Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Army Chief of Staff said that New Zealander national Phillip Mehrtens, who has been held captive by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group since February 7, 2023, is reportedly in good health amid continued efforts to release him.

To secure the pilot's release, the army has been working closely with the National Police under the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) headquarters' coordination, General Maruli Simanjuntak informed.

Speaking to journalists in Jakarta on Monday, he said that, as per the latest report, Mehrtens "remains in good health."

The TNI is working with several parties, including customary figures, religious leaders, and regional governments, to negotiate the New Zealander pilot's release, he added.

Communication efforts with Mehrtens' abductors have, however, been "rather unstable," he informed.

Earlier, Sebby Sambon, spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), said that his party planned to secure Mehrtens' release on February 7, 2024, the first anniversary of his abduction.

"There is no reason for holding Phillip captive until doomsday," Sambon added.

Mehrtens, a pilot for Indonesian airline Susi Air, was taken hostage by the Kogoya-led armed group shortly after landing his aircraft in Nduga district, Papua Pegunungan province, on February 7, 2023. The group also burned his aircraft.

ANTARA reported earlier that Indonesia's Foreign Ministry and the New Zealand government are continuing to communicate on efforts to free Mehrtens.

Before departing for Australia to attend the 2023 Annual Leaders Meeting on July 3, President Joko Widodo also highlighted Indonesia's efforts to free Mehrtens.

"We will keep trying and negotiating," he told reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport.

Over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have often employed ambush tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to stoke fear among the people.

The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.

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Translator: Genta TM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Anton Santoso
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