New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been safely released by rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region after being kidnapped for 19 months. The Indonesian police have confirmed that Mehrtens has been flown out of the mountainous Nduga region and is in good health. The West Papua National Liberation Army snatched Mehrtens last year and demanded independence for Papua in exchange for his release. The New Zealand government has stated that Mehrtens is doing well and has been in contact with his family, bringing immense relief to his loved ones. This development comes as the Indigenous people of Papua continue their fight for independence from Indonesia. The rebels had reportedly proposed new terms for Mehrtens’s release, leading to his eventual freedom. Indonesian police are expected to hold a news conference to provide more details on the release.
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Papua rebels release New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens after 19 months in captivity | Conflict update
