An armed separatist group in Indonesia said it had been holding a New Zealand pilot hostage since 7 February 2023. For almost a week, the fate of the young pilot has not been known since the hostage-taking took place.

The armed separatist group calling itself the West Papua National Liberation Army led by Egianus Kogoya, on Tuesday (14/2/2023) released a video and several photos, the current condition of pilot Philip Mark Merthens. They also showed their action of setting fire to the plane Philip was piloting.

“We burned this plane because we only want an independent Papua. All countries pay no attention to the Papuan people. All countries only want Papua's natural wealth. We want Papua to be independent so that all countries can open their eyes. We are currently hostage the pilot and burn this plane. We also banned all small-bodied aircraft from flying in our area. We will take this pilot in our control. We reject all development programs in our area. We only want an independent Papua,” said Egianus Kogoya, the leader of the West Papua National Liberation Army in the video.
In the release of another video recording, it can be seen that Philip's pilot is under the tight escort of a fully armed separatist group.

Pilot Philip in the video is given the opportunity to speak where he says that currently he has been taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army Group until Free Papua.
"They arrest me for an independent Papua. I want to go home to my family,” said Pilot Philip.

Meanwhile, Egianus Kogoya, stated that his party would continue to hold Philip Merhens hostage until the Indonesian government recognized Papua's independence. This is done because until now the Government of Indonesia has never wanted to recognize the independence of Papua. If there is no recognition of independence, then Egianus promised to kill the pilot Philip.

"We caught the pilot in Paro District and we can only release it with an independent Papua. Otherwise, the pilots both died in our area. So our pilots will not leave, until Papua becomes independent. At this time, we are opening the eyes of all countries to see this and we ask the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to recognize the independence of an independent Papua, "said Egianus Kogoya.

Regarding the efforts to rescue and evacuate pilot Philip Merthens, the Papua Regional Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Mathias Fakhiri emphasized that his party would not back down in trying to free the pilot but that this was being done extra carefully for Philip's safety.

"That's why at this time his party is prioritizing the role of local leaders and regional governments," he said in Timika, Tuesday (14/2/2023).

Meanwhile, the Regent of Nduga, Namia Gwijangge asked the Leader of the Armed Separatist Group led by Egianus Kogoya to immediately release the Susi Air pilot. Apart from that, it is also hoped that the Susi Air pilot will be returned safely and not lacking anything.

According to Namia, various efforts are currently being made to free the New Zealand pilot.

"I ask Egianus and his group to immediately release pilot Philip in good health, not lacking anything," said Namia Gwijangge. When asked whether there was a demand for ransom money, he said so far there has been no. His party, he continued, would try to ensure that the pilot was released safe and sound.

Previously it was reported that an armed Separatist Group calling itself the West Papua National Liberation Army also took hostage a New Zealand pilot named Philip Merthens along with five passengers including a baby. They also set fire to the plane Philip was piloting.

In his statement, group leader Eganus Kogeya demanded that all flights entering Paro Airport be stopped and said the pilots would not be released until the Indonesian government recognized Papua's independence.