International Courant
In line with Indonesian police, Mehrtens flew from mountainous Nduga and is in good well being.
New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been launched 19 months after he was kidnapped by rebels in Indonesia’s troubled East Papua area.
“Right this moment we picked up pilot Phillip, who’s in good well being, and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of a particular unit set as much as cope with the battle in Papua, stated in an announcement on Saturday. Mehrtens is present process additional well being checks and a physiological examination, Indonesian police added.
Fighters from the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB) kidnapped Mehrtens on February 7 final 12 months after he landed his small passenger airplane within the distant mountainous space of Nduga.
They stated they might solely launch him if Indonesia granted Papua independence.
The New Zealand authorities stated Mehrtens was doing nicely and had spoken to his household.
“We’re happy and relieved to verify that Phillip Mehrtens is secure and nicely and has been in a position to converse to his household,” stated International Minister Winston Peters.
“This information should be an enormous aid to his pals and family members.”
Papua’s indigenous folks, who’re ethnically Melanesian, have been preventing for independence from Indonesia because the territory was annexed by the nation in a controversial United Nations-backed referendum.
New Zealand media reported earlier this week that the rebels had proposed new phrases for Mehrtens’ launch.
Indonesian police stated they might maintain a press convention in a while Saturday to announce Mehrtens’ launch.
New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens launched by Papuan rebels after 19 months | Battle Information
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