Phillip Mehrtens arrived in capital Jakarta from Timika on Saturday night. (File)

Timika:

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been launched from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua area and is in good well being regardless of the 19-month ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities mentioned Saturday.

Phillip Mehrtens, 38, was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels from the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB) rebel group at Papua’s Nduga airport on February 7 final 12 months.

A joint activity pressure of police and navy forces collected Mehrtens in a village in Nduga district early Saturday, earlier than he was given medical and psychological checks and flown to the Papuan metropolis of Timika, mentioned the unit’s head Faizal Ramadhani.

“Right this moment I’ve been freed. I’m very pleased that shortly I can go dwelling and meet my household,” Mehrtens advised reporters earlier in Timika, talking in Indonesian.

“Thanks for everyone who helped me at present, so I can get out safely in a wholesome situation.”

Mehrtens arrived in capital Jakarta from Timika on Saturday night the place Hadi Tjahjanto, coordinating minister for political, authorized and safety affairs, advised reporters Mehrtens had been handed over to New Zealand’s ambassador.

New Zealand International Minister Winston Peters earlier mentioned Mehrtens was “secure and effectively” and had been in a position to communicate together with his household.

“This information should be an unlimited reduction for his pals and family members,” Peters added.

Mehrtens was offering very important air hyperlinks and provides to distant communities on the time of his abduction.

The duty pressure launched footage of an emotional Mehrtens taking a telephone name from his household, with one unidentified liked one heard saying “grasp in there”.

Video addresses

His launch got here after intense diplomatic efforts by Wellington and Jakarta.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo mentioned Saturday that Jakarta had secured Mehrtens’s freedom by way of negotiation, not pressure.

“We prioritised the security of the pilot who was held hostage. It took a protracted course of and I respect the authorities,” he advised reporters.

Rebels had demanded Indonesia recognise Papuan independence in return for his freedom.

A TPNPB spokesman, Sebby Sambom, mentioned one other faction of the insurgent group agreed to a take care of the Indonesian authorities, accusing them of accepting a cost with out offering proof.

The rebels had at one level threatened to kill Mehrtens if talks weren’t forthcoming. The group had mentioned overseas nationals have been targets as a result of their governments had ties with Indonesia.

In February 2023, TPNPB rebels set fireplace to a Susi Air aircraft and launched 5 passengers, however held on to Mehrtens.

Throughout his captivity within the Papuan countryside, the New Zealander made sporadic appearances on video, seemingly beneath duress, to deal with his household and his authorities.

The rebels mentioned he was in good well being all through, however his look modified drastically over time, with the pilot changing into gaunt, long-haired and bearded in proof-of-life movies.

Mehrtens appeared in good bodily situation in handout photos printed by Indonesian authorities on Saturday.

‘Mild man’

Mehrtens, a father of 1, grew up within the New Zealand metropolis of Christchurch.

Throughout his captivity, he was described by pals as a “type and delicate man” who was serving to Papuans by flying into distant areas not accessible by street and that many wouldn’t fly to, in response to New Zealand media retailers.

Indonesia maintains a heavy navy presence in resource-rich however underdeveloped Papua to quell the long-running separatist insurgency.

Insurgent assaults within the area have risen lately and flying is the one technique to attain distant mountainous areas there.

One other New Zealand pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot lifeless final month after touchdown within the area with two Indonesian well being employees and two youngsters, all of whom survived.

The previous Dutch colony declared independence in 1961, however neighbouring Indonesia took management two years later, promising a referendum. In 1969, a thousand Papuans voted to combine into Indonesia in a UN-backed vote.

Papuan independence activists often criticise the vote and name for recent polls, however Jakarta says its sovereignty over Papua is supported by the United Nations.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)