A week ago, an armed separatist movement abducted a New Zealand archaeologist and two local guides in a mountainous region of Papua New Guinea. The kidnappers demanded $1 million. The hostages are free again after a "covert operation".
In Papua New Guinea, a New Zealand archaeologist and two other people have been released after being held hostage for a week. Prime Minister James Marape said the three abductees had been "successfully returned". A week ago they were abducted by an armed group in an impassable mountain region. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the local separatist movement, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Police said they had previously negotiated with the kidnappers, who initially demanded a $1 million ransom within 24 hours, but later softened their demands. According to Marape, the original ransom demand was not met. The hostages were freed after "covert operations," he said, without giving details.
Those released are a New Zealander who is a professor at an Australian university and his two local companions from Papua New Guinea. According to Prime Minister Marape, it was the first time in his country that such a ransom had been extorted. Marape had previously said his government was taking the case "very, very seriously."
The Indonesian-ruled region of Papua in the western half of New Guinea has been the scene of separatist uprisings since the 1960s. The province was annexed to Indonesia in 1969 in a United Nations-sponsored vote. For years there have been repeated violent conflicts in the resource-rich region. The east of the island north of Australia is the independent country of Papua New Guinea.
