I was involved in talks to free a kidnapped Kiwi pilot in West Papua. With negotiations stalled, what happens now?

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Stalled attempts to negotiate his release, and an unsuccessful Indonesian military rescue attempt, suggest a confused picture behind the scenes.

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Provider:

The Conversation

URL:

https://theconversation.com/i-was-involved-in-talks-to-free-a-kidnapped-kiwi-pilot-in-west-papua-with-negotiations-stalled-what-happens-now-206933

Retrieved on:

Saturday, June 10, 2023

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Geotags:

NEW ZEALAND, INDONESIA, NZ

Summary

Key Points:

Stalled attempts to negotiate his release, and an unsuccessful Indonesian military rescue attempt, suggest a confused picture behind the scenes.
Members of the West Papua National Independence Army (TPNPB) kidnapped Mehrtens on February 7, demanding Indonesia recognise West Papua’s independence.

Early negotiations

From late February, I was authorised by the TPNPB to act as an intermediary with the New Zealand government.
This was based on having previously worked with pro-independence West Papuan groups and was confirmed in a video from the TPNPB to the New Zealand government.
In this capacity, I communicated regularly with a New Zealand Police hostage negotiator, including when the TPNPB changed its demands.

Latest in a long struggle

The West Papua independence movement grew out of Dutch plans to give West Papua independence.
It formally incorporated West Papua in 1969, after 1,035 village leaders were forced at gunpoint to vote for inclusion in Indonesia.
As a result of Indonesians moving to this “frontier”, more than 40% of West Papua’s population is now non-Melanesian.
“Flag-raising” ceremonies and street protests have been used to encourage a sense of unity around the independence struggle.

Negotiations stalled

Since talks broke down, however, the TPNPB has said there would be no further proof-of-life videos of Mehrtens.
With the TPNPB’s late May statement that Mehrtens would be killed if New Zealand did not negotiate, his kidnapping seems to have reached a stalemate.
But it will likely require the New Zealand government to make some concessions in response to the TPNPB’s demands.