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☆ Indonesia is heading to the polls to elect Jokowi's presidential successor
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Presidential candidate and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar, presidential candidate and Indonesia's Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, presidential candidate and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD (from left to right) react on the stage during the last presidential election debate at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta on February 4, 2024. More than 200 million voters in Indonesia are heading to more than 800,000 polling stations in the world's third-largest democracy on Wednesday to elect President Joko Widodo's successor, a new national House of Representatives and various local legislators. Widodo, also popularly known as Jokowi, beat Probowo in the last two presidential elections. Some of the latest opinion polls showed Probowo netting more than 50% of the vote against two other opponents. Voters have six hours to cast their five ballots for their preferred presidential and vice presidential pairing, as well as legislators at the national, provincial and regency level, along with a regional senator for the national parliament.

Persons: Anies Baswedan, Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ganjar Pranowo, Mahfud, Joko Widodo's, Probowo Subianto, general's, Widodo, Probowo, It's, Richard Borsuk Organizations: Indonesia's Defence, Central Java, Jakarta Convention, of, Defense, Nanyang Technological, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, CNBC, Gerindra Party Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Nusantara

☆ Indonesia election: Over 200 million will head to the polls across vast nation in world’s biggest election day
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —More than 200 million eligible voters will head to the polls in Indonesia on Wednesday, in what is billed as the world’s biggest single-day election. Mascots depicting presidential candidate and Indonesia's Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (L) and vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka (R) in an election event on February 5, 2024. He has strong links with Islamic political groups, and his vice-presidential pick, Muhaimin Iskandar, is the leader of Indonesia’s largest Muslim political party, the National Awakening Party. A presidential candidate needs a simple majority of at least 50% of total votes and 20% of votes in more than half of the country’s 38 provinces to win. The use and abuse of AIWith more than 210 million Internet users, Indonesia boasts one of the world’s largest digital populations.

Persons: Suharto’s, Prabowo Subianto, he’s, Suharto, ” Kenneth Roth, Ganjar, Mahfud, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Adek Berry, Anies Baswedan, Muhaimin Iskandar, Anies, –, Basuki Tjahaja, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Prabowo, Gibran, Jokowi’s, ”, Adrian Vickers, Vickers, “, Yusof, Maria Monica Wihardja, ” Wihardja, Sayyidatiihayaa, Satya Bumi, ” Sayyidatiihayaa, Ulet Ifansasti Organizations: CNN, Human Rights Watch, Princeton University, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Indonesia's Defence, Getty, Former Jakarta, Islamic, National Awakening Party, University of Sydney, Prabowo, Lembaga, Transparency International, Indonesia Locations: Indonesia, United States, Central Java, Jakarta, Indonesia’s, AFP, Chinese, Indonesian, Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Nusantara, Borneo

It is a three-way race for the presidency among current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and two former provincial governors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo. While he is the oldest candidate, his running mate is the youngest: 36-year-old Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Widodo's son. His running mate is Mohammad Mahfud, who resigned as security minister to focus on campaigning. He is also a former defense minister, justice minister and chief justice of the Constitutional Court. His choice of Muhaimin Iskandar as his running mate in Wednesday's election is viewed as an attempt to rebuild that support.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Anies, Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Suharto, Widodo's, Raka, —, GANJAR, Pranowo, ” Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud, ANIES, Baswedan, Widodo, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Muhaimin Iskandar, Iskandar’s, ” Organizations: SUBIANTO, Gerindra Party, Constitutional, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Central Java, FIFA, Islamic, Fulbright, Awakening Party, Ulama, Associated Press Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jordan, Surakarta, Central, Israel, Jakarta, Chinese, Wednesday's, Nusantara, Borneo

☆ Indonesia election: Young voters will decide the country’s future, here’s what they care about
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Rachel Wilson | Rosa Deacostanoya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

