A New Zealand pilot being held hostage in Indonesia's remote Papua region says the Indonesian Army has been dropping bombs in the area where a separatist group is holding him.
The West Papua Liberation Army – the military wing of the Free Papua Organisation – released a new video on Wednesday showing that pilot Phillip Mehrtens was still alive and well.
Mr Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot, was abducted by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in February after landing in the remote region of Nduga.
The rebel group has vowed to not release the pilot until Indonesia grants independence to its Papua provinces, which make up the western half of New Guinea island.
The separatists have waged a low-level fight for independence since the resource-rich region, once governed by the Netherlands, was brought under Indonesian control following a controversial United-Nations-backed referendum in 1969.
The TPNPB has shared photographs and videos on several occasions previously.
In the new video, Mr Mehrtens speaks in both English and Indonesian, and appeals to the Indonesian government to stop dropping bombs in the area.
"As you can see, I'm still alive," he says in the video.
"I'm healthy. I've been eating well, drinking. I live with the people here. We travel together as required. We sit together. We rest together.
"Indonesia has been dropping bombs in the area over the last week, and please there's no need. It's dangerous for me and everybody here.
"Thank you for your support."
Indonesia's military earlier this month sent soldiers in to try to rescue Mr Mehrtens, but several were shot dead in a rebel ambush.
Indonesian authorities have said they will continue to prioritise a peaceful approach to securing Mr Mehrtens's release.
The kidnapping of the pilot is the second that independence fighters have committed since 1996, when the rebels abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission in Mapenduma.
Two Indonesians in that group were killed by their abductors, but the remaining hostages were eventually freed within five months.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to comment on the latest video.
The Indonesian government has also been approached for comment.
ABC/wires
