TIMIKA, SEPT 22 – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s troubled Papua region and is in good health despite a 19-month ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said yesterday.
Mehrtens, 38, working for Indonesian airline Susi Air was abducted by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) rebel group at Nduga airport, Papua, on February 7 last year.
A task force together with police and military forces picked up Mehrtens in a village in Nduga district yesterday, where he had previously obtained a medical and psychological examination and was later flown to the town of Timika, Papua, said the head of the unit, Faizal Ramadhani.
“Today I was released. I am very happy because soon I will be able to go home and see my family,” Mehrtens told reporters earlier in Timika, speaking in Indonesian.
“Thank you for everyone who helped me today, so I can go out safely and in good health,” he added.
Mehrtens arrived in the capital Jakarta from Timika yesterday evening where the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of Indonesia, Hadi Tjahjanto, told reporters that Mehrtens had been handed over to the New Zealand ambassador.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, previously said Mehrtens was safe and well and had communicated with his family.
“This news must be a relief to his friends and loved ones,” added Peters. – AFP
