Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a pilot from Christchurch who was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was captured by separatist rebels last year.
A New Zealander who’s been held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region of Indonesia has been freed by separatist rebels, authorities said.
“We managed to pick him up in good health,” Suseno said, adding that Mehrtens was flown to the mining town Timika for further health examination. Leaders of the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement known as TPNPB, said they would let Mehrtens go. The rebels issued a proposal on Tuesday for freeing Mehrtens that outlined terms including news media involvement in his release.“We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk with his family,” Peters said in a written statement. “This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones.
“The case has taken a toll on the Mehrtens family, who have asked for privacy,” Peters said. “We ask media outlets to respect their wishes and therefore we have no further comment at this stage.”
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