With a majority of the electorate under 40 years of age, the candidates are all vying for young voters to claim victory. On the ground, young voters are struggling to find jobs that suit their aspirations.” Yoes Kenawas, doctoral candidate at Northwestern UniversityIn addition to these economic concerns, more young voters also now worry about climate change. The social media battlegroundNearly 80% of people in Indonesia are connected to the internet and people aged 16 to 64 spend an average of more than three hours a day on social media, according to the We Are Social 2023 Digital Report, which provides global social media insights. Wednesday’s results will potentially offer a verdict on how effective social media campaigns have been in addressing young voters’ worries. There is a concern that young voters could get trapped in “a political campaign that is relying on gimmicks,” Kenawas said.

Persons: Indonesia’s, Joko Widodo, Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, — Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Raka, Widodo’s, Subianto, Abigail Limuria, Bijak, ” Abigail Limuria, ”, Yoes Kenawas, ” Yoes Kenawas, Instagram, Kenawas, Muhaimin Iskandar, Mahfud, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Subianto’s, Widodo, He’s, he’s, ’, ” Kenawas Organizations: CNN, Indonesia, Indonesian Defense, CNN Indonesia, Center for Strategic, International Studies, International Labour Organization, Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency, Northwestern University, “, CSIS, Widodo Locations: Central Java, Jakarta, Swiss, Indonesia, policymaking, CNN Indonesia

☆ Factbox-Candidates for Indonesia's Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

(Reuters) - Indonesia holds a presidential election on Feb. 14, with three contenders vying to succeed incumbent Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, as leader of the world's third-largest democracy and its most populous Muslim-majority nation. He is not a member of a political party but is backed by three parties, including a secular party in the ruling coalition and the conservative Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). He is the nephew of the late Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, a well-respected former president and religious leader. After losing the 2019 election, he was appointed defence minister by Jokowi, a move analysts say helped heal divisions. Prabowo chairs the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party, which endorsed him as its presidential candidate last year.

Persons: Joko Widodo, ANIES BASWEDAN, Jokowi, Anies, Basuki Tjahaja, Muhaimin Iskandar, Imin, Abdurrahman Wahid, Gus Dur, Ganjar, Mahfud, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Suharto, Prabowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Gibran, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Fulbright, Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, National Awakening Party, Ulama, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Israel, Islamic, NU, Mahfud, Great Indonesia Movement, Constitutional Locations: Indonesia, Jakarta, Chinese, East Java, Central Java, Surakarta

☆ TikTok election? Indonesia's presidential hopefuls battle it out on social media
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Joseph Rachman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Indonesia's presidential election is due 14 February and candidates are going all out to win over voters in this country of 274 million. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesJAKARTA — Indonesia's presidential hopefuls are pulling out all stops to win over voters on social media ahead of the Feb. 14 election. This time it's the TikTok election," says Aryo Seno Bagaskoro, a young spokesperson for the presidential campaign of Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java. One of his supporters is a 22-year-old female student who posts on social media platform X about Anies and his campaign using Korean hangul captions. The Ganjar campaign has gimmicks of its own too, such as "Top Gun"-style jackets and penguin symbols.

Persons: TikTok, Seno, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo, Ganjar, Anies, belying, Karaniya Dharmasaputra, Mahfud, Pak Mahfud Organizations: Getty, Central Java, Defense, CNBC Locations: JAKARTA, Central, Indonesia, Jakarta, Islam, TikTok

☆ Indonesia Leader Accused of Bias, Interference in Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

In Indonesia, sitting presidents are allowed to campaign for candidates provided they do not use state resources and take official leave to do so, but incumbents have typically remained neutral. The furore has prompted Jokowi to repeatedly clarify his stance and even show reporters print-outs of the election law to clear his name. "Some of our campaign activities were indeed cancelled or not permitted by various local governments...and non-governmental entities, which likely were influenced by those in power," said Ade Chandra, a campaign spokesperson for rival presidential candidate Anies Baswedan. State rice handouts have allegedly included Prabowo campaign stickers, prompting complaints from rivals, according to media. Discontent with Jokowi's actions is also extending to his cabinet, from which chief security minister Mahfud MD, who is a vice presidential candidate on a rival ticket, has said he will resign soon.

