bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua and was in good health despite the 19-month-long ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said on Saturday.
Mehrtens was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels at Nduga airport in the restive region on February 7 last year.
“Today we have picked up pilot Phillip who is in good health and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of a special unit formed to handle rebels in Papua, said in a statement.
A joint task force of police and military picked up Mehrtens in a village of Nduga district early Saturday, Faizal said.
The released hostage was then given medical and psychological checks before he was flown to Papua’s city of Timika.
The New Zealand government said Mehrtens was doing well and had spoken to his family, which had been assisted by Wellington.
“We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk to his family,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
“This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones.”

Mehrtens was providing vital air links and supplies to remote communities at the time of his abduction by rebels from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) insurgent group.
His release came after intense diplomatic efforts by Wellington and Jakarta.
Rebels had demanded Indonesia recognise Papuan independence in return for his freedom.
A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it would comment later.
The TPNPB did not respond to a request for comment.
Last year, the independence fighters of the TPNPB set fire to the Susi Air plane, released five other passengers but held on to Mehrtens.
During his months-long ordeal in the Papuan countryside, the New Zealander made sporadic appearances on video, likely under duress, to address his family and his government.
The rebels said he was in good health throughout his captivity, but his appearance changed drastically over time, becoming gaunt, long-haired and with an unkempt beard in proof-of-life videos where he asked for medication to aid his asthma.
Indonesia maintains a heavy military presence in resource-rich but underdeveloped Papua to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.
Rebel attacks in the region have risen in recent years and flying is the only available option to reach remote mountainous areas there.
Another New Zealander pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot dead last month after landing in the region with two Indonesian health workers and two children, all of whom survived.
Papua’s Melanesian population shares few cultural connections with the rest of Indonesia and the military has long been accused of gross human rights abuses there.
The former Dutch colony declared independence in 1961, but neighbouring Indonesia took control two years later, promising a referendum. In 1969, a thousand Papuans voted to integrate into Indonesia in a United Nations-backed vote.
Papuan independence activists regularly criticise the vote and call for fresh polls, but Jakarta says its sovereignty over Papua is supported by the UN.


Trump 2.0 is forcing Asian economies to make hard choices fast

Last ‘Bali Nine’ prisoners back in Australia after 19 years

Is Indonesian ‘kingmaker’ Joko Widodo planning a political comeback?

With self-branded aid, Indonesia’s Gibran steals a page from Widodo’s political playbook

Indonesia

New Zealand pilot freed in Indonesia after 19-month hostage ordeal

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua and was in good health despite the 19-month-long ordeal. Photo: AFP

Mehrtens was taken hostage by rebels while flying as a pilot out in western Papua last year in February. Photo: AFP

Violence in Papua New Guinea near Barrick Gold mine leaves up to 50 dead: ‘situation is dire’

The Porgera gold mine in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Photo: Handout

Pope Francis called for an end to tribal violence during a recent visit to Papua New Guinea. Photo: AP

Indonesia’s Papua rebels ready to free New Zealand pilot held for over a year

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage by a separatist group in Indonesia in February 2023. Photo: West Papua Liberation Army/AP

Mehrtens (third from left) was abducted by independence fighters in remote Nduga district in February 2023. West Papua Liberation Army/AP

New Zealand helicopter pilot killed in attack in Indonesia’s restive Papua region

Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s easternmost region of Papua on Monday killed a helicopter pilot from New Zealand,. Photo: Shutterstock


The armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, Papuan separatist rebels pose for a photo with a man they said is New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens who they took hostage in February 2023. Photo: West Papua Liberation Army via AP

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Australasia

Phillip Mehrtens was working for an Indonesian airline when he was taken by rebels in Papua last year


Phillip Mehrtens was working for an Indonesian airline when he was taken by rebels in Papua last year.


New Zealand

Diplomacy

War and conflict

Pacific nations