Interim Nduga regent to negotiate with Papuan rebels for release of NZ pilot

A man, identified as Philip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot who is said to be held hostage by the West Papua Liberation Army, an affiliate of the Free Papua Movement , stands among the separatist fighters in Papua, in this undated picture released on Feb. 14, 2023. - Reuters

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): In an effort to release New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, taken hostage by Papuan separatists, the interim Nduga regent Edison Gwijangge will hold negotiations with the rebels, according to the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm Yudo Margono.

“We are entrusting the interim Nduga regent to conduct the negotiations,” Yudo said in a statement on Tuesday (July 4) after a meeting with Vice President Ma’ruf Amin to report on the latest situation regarding the pilot.