A pilot from New Zealand has been liberated following 18 months of captivity in Indonesia’s Papua area.
Phillip Mehrtens was seized by separatist fighters associated with the West Papua Liberation Army after he landed a commercial aircraft on February 7 of the previous year.
He was scheduled to retrieve 15 construction workers who had been facing death threats while constructing a healthcare facility in the isolated Nduga district.
Indonesian law enforcement reported that the pilot was set free on Saturday, 19 months subsequent to his initial abduction, and is presently receiving medical assessments.
The New Zealand foreign affairs minister, Winston Peters, expressed, “We are pleased and relieved to announce that Phillip Mehrtens is safe, in good health, and has been able to communicate with his family. This news must be a tremendous relief for his friends and family.”
The rebel faction detained the pilot in an effort to initiate independence discussions with the Indonesian authorities. Pic: AP
The West Papua Liberation Army detained Mr. Mehrtens in an effort to facilitate independence negotiations with the Indonesian government. According to rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom, the passengers were set free because they were Papuan.
In May of last year, a video depicted the pilot appearing gaunt while showcasing the banned Morning Star flag – a symbol of Papuan sovereignty – surrounded by armed militants.
He stated that the insurgents were seeking involvement from other nations in the independence discussions and indicated that if “this does not occur within two months, they have threatened to execute me”.
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Papua was incorporated into Indonesia following a contentious vote in 1969, which has since triggered an ongoing insurgency characterized by consistent violence between native populations and government forces.
In more recent times, insurgents have gained access to superior weaponry, leading to an upsurge in confrontations.
