New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens freed by Papua rebels

A New Zealand pilot who was held captive by hardliners in Indonesia for more than 19 months says he is “very content” to be returning home to his family.

In February 2023, West Papua National Liberation Army soldiers kidnapped Philip Mehrtens, and he was freed after months of negotiations that included Saturday into Indonesian authorities ‘ treatment.

He appeared before devices sporting a full beard and appeared slender in appearance, but he is reportedly in great health.

The 38-year-old was kidnapped after he landed a tiny commercial airplane in the rural, mountainous region of Nduga.

” Now I have been freed. I am extremely happy that soon I will be able to move house and meet my home”, Mr Mehrtens, speaking in Indonesian, told investigators in Timika.

” Thank you for everyone who helped me now, so I can find out carefully in a healthy state”.

His release comes after months of” critical” diplomatic efforts by Wellington and Jakarta authorities.

New Zealand’s unusual secretary Winston Peters added:” His household will be completely over the sky.” New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon welcomed the launch.

According to Bayu Suseno, a police spokeswoman for Indonesia, Mr. Mehrtens was detained and then taken to a town in the Maibarok area before being flown to Timika.

Insurgents told the BBC Indonesian services that they would release Mr. Mehrtens” properly and in accordance with global standards for the protection of human rights” some days before the launch.

” We the West Papua National Liberation Army ( TPNPB), remain committed to upholding the values of peace, respect and dignity in this situation”, spokesman Sebby Sambom said.

The captain, a father-of-one, is being flown to Jakarta to been reunited with his family.

His tiny customer planes, which belongs to Indonesia’s Susi Air, made its way to Nduga in February of last year, and he was abducted.

He was scheduled to leave for a few days after dropping off five people, but rebels soon attacked the single-engine aircraft and seize him.

The five different people, who were indigenous Tribesmen, were released.

The Indonesian government and the indigenous people of West Papua have engaged in a long-running, frequently brutal fight.

In April, at least one Indonesian soldier was killed after being ambushed by rebels while searching for the kidnapped New Zealander in the Papua region.

Last month another New Zealand pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot dead by a pro-independence group known as Free Papua Organisation (OPM) after landing in the region with two Indonesian health workers and two children, all of whom survived.

Officials claimed that the same organization that was in charge of Mr. Conning’s death was in charge of Mr. Mehrtens.

Prior to now, a West Papua National Liberation Army spokesman previously stated to the BBC Indonesian services that they wanted to hold Mr. Mehrtens hostage until nations “like New Zealand and Australia” took responsibility for their alleged involvement in Papua’s crime.

Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia, claimed on Saturday that Jakarta had managed to secure Mr. Mehrtens ‘ safety through continuing negotiations rather than power.

He stated to reporters that” we gave the safety of the captain who was held captive a priority.” It took a long approach”.

The area is a former French colony divided into two counties, Papua and West Papua. It is distinct from PNG, which gained its independence from Australia in 1975.

Native rebels who want to secede from Indonesia have recently threatened and attacked aircraft they believe are carrying aid and personnel to Jakarta.

Since being brought under Indonesia’s power in a contentious UN-supervised voting in 1969, the resource-rich region has been at odds with itself.

Conflicts between indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian authorities have been common since, with pro-independence fighters mounting more frequent attacks since 2018.