Singapore/Jakarta: The separatist rebels who took a New Zealand pilot hostage in Indonesia’s Papua region have demanded Indonesia President Joko Widodo hold direct talks with them, warning they are targeting all foreigners. Independence fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Organisation, abducted pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens when they stormed his small commercial plane and set it alight after it landed in a remote airport in Paro, in the mountainous district of Nduga, on Tuesday. Papuan students protest in Jakarta in 2019. Credit:Getty ImagesThe rebel group said they had released the five passengers who were on the flight, all of whom were indigenous Papuans, but they continued to hold Mehrtens at their headquarters. They are calling on Widodo, known as Jokowi, to engage in negotiations about the easternmost region in Indonesia, where there has been an escalation of violence in the past year with dozens of separatists, military personnel, police and civilians killed.

Source: Stuff February 08, 2023 14:42 UTC