Tag Archives: Release

Separatist rebels free New Zealand pilot who’s been held hostage for over a year in Papua, Indonesian authorities say. This dramatic news brings relief after a long and agonizing period for the pilot’s family and friends. The release marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Papua, a region …

NZ pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed by rebels in Papua ‘safe and well’ marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between the Indonesian government and the West Papua National Liberation Army (WPNA). Mehrtens, a pilot for a small Indonesian airline, was captured by the WPNA in February 2023 after his …