New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens freed by Papua rebels

A New Zealand pilot who has been freed greater than 19 months after being taken hostage by separatists in Indonesia says he’s “very pleased” to be going dwelling to his household.

Philip Mehrtens was kidnapped by West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military fighters in February 2023 and was launched after prolonged negotiations into the care of Indonesian officers on Saturday.

He appeared earlier than cameras wanting skinny and with a full beard however is claimed to be in good well being.

The 38-year-old was kidnapped after he landed a small business airplane within the distant, mountainous space of Nduga.

“At present I’ve been freed. I’m very pleased that shortly I will go dwelling and meet my household,” Mr Mehrtens, talking in Indonesian, informed reporters in Timika.

“Thanks for everyone who helped me right this moment, so I can get out safely in a wholesome situation.”

His launch follows months of “crucial” diplomatic efforts by authorities in Wellington and Jakarta.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed the discharge and New Zealand international minister Winston Peters added: “His household might be completely over the moon”.

Indonesian police spokesperson Bayu Suseno mentioned Mr Mehrtens was launched after which picked up in a village referred to as Yuguru within the Maibarok district earlier than being flown to the town of Timika.

A number of days earlier than the discharge, rebels informed the BBC Indonesian service they’d free Mr Mehrtens “safely and in accordance with worldwide requirements for the safety of human rights”.

“We the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB), stay dedicated to upholding the values of peace, respect and dignity on this state of affairs,” spokesman Sebby Sambom mentioned.

The pilot, a father-of-one, is being flown to Jakarta to be reunited together with his household.

He was kidnapped after his small passenger airplane – which belongs to Indonesia’s Susi Air – landed in Nduga in February final 12 months.

He was meant to return a couple of hours later after dropping off 5 passengers however shortly after touchdown, rebels focused the single-engine airplane and seized him.

The 5 different passengers, who had been indigenous Papuans, had been launched.

The kidnapping was a part of a long-running, usually brutally violent battle between the Indonesian authorities and West Papua’s indigenous folks.

In April, at least one Indonesian soldier was killed after being ambushed by rebels whereas looking for the kidnapped New Zealander within the Papua area.

Final month one other New Zealand pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot dead by a pro-independence group referred to as Free Papua Organisation (OPM) after touchdown within the area with two Indonesian well being staff and two kids, all of whom survived.

Authorities mentioned the group answerable for Mr Conning’s loss of life is identical that was holding Mr Mehrtens.

A spokesperson from the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military beforehand informed the BBC Indonesian service they wished to carry Mr Mehrtens captive till international locations “like New Zealand and Australia” took accountability for his or her alleged function in violence in Papua.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo mentioned on Saturday that Jakarta had been capable of safe Mr Mehrtens’ security by means of ongoing negotiation, and never pressure.

Chatting with reporters he mentioned: “We prioritised the protection of the pilot who was held hostage. It took a protracted course of”.

The area is a former Dutch colony divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua. It’s separate from Papua New Guinea, which secured independence from Australia in 1975.

Papuan rebels in search of independence from Indonesia have beforehand issued threats and attacked plane they imagine to be carrying personnel and provides for Jakarta.

The resource-rich area has been caught in a battle for independence because it was introduced underneath Indonesia’s management in a disputed UN-supervised vote in 1969.

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