A New Zealand pilot, being held hostage in Indonesia's remote Papua region, warns his family that his ordeal 'could go on for a long time,' in a message sent via the rebels who are holding him captive.
He says he has also been provided with some warm clothes and any medicines as required, due to his "lack of conditioning" for the "long walks" they take.
New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens was photographed with his rebel captors in Indonesia's Papua region. But Indonesia's military commander, Admiral Yodo Margono, turned the offer down, saying he is still able to complete the rescue mission. The rebel group, which is the armed wing of the Free Papua Organisation , insists it will not release the pilot until Indonesia grants full independence over the entire Papua region.
"OPM requests the United Nations to mediate between Papua and Indonesia to work towards Papuan independence. OPM will release me after Papua is independent."In a third video, one of the rebels called on New Zealand to raise the ongoing conflict in Papua with the UN Human Rights Commission.'What happened was a surprise'
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