{"id":188993,"date":"2023-11-22T17:28:59","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T17:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsneednews.com\/?p=188993"},"modified":"2023-11-22T17:28:59","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T17:28:59","slug":"moment-rebel-wearing-union-jack-headband-points-gun-at-head-of-captive-pilot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsneednews.com\/world-news\/moment-rebel-wearing-union-jack-headband-points-gun-at-head-of-captive-pilot\/","title":{"rendered":"Moment rebel wearing Union Jack headband points gun at head of captive pilot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A new chilling image of a pilot taken hostage by a group of separatist rebels has been shared.<\/p>\n

Members of the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) captured Philip Mark Mehrtens, a 37-year-old New Zealander, on February 7.<\/p>\n

For the past 10 months, Mr Mehrtens has been held by the group based in the Indonesian region of Papua.<\/p>\n

Now, in a new video, the rebels announced the pilot will be executed if their demands are not met within two months.<\/p>\n

A striking image from the clip shows dozens of armed rebels surrounding the pilot, who sits down on the grass with his hands crossed in front of him.<\/p>\n

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One of the fighters standing close to the camera can be seen wearing a Union Jack headband as he makes his demands and points his automatic rifle at Mr Mehrtens’ head.<\/p>\n

Information regarding when and where the video was filmed has not been released.<\/p>\n

The TPNPB has in the past called for Papua to break away from Indonesia.<\/p>\n

This insurgent group, the armed wing of the Free Papua Organisation, has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Indonesia.<\/p>\n

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New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry is aware of the video and its government said efforts to secure the release of the hostage are ongoing.<\/p>\n

In mid-April, the Indonesian military had narrowed down the location of the pilot, but fighters were attacked by the TPNPB militants, who killed six of them and forced 21 more to flee.<\/p>\n

At the time, it was reported one soldier fell into a deep ravine and died, while others had come under attack trying to rescue him.<\/p>\n