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 happy” to be going residence 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 trying skinny and with a full beard however is alleged to be in good well being.

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

“Today I have been freed. I am very happy that shortly I will be able to go home and meet my family,” Mr Mehrtens, talking in Indonesian, informed reporters in Timika.

“Thank you for everybody who helped me today, so I can get out safely in a healthy condition.”

His launch follows months of “critical” 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 family will be absolutely 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 might free Mr Mehrtens “safely and in accordance with international standards for the protection of human rights”.

“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 mentioned.

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

He was kidnapped after his small passenger aircraft – 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 aircraft and seized him.

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

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

In April, a minimum of one Indonesian soldier was killed after being ambushed by rebels whereas trying to find the kidnapped New Zealander within the Papua area.

Final month one other New Zealand pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot useless 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 youngsters, all of whom survived.

Authorities mentioned the group chargeable for Mr Conning’s dying is similar 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 duty for his or her alleged position 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 safety of the pilot who was held hostage. It took a long process”.

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 consider 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 extra frequent assaults since 2018.