Persons: Kate Lamb, Stanley Widianto, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Jokowi, Ade Chandra, Anies Baswedan, Mahfud, Kanupriya Kapoor, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defence, Prabowo, Gadjah Mada University Locations: Stanley Widianto JAKARTA, Indonesia, alma, Gadjah Mada

☆ Indonesia Chief Security Minister to Tender Resignation 'Soon'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's Chief Security Minister and vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD on Wednesday said that he would tender his resignation to President Joko Widodo once he has the chance to meet the president. Mahfud did not say why he would be stepping down from the job. Mahfud is the running mate of former provincial governor Ganjar Pranowo, who is up against Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, and ex-Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan. Mahfud's resignation comes amid speculation and reports in local media about the potential resignation of respected Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. The finance ministry has said Sri Mulyani is continuing to carry out her duties in managing state finances.

Persons: Mahfud, Joko Widodo, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, Anies Baswedan, Mahfud's, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Mulyani, Ganjar, Prabowo, Widodo's, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty Organizations: Defence Locations: JAKARTA, Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ Indonesians head to the polls in February. Here are key issues dominating the elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Randy Mulyanto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Indonesia is preparing to hold general elections for president and vice president for the 2024-2029 period in February 2024. The world's third-largest democracy will open its polls to over 204 million eligible voters casting their ballots, according to its General Elections Commission. While having greater opposition representation in Indonesia's parliament could raise the bar for passing such laws, Titi said there's still a very high barrier to entry for the candidacy process. According to Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2023 report, Indonesia ranked "partly free," scoring 58 out of 100. But for some Indonesians, the cozier relationship has also sparked debt-trap fears and concerns about an influx of Chinese workers.

Persons: Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar, Aditya Irawan, Joko, Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo, Gibran, Anies, Titi Anggraini, Titi, there's, Indonesia's, Singapore's ISEAS — Yusof, Lina Alexandra Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, JAKARTA —, Commission, Solo, National Awakening Party, Central Java, Politik, Nusantara, Association for Elections, Democracy, CNBC, Constitutional, House's, Institute, Indonesia's, of Economic, Law Studies, Initiative, Strategic, International Studies, Hamas, Lowy Institute Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, JAKARTA — Indonesia, Central, Politik Indonesia, Nusantara, Borneo, China, Beijing, Southeast Asia, Southeast, Israel, Australian

☆ Campaigning gets underway in Indonesia for February presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Recent surveys have showed former special forces commander Prabowo leading with Ganjar second and Anies a distant third. Prabowo and his vice-presidential pick Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Widodo, will start their campaign at a later date. The candidates will appear in debates organised by the election commission in the coming weeks, with no schedule unveiled so far. About 205 million of Indonesia's more than 270 million population are eligible to vote in the election. Reporting by Ananda Teresia, Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ganjar, Anies Baswedan, Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo, Joko Widodo, Prabowo, Mahfud, Muhaimin, Widodo, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: Defence, Java, Thomson Locations: Mahfud, Jakarta, JAKARTA, Indonesia, Papua, Aceh province, Anies, Muhaimin Iskandar, East Java's Surabaya, Prabowo

☆ Indonesia presidential contender Ganjar takes slim lead in new poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Oct. 26-31 survey by Charta Politika showed 36.8% of the 2,400 respondents backed the ruling party's Ganjar while 34.7% supported Prabowo, with 24.3% in favour of Anies Baswedan, Jakarta's former governor. Charta Politika's surveys since 2021 have mostly put Ganjar in the lead. However, Yunarto Wijaya, executive director of Charta Politika said Prabowo's decision to run with the president's son had contributed to Ganjar's lead in the latest poll. "Gibran has weakened Prabowo, the issue of dynastic politics, Jokowi, his family, the court's ruling," Yunarto said. Reporting by Stanley Widianto and Ananda Teresia; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, Anies, Prabowo, Ganjar, Charta, Joko, Jokowi, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, kingmaker, Gibran, Yunarto Wijaya, Yunarto, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Charta Politika, Central Java, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA

