West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military claimed accountability for the assault on the plane and the kidnapping of the pilot.
Insurgent fighters in Indonesia’s Papua area have taken a New Zealand pilot hostage after setting a small business airplane alight when it landed in a distant highland space, a pro-independence group mentioned in an announcement.
A police spokesperson in Papua province, Ignatius Benny Adi Prabowo, instructed Reuters information company on Tuesday that authorities had been investigating the incident, with police and navy personnel despatched to the realm to find the pilot and 5 passengers.
“We can't ship many personnel there as a result of Nduga is a tough space to succeed in. We are able to solely go there by airplane,” he mentioned.
An Indonesian navy spokesperson in Papua, Herman Taryaman, mentioned the pilot had been recognized as Captain Philip Merthens and it was unclear if the 5 accompanying passengers had additionally been kidnapped.
The airplane operated by Susi Air landed safely early on Tuesday morning, earlier than being attacked by insurgent fighters, authorities mentioned.
Susi Air founder and former fisheries minister, Susi Pudjiastuti, mentioned on Twitter she was praying for the protection of the pilot and the passengers.
Susi Air founder and former fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti praying for the protection of pilot and crew in Papua. Professional-independence fighters say they've taken the Kiwi pilot hostage. https://t.co/XCEqCHR3WQ
— Kate Lamb (@_KateLamb) February 7, 2023
The West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB) claimed accountability for the assault in an announcement seen by Reuters, saying the pilot wouldn't be launched till the Indonesian authorities acknowledged the independence of West Papua – which refers back to the western facet of New Guinea island.
The TPNPB made no point out of the passengers, however mentioned this was the second time the group had taken a hostage. The primary incident was in 1996.
The New Zealand embassy in Jakarta and the Indonesian international ministry didn't instantly reply to requests for remark.
Indonesia’s easternmost provinces have been the positioning of a low-level battle for independence because the resource-rich area was controversially introduced beneath Indonesian management in a vote overseen by the United Nations in 1969.
The battle has escalated considerably since 2018, with pro-independence fighters mounting deadlier and extra frequent assaults.
The elevated depth of those assaults has been enabled by an improved means to acquire extra weapons, together with by raiding and stealing from Indonesian military posts, cross-border purchases and the unlawful sale of government-issued weapons, the Institute for Coverage Evaluation of Battle mentioned in a report final 12 months.
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