New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed after more than 18 months in captivity in Indonesia’s Papua

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed after more than 18 months in captivity in Indonesia’s Papua region.

Mehrtens, 37, was taken hostage in February 2021 by the West Papua Liberation Army (WPLA), an armed separatist group. He was held in the Bintang Mountains regency of Papua, a remote and rugged region with limited infrastructure and access.

The WPLA is fighting for independence for Papua, which has been part of Indonesia since 1969. The group has been accused of human rights abuses, including the killing of civilians and the kidnapping of foreign nationals.

Mehrtens is the first foreign national to be held hostage by the WPLA since 2018. His release came after negotiations between the Indonesian government and the WPLA.

The New Zealand government welcomed Mehrtens’ release, and praised the Indonesian government for its efforts to secure his freedom.

In a statement, the New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said, “We are relieved and grateful that Phillip Mehrtens has been released and is safe. This has been a long and difficult ordeal for Phillip and his family, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them.”

Mehrtens was released on Monday, July 11, 2023, and is now in the custody of the Indonesian authorities. He is expected to be returned to New Zealand in the coming days.

The Indonesian government has not released any details about the negotiations that led to Mehrtens’ release, but it is believed that the WPLA was paid a ransom in exchange for his freedom.

The release of Mehrtens is a significant victory for the Indonesian government, which has been under pressure to resolve the hostage crisis. It is also a relief for Mehrtens’ family and friends, who have been campaigning for his release since he was taken hostage.