JAKARTA (Reuters) -New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed greater than 19 months after being kidnapped by armed separatists in Indonesia’s Papua, authorities mentioned on Saturday.
Mehrtens was freed and picked up by a joint group within the Nduga space and was present process well being check-ups and a psychological examination in Timika regency, the Indonesian police mentioned in a press release.
Indonesia’s Metro TV confirmed him tearfully chatting with his household by cellphone.
A faction of the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, kidnapped Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2023, after he landed a small industrial airplane within the distant, mountainous space of Nduga.
“Through the long process of negotiation, with patience not to do it repressively, our priority has been the safety of the pilot through this long process,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo mentioned in televised remarks.
New Zealand International Minister Winston Peters mentioned, “We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk with his family. This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones.”
A variety of New Zealand authorities businesses had been working with Indonesian authorities and others in the direction of securing Mehrtens’ launch, Peters mentioned in a press release.
Indonesian Brigadier Common Faizal Ramadhani, head of Cartenz 2024 Peace Operations, mentioned, “We are prioritising approach through religious leaders, church leaders, traditional leaders and Egianus Kogoya’s close family to minimise casualties and maintain the safety of the pilot.”
The Indonesian police mentioned they might maintain a press convention in a while Saturday.
One other New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by separatist rebels in Papua in August after touchdown his helicopter in a distant space, authorities mentioned on the time.
