Phillip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot kidnapped by an armed group in Indonesia’s Papua region, has been released after more than 18 months in captivity. New Zealand’s foreign minister announced Mehrtens’ freedom on Saturday, confirming that he is safe and in good health.
Mehrtens, who was taken hostage on February 7, 2023, by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), expressed his relief and gratitude in a press conference in Timika, Indonesia. “I am very happy that shortly I will be able to go home and meet my family,” Mehrtens said, thanking everyone who contributed to his rescue.
The TPNPB had kidnapped Mehrtens to pressure New Zealand into lobbying for Papua’s independence from Indonesia, a demand that seemed highly unlikely to be met. The armed group, which the Indonesian government classifies as a terrorist organization, has previously used hostages to advance its pro-independence cause.
New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, expressed his relief in a statement, noting that a coordinated effort by New Zealand’s government and officials in Indonesia had led to Mehrtens’ safe release.
The West Papua region, which was annexed by Indonesia following a disputed 1969 referendum, has seen ongoing conflict between Indonesian authorities and separatist groups seeking independence. During his captivity, Mehrtens appeared in several proof-of-life videos, showing him in deteriorating condition, often surrounded by armed fighters.