Mehrtens was taken by the West Papua Liberation Army final Tuesday (TPNPB) New Zealand time after members stormed his aircraft within the Papua province of Indonesia and set it on fireplace.
On Wednesday morning TPNPB launched photos and video to Stuff that present Mehrtens talking.
The pilot seems unhurt, though he’s surrounded by plenty of the separatists who’re holding rifles and firing them.
In a number of movies, which Stuff has seen, the pilot confirms he’s being held by the TPNPB and reiterates the group’s calls for for independence from Indonesia in entrance of the military’s flag.
A translation of the video by a New Zealand tutorial who has lived in Indonesia, reveals the rebels are warning that Mehrtens “will die here” like “the rest of us” if the Indonesian army tried to rescue him.
Stuff has chosen to not publish these video excerpts.
One video reveals Mehrtens clean-shaven, with trousers and a denim jacket.
It seems to be taken not lengthy after he was captured.
In the second video, he’s in shorts, and has facial hair.
There aren’t any seen accidents on the Christchurch-born pilot.
Stuff can not confirm precisely when the movies had been recorded.
Another video reveals the separatists setting alight the cockpit of a Susi Air aircraft whereas different photos present an aeroplane on fireplace on a runway.
A press launch from the separatists says Mehrtens “guarantees political negotiations”.
On Wednesday morning, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it had seen the pictures and movies however wouldn’t be commenting on them.
Dr Chris Wilson, a senior lecturer in politics and worldwide relations on the University of Auckland has seen and translated the movies despatched to Stuff.
He stated some had been “threatening”.
Wilson stated TPNPB gave the impression to be hoping they might use Mehrtens as a deterrent to a army assault.
He believed the rebels would know that their want for high-level United Nations talks and independence was a “pipe dream”.
“The question is are the rebels going to talk about anything else? Will they talk about transfer of funds, hostage swap or something else?”
Indonesian media have reported in a single day that the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the Indonesian authorities was persevering with to “make every effort” to avoid wasting Mehrtens and stated they might “prioritise a persuasive approach”.
However, Wilson believed the Indonesian authorities can be below stress to carry out a army operation due to the “tarnished image” the incident has triggered Indonesia internationally.
There may be growing in style discontent as the general public questioned why nothing was being completed to cease the rebels.
“They will think they have a responsibility to free Mehrtens and combat the rebels.”
A gathering was held on Monday between Indonesian military and law enforcement officials, a bunch of New Zealand diplomats and two employees from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The assembly was reportedly held on the Rimba Papua Hotel Timika close to the place Mehrtens was taken.
Indonesian General I Nyoman Cantiasa instructed journalists New Zealand diplomats reviewed the evacuation route for Mehrtens together with the “readiness” of a hospital in Mimika Regency as an “intensive treatment service”.
MFAT didn’t deny the assembly had taken place besides to state they had been working carefully with Indonesian authorities to make sure Mehrtens’ secure launch.
Over the weekend, Indonesian media reported safety forces had been sending extra battalions to Nduga – the world the place Mehrtens is believed to be held.
Security forces have additionally reportedly been evacuating civilians from Nduga sub-district Paro due to the risk from the separatist group, however there may be hypothesis the evacuation could possibly be in preparation for a army operation.
Akouboo Amatus Douw, head of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Council, an Australian-based middleman for the Free Papua Movement, instructed Stuff he had despatched the group’s calls for for Mehrtens’ launch to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, which included a name for New Zealand to chop army ties with Indonesia.
A spokesman for Hipkins confirmed that they had obtained a letter.
In a video purportedly from the separatists, which Stuff can not confirm, a separatist says Mehrtens has been taken to a camp a number of days’ stroll from the place he was taken hostage.
Unconfirmed media studies from Indonesia counsel Mehrtens was meant to fly 15 development staff out of the world when he was captured.
The staff had taken refuge in a neighborhood priest’s home since Saturday after a bunch of armed rebels threatened to kill them.
They had been subsequently rescued by the Indonesian military.
New Zealand presently works with the Indonesian defence power on joint officer and non-combat coaching, humanitarian operations and at regional boards.
There can be a proper association with Indonesian police that enables higher co-operation between each forces.
It is known Mehrtens grew up in Christchurch and underwent his main pilot coaching on the International Aviation Academy at Christchurch Airport in 2007/8 earlier than working abroad for eight years.
Mehrtens was flying for Indonesian aviation firm Susi Air when he was kidnapped, an organization he first labored with after ending flight faculty, earlier than he returned to New Zealand in 2016.
Source: www.9news.com.au
