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 staff within the Nduga space, present process well being check-ups and a psychological examination in Timika regency, the Indonesian police mentioned in an announcement.
After being proven on Indonesia’s Metro TV talking tearfully to his household by cellphone, Mehrtens appeared at a press convention and appeared to be in good spirits.
A faction of the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military led by Egianus Kogoya kidnapped Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2023, after he landed a small business airplane within the distant, mountainous space of Nduga.
Arriving within the capital Jakarta late on Saturday, he was put within the care of New Zealand authorities representatives, Indonesian senior cupboard minister Hadi Tjahjanto mentioned advised reporters.
Mehrtens didn’t seem to endure any post-traumatic stress though he had misplaced quite a lot of weight, mentioned Bambang Trisnohadi, a lieutenant normal with the Indonesian navy, on the press convention.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon mentioned on social media platform X he was grateful Mehrtens had been launched.
“My appreciation to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who have supported this positive outcome for Phillip and his family,” Luxon mentioned.
Mehrtens’ household mentioned in an announcement on Sunday that they have been “extremely grateful and relieved that Phillip has been released and will soon be reunited with us”.
A spread of New Zealand authorities businesses had been working with Indonesian authorities and others in direction of securing Mehrtens’ launch, Peters mentioned earlier in an announcement.
“Through the long process of negotiation, with patience not to do it repressively, our priority has been the safety of the pilot,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo mentioned in televised remarks.
In August one other New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by separatist rebels in Papua after touchdown his helicopter in a distant space, authorities mentioned on the time.