A man, identified as Philip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot who is said to be held hostage by a pro-independence group, stands among the separatist fighters in Indonesia’s Papua region, in this undated picture released on Feb. 14, 2023. (The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB)/Handout via Reuters)
Two Australian men have been charged with allegedly trafficking firearms to the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB), a violent paramilitary group based in Indonesia.
The two-year investigation, which led to the arrests, was launched after members of the group kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens in February 2023 on a remote airstrip in the Indonesian province of West Papua.
