23-9-2024 (JAKARTA) New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity after being held for 19 months by separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region. The 38-year-old aviator, who was working for Indonesian carrier Susi Air when he was abducted on 7 February 2022, is reported to be in good health despite his prolonged ordeal.
Mehrtens was collected by a joint task force of Indonesian police and military personnel from a village in Nduga district early Saturday. Following medical and psychological evaluations, he was flown to Timika, a city in Papua, before being transferred to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Speaking to reporters in Timika, a visibly relieved Mehrtens expressed his gratitude in Indonesian: “Today I have been freed. I am very happy that shortly I will be able to go home and meet my family. Thank you to everybody who helped me today, so I can get out safely in a healthy condition.”
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, confirmed Mehrtens’ safe release, stating that the pilot had been able to speak with his family. “This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones,” Peters remarked.
#NewZealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed from captivity in Indonesia’s Papua
An armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, kidnapped Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2023, after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous area… pic.twitter.com/WUnQS75mRP
— DD News (@DDNewslive) September 21, 2024
The release comes after intense diplomatic efforts by both Wellington and Jakarta. Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasised that Mehrtens’ freedom was secured through negotiation rather than force. “We prioritised the safety of the pilot who was held hostage. It took a long process, and I appreciate the authorities,” Widodo told reporters.
Mehrtens’ captors, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), had initially demanded recognition of Papuan independence in exchange for his release. However, a TPNPB spokesman later accused another faction of the rebel group of accepting a payment to free Mehrtens, though no evidence was provided to support this claim.
Throughout his captivity, Mehrtens made sporadic appearances in videos, likely under duress, addressing his family and government. While rebels insisted he was in good health, his appearance changed dramatically over time, with the pilot becoming gaunt and unkempt in proof-of-life videos.
The Christchurch-born pilot, described by friends as kind and gentle, had been providing vital air links and supplies to remote Papuan communities at the time of his abduction. His release marks the end of a harrowing chapter for Mehrtens and his family, including his wife and young child.
This incident has once again brought attention to the ongoing separatist conflict in Papua, a resource-rich but underdeveloped region where Indonesia maintains a heavy military presence. The former Dutch colony declared independence in 1961, but Indonesia took control two years later. A controversial UN-backed referendum in 1969 saw Papua integrated into Indonesia, a move that independence activists continue to dispute.
