Pilot free after a year and a half in captivity – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

The head of the special unit that works with the separatists in Papua province, Faizal Ramadhani, confirms on Saturday morning that Mehrtens has been released. – It’s true, today we brought in the pilot Phillip, who is in good shape. The police have flown him to the town of Timika, where Mehrtens, who is from New Zealand, will undergo a series of health checks, the police say. According to the New Zealand government, he is safe and has spoken to his family. Phillip Mehrtens during a press conference with the Indonesian police after his release. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP Unrest for over 50 years Mehrtens was captured by the separatists of the West Papua Liberation Front when he landed with a small plane in the city of Paro on 7 February last year. He was there then to pick up 15 workers who were building a health centre. The somewhat remote village has been the center of the ever-growing unrest in the region. Ever since 1969, when Indonesia took control of the former Dutch colony, there has been conflict between the people of Papua province and the Indonesian military. The kidnapping of Mehrtens is said to have been an attempt to strengthen the separatists’ fight for independence, writes The Guardian. Published 21.09.2024, at 07.48 Updated 21.09.2024, at 10.39



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