☆ Indonesia says 200,000 hectares of palm plantations to be made forests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of a palm oil plantation in Siak regency, Riau province, Indonesia, April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Some 200,000 hectares (494,210 acres) of oil palm plantations found in areas designated as forests in Indonesia are expected to be returned to the state to be converted back into forests, a government official said late on Tuesday. While 3.3 million hectares (8.1 million acres) of the country's nearly 17 million hectares of palm plantation have been found in forests, only owners of plantations with a combined size of 1.67 million hectares have been identified, forestry ministry secretary general Bambang Hendroyono told reporters. Indonesia's chief security minister Mahfud MD has threatened to pursue legal action against palm oil companies that use land illegally after the Thursday deadline passes. Indonesia has launched several programmes to improve governance in its massive palm oil industry, amid criticism by environmentalists of the crop's impact on deforestation.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Bambang Hendroyono, Bambang, Mahfud, Bernadette Christina, Gayatri Suroyo, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Officials, Thomson Locations: Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

The presidential race is expected to be dominated by three men - Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, and popular former governors Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan, both 54 years of age. The camps of Anies and Ganjar have signalled they will register and present their policy platforms at the election commission on Thursday, when a seven-day window opens to join the five-yearly contest. Opinion polls show Ganjar neck-and-neck with Prabowo, who is making a third run at the presidency having lost to Jokowi in 2014 and 2019. Former special forces commander Prabowo has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, an issue that has dominated headlines in recent days amid speculation he will be joined by Jokowi's 36-year-old son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Additional reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo, Anies, Mahfud, Muhaimin Iskandar, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Defence, Jokowi, Former Jakarta, Islamic, Jokowi's, Constitutional, Prabowo, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Anies

☆ Indonesia ruling party picks security minister Mahfud MD for VP candidate - chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Indonesian Chief Security Minister Mohammad Mahfud MD gestures as he talks during an interview at his office in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. Picture taken December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Indonesia's chief security minister Mahfud MD has been chosen to run with the ruling party's presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, said party head Megawati Sukarnoputri on Wednesday. Indonesia is set to hold simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on Feb. 14, 2024. Reporting by Stanley WidiantoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohammad Mahfud, Mahfud, Ganjar Pranowo, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Stanley Widianto Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

☆ Candidates for Indonesia's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A recent poll of potential candidates by Lembaga Survei Indonesia showed Prabowo top with the support of 34% support. After losing the 2019 election, Jokowi appointed Prabowo defence minister, a move analysts say helped heal divisions. Prabowo chairs the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party, which endorsed him as its presidential candidate last year. Erick Thohir - A businessman-turned-politician who once owned Italian football giant Inter Milan, Erick, 53, heads Indonesia's football association and serves as State Owned Enterprises Minister. Khofifah Indar Parawansa - One of Indonesia's most prominent female politicians, the popular, 58-year-old East Java governor has been courted by all three presidential candidates.

