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West Papua Liberation Army rebels torch the plane that Phillip Mehrtens was piloting Photo: Supplied/TPNPB
A statement released yesterday from the West Papua National Liberation Army, Major General Terianus Satto, says the group will release New Zealand hostage Phillip Mehrtens "through the Jurisdiction [sic] of the Secretary General of the United Nations".
A Jakarta based human rights researcher; Andreas Harsono says Mr Mehrtens release is dependent on an independent third party.
Mr Harsono says the UN could be problematic because of its relationship with Indonesia.
He tells RNZ Pacific's Caleb Fotheringham the liberation army has agreed that there is no benefit of keeping Mr Mehrtens.