Australia and New Zealand in the West Papua Conflict: A New Zealand pilot's abduction focuses attention on Wellington and Canberra's hands-off approach to the long-running conflict in Indonesia.

Gao, Xiang; Charlton, Guy C

Author(s)

Gao, Xiang

Charlton, Guy C

Publication Date

2023-04-29

Abstract

<p>The drawn-out hostage drama in West Papua over New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens has focused Western attention on this neglected area of the world. Mehrtens was abducted and his plane burned by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on February 7, 2023. He was accused by the group of violating a no-fly zone it had issued over the West Papua region. On April 16, rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated in a recorded message that TPNPB has "asked the Indonesian and New Zealand governments to free the hostages through peaceful negotiations." The group originally demanded that Indonesian authorities recognize the independence of West Papua, but more recently it indicated that it was prepared to drop the demand for independence and seek dialogue.</p>

Citation

The Diplomat, p. 1-10

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/54729

Language

en

Publisher

James Pach

Title

Australia and New Zealand in the West Papua Conflict: A New Zealand pilot's abduction focuses attention on Wellington and Canberra's hands-off approach to the long-running conflict in Indonesia.

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Gao, Xiang Charlton, Guy C
Publication Date	2023-04-29
Abstract	<p>The drawn-out hostage drama in West Papua over New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens has focused Western attention on this neglected area of the world. Mehrtens was abducted and his plane burned by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on February 7, 2023. He was accused by the group of violating a no-fly zone it had issued over the West Papua region. On April 16, rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated in a recorded message that TPNPB has "asked the Indonesian and New Zealand governments to free the hostages through peaceful negotiations." The group originally demanded that Indonesian authorities recognize the independence of West Papua, but more recently it indicated that it was prepared to drop the demand for independence and seek dialogue.</p>
Citation	The Diplomat, p. 1-10
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/54729
Language	en
Publisher	James Pach
Title	Australia and New Zealand in the West Papua Conflict: A New Zealand pilot's abduction focuses attention on Wellington and Canberra's hands-off approach to the long-running conflict in Indonesia.
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Australia and New Zealand in the West Papua Conflict: A New Zealand pilot's abduction focuses attention on Wellington and Canberra's hands-off approach to the long-running conflict in Indonesia.

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