Rebels in Indonesia's Papua release NZ hostage video calling for UN mediation

A man who is identified as Philip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot who is said to be held hostage by a pro-independence group, sits among the separatist fighters in Indonesia's Papua region, March 6, 2023. - The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB)/Handout via Reuters.

JAKARTA, March 11 (Reuters): A New Zealand pilot being held hostage by separatists in Indonesia's Papua region has appeared in videos calling for the United Nations to mediate in the conflict in the resource-rich region.

Pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who works for the domestic Susi Air service, was abducted by the armed wing of Free Papua Movement (OPM) last month after landing at an airstrip in Nduga district.