Agencies – A military commander in Papua on Thursday said a "law enforcement operation" was being prepared to free a New Zealand pilot held hostage by separatists, but only as a last resort if negotiations failed.
The government was currently taking soft approaches to try to break the deadlock, said the Cendrawasih Military Command commander Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saleh Mustafa, with local politicians and religious figures involved in trying to secure the release of Philip Mehrtens.
Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot, was abducted by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) last week after landing in the remote region of Nduga. "The Indonesian Police and Military do have a standard operating procedure in enforcing the law.To prevent this problem being prolonged we must set a deadline," Saleh told a news conference.
A spokesperson for the TPNPB shared photographs and videos of Mehrtens on Wednesday surrounded by about a dozen fighters, some armed with guns and bows. Mehrtens is heard saying his captors asked for the Indonesian military's withdrawal from Papua, otherwise he would be held for life.
The rebels are demanding for Indonesia to recognise Papuan independence in return for the pilot's release and a meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo facilitated by the international community.
Since the attack, a joint team of Indonesian military and police was dispatched to search for the pilot, national police chief Listyo Sigit told reporters Tuesday.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told Radio New Zealand last week that he only had preliminary information about the hostage situation but said their embassy in Jakarta was "working on the case".
Wellington "was aware of the situation involving a New Zealand pilot in Papua" and was providing consular support, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said.
Separatists have waged a low-level fight for independence since the resource-rich region, once governed by the Netherlands, was brought under Indonesian control following a controversial United Nations backed referendum in 1969.
Hostage-taking has been rare and the conflict has escalated since 2018, with rebels mounting deadlier and more frequent attacks.
Saleh did not provide details of what the operation might entail, citing confidentiality, but said police, military and intelligence officials were involved in the planning.
"The perpetrators are not from a separatist group, the perpetrators are terrorists involved in crime. That is why the military and police must enforce the law," he said.
New Zealand's embassy had given its approval for the plan, he said. New Zealand's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
Late on Tuesday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD vowed to ensure Mehrtens' release using "persuasive approaches, but said could not rule out "other ways".