Papuan rebels in Indonesian Papua have threatened to shoot the Susi Air pilot who came from New Zealand and has been held hostage since last February, if their demands to start talks on Papuan independence are not complied with. Papua Rebels gave two months for the demands to be granted.

Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens has been held hostage by Papua rebels led by Egianus Kogoya since February 7, shortly after he landed his plane at the Paro airfield. Egianus Kogoya and his group also set fire to the plane Mehrtens was piloting.

In the video released, Mehrtens, who looks thin, is seen holding the banned Morning Star flag and is surrounded by members of the Papuan rebels who are carrying assault rifles.

Mehrtens is seen talking to the camera, saying the separatists want other countries, apart from Indonesia, to be involved in dialogue about Papuan independence.

“If it doesn’t happen in two months then they say they will shoot me,” Mehrtens said in the video.

Responding to the video, a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that his party was aware of the existence of photos and videos circulating.

“We are doing everything in our power to secure a peaceful resolution and the safe release of Mr Mehrtens,” the spokesperson stressed in an emailed statement on May 27.

The Papuan rebels led by Egianus Kogoya who were about to shoot Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens are a serious concern for the Indonesian legislator who comes from Papua, Laurenzus Kadepa. He said the threat of Papuan rebels made the public uneasy.

Laurenzus was of the opinion that threats to kill hostages could diminish the international community’s sympathy for human rights issues in Papua.

In addition, Laurenzus also asked the Indonesian government, including the Indonesian Army and Indonesian Police, to take a proportional and measured security approach in efforts to release Philip and handle the situation in Papua.

The importance of the involvement of the local government, civil society, the Church, adat, Komnas HAM and various parties in efforts to free Philip. He hoped that the Egianus Kogoya group would not take excessive actions and could respect Philip Mark Mehrtens’ right to life.