Press Release
A POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROACH TO RELEASE HOSTAGE PILOT NEW ZEALANDER PHILIP MARK MEHRTEN IN WEST PAPUA
21 January 2024
On 7 February 2023 when Free Papua Movement insurgents attacked a plane and took its pilot and all five passengers hostage. While the passengers were soon released, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens remained in captivity until the present date in January 2024 while both the Indonesian Military and Kidnappers have stalemated to release Philip because of they conducted Military Approach in Nduga Regency to release him
Indonesian government is not want to a Political and Dplomatic approch to release Hostages but only order its Military approach andt to do operation military in the Nduga Regency location of Kiddnapers and force to release Philip but to run 12 months now not any progress because of stalemate from both side.
The motive of kidnappes is the political motive of the independence of West Papua while Indonesian government overrides a Political and diplomatic approach and only it insist to conducted its military Approach to release hostage.
Results and impact of the Kiddnap in (Ndugama) Nduga Regency West Papua run for 12 Months now 60 innocent civilians people have been killed, Indonesia had banned and closed access from air and land from out to enter Nduga Regency, Close 14 Districts, Close 33 Villages, Close 39 Churches, indigenous people move to other safe places and the Indonesian Military control all things there. Indonesian Military never reach the location of Kidnappers because stronghold of Papua Military and support by challangers of mountain
The Executive Government of the Federal Republic of West Papua requests the United Nations to assist West Papua to release hostage Pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens in Nduga Regency, West Papua. We request the United Nations to assist to do so, our government never allow this kidnapers who never respects and uphold human rights in the entire land of West Papua.
We are organizing a law enforcement body and forced to take the kidnappers and bring them to justice, in conjunction with New Zealand, the United States of America, Papuans, and Indonesians capable of ensuring the protection of the unlawfully detained pilot. We proffer the involvement of the Trac5, the United Nations, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea for a Political and Diplomatic approach and pressure on Indonesia and kidnappers to allow this release to run smoothly and safely with courage and hope for the best outcome.
Indonesia took West Papua by International agreement namely 1. In the Round Table Conference from 23 August to 2 November 1959, the Netherlands recognized the Independence of Indonesia from Sabang to Amboina. Indonesia had claimed West New Guinea as a Part of the territory only two years after the Round Table Conference. Secret Document of Foreign Relations of the United States 1961-1963, volume XXXIII, Southeast Asia, Subject: West New Guinea. Sukarno had more and more grabbed power in the country, there was no Parliament in Indonesia, and really no government, the free press had also disappeared and Indonesia was very comparable to Cuba and Sukarno undermined the Round Table Conference. 2. The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) conducted the Act of Free Choice in West Papua rather than a Referendum following the UN Mechanism and only 10,25 persons voted favored Indonesia representing 800,000 Papua people and undermined New York Agreement article 18 etc. 3. Only 25 Years from 1969 to 1988, the UN gave Special Autonomy Law number 12 Year 1969 to West Papua and Indonesia totaly had failed to implementation in West Papua and after independence of East Timore in 1999 in 2001 Indonesia and international did agree to give Special Autonomy Law number 21 Year 2001 and end on 1 November 2021. Indonesia totally failed to implement it in West Papua. 4. On 23 March 1973, the United Nations RECOGNIZED West Irian now West Papua is DISTINGUISHED from Indonesia
West Papua joined Indonesia because of all the International agreements mentioned above and West Papua is not an Indonesia affair or domestic affair and NOT a MILITARY APPROACH BUT INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL APPROACH AND NOW THIS IS TIME TO BRING WEST PAPUA BACK TO THE UNITED NATIONS AGENDA.
The People of West Papua are of Pacific race and have closer affinity and share common customs and traditions with the people of PapuaNew Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, Cook Islands, Federal States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.
The Special Autonomy Law 21 2001 will end on 1 November 2021 during 20 years Indonesian government never implemented it well in its entirety in the land of West Papua to be more specific the Special Autonomy has totally failed in West Papua and it never protected nor brought general welfare to the Indigenous people of West Papua. The Executive Government of the Federal Republic of West Papua is prepared and ready to take over the power from Indonesia’s authority in the entire land of West Papua at the end of the Special Autonomy in West Papua in 2021. Now no authority of Indonesia in West Papua or vacuum of power.
The Executive government of the Federal Republic of West Papua can take over the power from Indonesia by gradually and It is seeking political recognition of independence from the United Nations and the United Nations will grant us membership and an orderly and Peaceful transition and transfer of power from the state of Indonesia to the State of West Papua which shall be carried out under the auspices of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force
The Federal Republic of West Papua will guarantee all Indonesian people and Foreigners presently residing in West Papua the right to citizenship and ensure their safety and security from the time of independence and beyond.
The Federal Republic of West Papua is a peace-loving state which accepts the obligations contained in the present UN Charter and we are able and willing to carry out these obligations.
Written by:
Yoab Syatfle
Prime Minister of the Executive Government of the Federal Republic of West Papua