New Zealand Pilot Kidnapped by West Papua Rebels Freed After 20 Months in Captivity
Jayapura. Susi Air pilot Captain Philip Mark Mehrtens has been freed after being held hostage for 1 year and 8 months by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by separatist leader Egianus Kogoya, in Nduga Regency.
Mehrtens, a New Zealand national, was abducted on Feb. 7, 2023, when rebels attacked and set fire to his small Susi Air plane upon landing in Nduga. He was rescued on Saturday by a joint team from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri), who are part of the Cartenz 2024 Peace Operation Task Force, in Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency.
Head of the Cartenz 2024 Peace Operation, Faizal Ramadhani, confirmed Mehrtens’ release. "The task force prioritized a soft approach over a hard approach," Faizal explained, without elaborating on the details of the operation.
Faizal said that the rescue involved cooperation with religious, community, and family leaders close to Egianus Kogoya, the armed group leader responsible for the kidnapping. "This approach was vital to avoid casualties among both security forces and civilians, and to ensure the pilot’s safety," he added.
Police spokesperson for the Cartenz 2024 operation, Bayu Suseno, confirmed that Mehrtens was retrieved safely from Yuguru Village and immediately flown to Timika. "He is in good health and was flown from Nduga directly to Timika," Bayu said.
Captain Mehrtens is now receiving medical care and undergoing psychological evaluation to ensure his well-being following the ordeal.
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