Indonesian authorities said Saturday the New Zealand pilot who’s been held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region has been freed by separatist rebels.
‘Hands off our homes’: Southwest Side residents rally together as city reviews flood prevention plansSummer-like weekend, then a slight pattern shift next weekIn this photo released by Cartenz Peace Task Force of the Indonesian security forces, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, left, who was held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region, sits with a police officers after his release, in Timika, Papua province, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Leaders of the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement known as TPNPB, said they would let Mehrtens go after a year being held by his captors. The rebels issued a proposal 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 Saturday.
New Zealand news outlets reported during Mehrtens’ captivity that he was one of a number of expatriate pilots employed by Susi Air and in recent years lived in Bali with his family.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Separatist rebels release New Zealand pilot after 19 months in Indonesia's Papua regionIndonesian authorities said Saturday the New Zealand pilot who’s been held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region has been freed by separatist rebels.
Read more »
Separatist rebels say Indonesian army attacks threaten the safety of kidnapped New Zealand pilotSeparatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua region have warned that military attacks in recent days to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage over a year ago could instead threaten his safety.
Read more »
Queen Nga Wai: New Zealand’s Maori anoint new leaderAs the king's only daughter and his youngest child, Queen Nga Wai was considered an outside choice to become his successor, instead of one of her two elder brothers.
Read more »
Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new eraAs New Zealand celebrates its annual Māori language week, the government is ramping up initiatives to remove recognition of Indigenous people and language from public policy and law.
Read more »
Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new eraAs New Zealand celebrates its annual Māori language week, the government is ramping up initiatives to remove recognition of Indigenous people and language from public policy and law.
Read more »
Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new eraAs New Zealand celebrates its annual Māori language week, the government is ramping up initiatives to remove recognition of Indigenous people and language from public policy and law.
Read more »