New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed by Papua rebels after 19 months

Indonesian constabulary accidental Mehrtens has been flown retired of mountainous Nduga and appears successful bully health.

New Zealand aviator Phillip Mehrtens has been freed by rebels successful Indonesia’s troubled eastbound portion of Papua 19 months aft helium was kidnapped.

“Today, we person picked up aviator Phillip, who is successful bully health, and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, caput of a peculiar portion formed to grip the struggle successful Papua, said successful a connection connected Saturday. Mehrtens is undergoing further wellness checks and a physiological examination, Indonesian constabulary added.

Fighters from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) snatched Mehrtens connected February 7 past twelvemonth aft helium landed his tiny commercialized level successful the remote, mountainous country of Nduga.

The Indigenous radical of Papua person been warring for independency from Indonesia since the territory was incorporated into the state pursuing a arguable referendum backed by the United Nations.

After taking Mehrtens, the TPNPB said helium would not beryllium released until Papua was fixed its independence.

New Zealand media reported earlier this week that the rebels had projected caller presumption for Mehrtens’s release.