The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the military wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has been holding Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage since February 7. The TPNPB is demanding pressure on the Indonesian Military (TNI) to withdraw from Papua, a significant reduction in TNI troops and recognition of an independent Papua.
West Papua has long demanded independence from Indonesia. However, as home to the largest golden copper mine in the world, the Indonesian government stands to lose a large amount of money if West Papua is no longer under their control.
In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua – like Indonesia, a former Dutch colony – and annexed the region. The liberation movement has been struggling since then.
In the meantime, Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he would support the United Liberation Movement for West Papua joining the Melanesian Spearhead group, a sub-regional group in which the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has observer status.
If ULMWP were to join, it would be a step toward formal recognition of the region, which the MSG has considered taking for the past 10 years now.