Why Papua's Security Condition Continue to Deteriorate?

Three New Zealand diplomats arrived in Timika, the capital of Mimika Regency, Central Papua, to monitor the search for Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens who was held hostage by the Free Papua Organization (OPM). According to Radio New Zealand (RNZ), Wednesday, the three diplomats present were Deputy Head of the New Zealand Diplomatic Mission for ASEAN Brendan Andrew Stanbury, as well as Patrick John Fitzgibbon and Alexander Mcsporran from the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta.

The three diplomats were accompanied by two Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff. Upon arrival in Papua, the three diplomats attended a meeting chaired by the Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Pangkogabwilhan) III Lieut. Gen. I Nyoman Cantiasa. They hoped that the Indonesian government would soon find and release the pilot.

Mehrtens was threatened with death if the Indonesian government refused to declare Papuan independence, in a video circulating in the media. Mehrtens was kidnapped after the rebel group attacked Paro Airstrip. Susi Pudjiastuti, former Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and founder of Susi Air asks the Indonesian people to pray for the safety of Mehrtens. "Please support and pray for the safety of our pilots," wrote Susi on her Twitter account.