New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens (centre) talks to the media during a news conference after his release, in Timika, Papua province, Indonesia on Saturday, Sep 21, 2024. - File photo: AP
JAKARTA (AFP): Jakarta and Wellington denied 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 to AFP on Monday, referring to the acting head of Nduga regency.
The funds then landed with the rebels "through a family system", said Sambom.
"The TPNPB... handed over the pilot to Edison. Then Edison... handed over the pilot to the Indonesian military and police."
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters quickly rubbished any suggestion that Wellington was involved in payment for Mehrtens' release, saying it was diplomacy that secured his freedom.
"I think this is a disgrace, frankly, that it's even suggested that a bribe was paid -- we don't pay ransoms, we don't pay bribes," Peters told Radio New Zealand on Monday.
"All the work that's done by these people of all sorts, including officials, working as hard as they can and as cautiously as they can -- not to make a mistake or be offensive and for things to fail -- has now been trammelled by the allegation of a bribe."
The spokesman for the joint Indonesian task force of police and military that collected Mehrtens said no money was given directly to the rebels.
"There was no request for money or any conditions from Egianus Kogoya for the pilot's release," said Bayu Suseno, referring to the rival rebel leader accused of taking the payment.
The rebels had said foreign nationals were targets because their governments had ties with Indonesia, from which they are seeking independence.
During his captivity in the Papuan countryside, the New Zealander made sporadic appearances on video to address his family and his government.
His appearance changed drastically over time but he appeared in good physical condition after his release and arrival in capital Jakarta on Saturday night. - AFP
