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Rebels in Indonesia's Papua kill helicopter pilot from New Zealand, authorities say

Separatist rebels in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua on Monday killed a. helicopter pilot from New Zealand, police stated, including four. travelers aboard the airplane were safe.

The pilot was eliminated right away after rebels rounded up. those on board after the helicopter landed in a separated location,. cops stated in a declaration.

It comes nearly 18 months after the kidnapping by rebels of. another pilot from New Zealand, Phillip Mehrtens, who stays in. captivity.

Authorities stated the group accountable for Monday's incident in. Alama district in the Central Papua province was the exact same group. that is holding Mehrtens.

The rebel West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said. it had not gotten a report of the event cited by cops and. could not immediately validate the killing of the pilot on. Monday.

A low-level fight for self-reliance from Indonesia has actually raved. in the resource-rich western half of Papua, where attacks by. self-reliance fighters have grown deadlier and more regular as. they have actually procured much better weaponry.

A spokesperson for the TPNPB had on Saturday stated it had. accepted free Mehrtens, who was kidnapped on Feb. 7 in 2015. after he landed a small business airplane in the remote,. mountainous location of Nduga.

The New Zealand federal government has consistently called for him to. be freed immediately and the group has actually launched videos of him. several times looking for mediation in talks, one with him. surrounded by Papuan fighters.

New Zealand's foreign ministry and its embassy in Jakarta. did not immediately respond to a request for discuss Monday's. event.

(source: Reuters)