independence group in the Papua region, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said:

“We share the relief of Mr Mehrtens’ family and friends who will finally see his return. We welcome his release and hope he is provided with appropriate support and care. This is a significant moment amid the conflict in Papua.

“The release of Mr Mehrtens is a reminder that conflict in the region continues to have a very real impact for people’s human rights.

This momentous development also demonstrates the power of non-violent means in addressing disputes between the pro-independence movement and the Indonesian authorities in a region where widespread human rights abuses persist.

“This moment should not stand alone. Mr Mehrtens’ release, after more than one and a half years in captivity, is a critical moment that signals the possibility of addressing wider grievances in Papua in a similar spirit of non-violence.”

Background

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens, who was held hostage on 7 February 2023 by an armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogoya in Nduga Regency, Papua, was released on 21 September 2024. The captors initially said they would not release Mehrtens unless Indonesia’s government allowed Papua to become a sovereign country.

On 17 September 2024, the TPNPB proposed conditions for Mehrtens’ release, making a series of demands, including the involvement of the World Church Council (WCC) as the primary facilitator and the PNG Trust. The proposal also included some high-profile figures from Indonesia, Papua, civil society and the media.

However, according to media reports Mr Mehrtens has now been set free and the security officials said the release was achieved through cooperation with local communities, religious leaders and respected family leaders who are close to the captors.

In a video obtained by Amnesty International, Mr Mehrtens on 17 September 2024 said in Indonesian language that he was in good health and hoped to be able to go home soon and meet his family.

He was picked up safely by the security forces from Yuguru Village in Nduga and immediately flown to police headquarters in Timika on 21 September 2024. A picture showed him sitting next to an Indonesian police officer.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reportedly confirmed Mr. Mehrtens’ release.  (*)

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