Persons: Ganjar Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Antara, PRABOWO SUBIANTO, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Prabowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Gibran, Erick Thohir, Erick, Indar, Khofifah, Ganjar, Mahfud, BASWEDAN, Anies, Basuki Tjahaja, Muhaimin, Imin, Abdurrahman Wahid, Gus Dur, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Lembaga, Great Indonesia Movement, Inter Milan, State Owned Enterprises, Ulama, Indonesia's, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Israel, Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, National Awakening Party, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Surakarta, Italian, Central Java, Jokowi, Chinese, East Java

☆ Indonesia ruling party's presidential candidate to announce running mate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The presidential candidate of Indonesia's ruling party will announce his choice of running mate on Wednesday, amid last-minute manoeuvring by the country's political heavyweights to shore up alliances ahead of the 2024 election. The world's third-largest democracy is set to vote in February to replace President Joko Widodo or Jokowi, who has served the maximum two terms allowed. Other possible running mates for Ganjar include Bandung city Mayor Ridwan Kamil, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno, and former military chief Andika Perkasa, according to party sources. Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan is also running for president but trailing in surveys. Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Ganjar Pranowo, Mahfud, Osman Sapta Odang, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Jokowi's, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ridwan Kamil, Sandiaga Uno, Andika Perkasa, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Anies Baswedan, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Miral Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Central Java, Jokowi, Ganjar, Tourism, Sandiaga, PDI, Former Jakarta, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Central, Bandung, Mahfud

☆ Indonesia, SpaceX launch satellite to boost internet connectivity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA, June 19 (Reuters) - Indonesia and Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX on Monday launched the country's largest telecommunication satellite from the United States, in a $540 million project intended to link up remote corners of the archipelago to the internet. Roughly two-thirds of Indonesia's 280 million population already use the internet, but connectivity is limited in far-flung, underdeveloped eastern islands of the Southeast Asian country. The satellite will occupy the orbital slot above Indonesia's eastern Papua region. It has a throughput capacity of 150 gigabytes per second and will provide internet access to 50,000 public service points, the Indonesian government said. The project is a public-private partnership between the government and Indonesian satellite service provider PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga.

Persons: Elon, Dewi Kurniawati, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Elon Musk's, SpaceX, Monday, Thales Alenia Space, PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, United States, Indonesian, Republic of Indonesia, Florida, Papua

[1/2] A worker carries election materials as he prepares ballot boxes before their distribution to polling stations in a warehouse in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 15, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File PhotoSummary District court had no power to delay ballot - high courtIndonesia must turn focus back to election - ministerLower court ruling plunged Indonesia into uncertaintyJAKARTA, April 11 (Reuters) - An Indonesian court on Tuesday overturned a lower court's controversial order to delay the 2024 national elections by two years, arguing it had overstepped its jurisdiction and had no authority to make the decision. The district court has said it accepted the case because other courts would not take it on. "The court ruling has affirmed that general court has no authority or absolute competence to settle this case," he told Reuters. Jokowi's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the court ruling.

☆ Indonesia vows restraint as troops surround separatists holding NZ pilot
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB)/Handout via REUTERSJAKARTA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Security forces in Indonesia's restive Papua region have surrounded separatists holding captive a New Zealand pilot, but will exercise restraint while negotiations for his release continue, a top security official said on Tuesday. The rebels say they will not release Mehrtens, 37, unless Indonesia's government recognises the region's independence and withdraws its troops. Chief security minister, Mahfud MD said security forces had found the location of the group holding the pilot but would refrain from actions that might endanger his life. He did not elaborate on the location or what steps Indonesia might take to free the pilot. Security forces have previously said a "law enforcement operation" had been planned, but only as a last resort if negotiations failed.

☆ Rebels in Indonesia's Papua say images show abducted NZ pilot in good health
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Separatists in Indonesia's restive Papua region have released images that they say show a New Zealand pilot taken hostage last week is in good health, but pledged he would not be freed until authorities acknowledge the independence of the area. The pilot, Philip Mehrtens, who flew a plane operated by airline Susi Air, was abducted by fighters from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) last week after landing in the remote region of Nduga. One of the fighters is holding up the "Morning Star" flag, a symbol of Papuan independence. In a statement accompanying the images, Sambom said that the pilot was in good health and that he was collateral in a political dispute. Reporting by Kate Lamb and Stanley Widianto Editing by Ed Davies and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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