By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-09-23 07:44:06 | Updated at 2024-09-30 09:35:13
1 week ago
Jakarta and Wellington denied on Monday a claim by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua that a New Zealand pilot was freed from captivity over the weekend after they received payment from a local leader.
Phillip Mehrtens, 38, was released on Saturday by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) insurgent group after 19 months in captivity.
Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the group, said the Indonesian government gave money to the acting chief of the Papuan district where Mehrtens was freed, accusing him of then paying the rebels, without providing evidence.
“The Indonesian military and police gave bribe money to Edison Gwijangge and his team,” he said in a statement on Monday, referring to the acting head of Nduga regency.
The funds then landed with the rebels “through a family system”, Sambom said. “The TPNPB … handed over the pilot to Edison. Then Edison … handed over the pilot to the Indonesian military and police.”
