A separatist group in Papua, Indonesia, has announced plans to release New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who has been held captive for over a year. The announcement came through an audio message from spokesperson Sebby Sambom, indicating that the armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, has agreed to the release. Mehrtens was kidnapped on February 7, 2023, after landing a small commercial airplane in a remote area of Nduga.
According to Sambom, Kogoya is preparing a plan for the release, which could take up to two months to be finalized. Sambom stated, “Commander Egianus has said humbly, for the sake of humanity, we will release the pilot,” although he did not elaborate on the two-month timeline.
The Indonesian military has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation. Previously, the Indonesian government had indicated that it was focusing on dialogue with community and religious leaders to secure Mehrtens’ freedom, as conducting a military operation in the challenging terrain would be risky.
In February, New Zealand reiterated its call for the immediate release of Mehrtens. The group holding him has released several videos of the pilot, including one in which he asked the United Nations to mediate discussions for Papua’s independence, showing him with the banned Morning Star flag among Papuan fighters.
The conflict in the resource-rich western region of Papua has escalated, with independence fighters becoming increasingly lethal and sophisticated in their tactics.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has acknowledged the situation and expressed that Mehrtens’ safety and wellbeing is their utmost priority. They are actively working with Indonesian authorities and providing support to Mehrtens’ family both in New Zealand and Indonesia.