On 21 September 2024, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) released Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a pilot from New Zealand, into the hands of former Nduga Regent, Mr Edison Gwijangge. A crowd of villagers accompanied Captain Mehretns to the helipad in the Yuguru Village, Maibarok District in the Nduga Regency, where he was picked up by Edison Gwijangge and flown to Timika, from where he was immediately brought to Jakarta.
The release set an end to 19 months of forced detention and hiding under the harsh conditions of the central Papuan highlands. According to a medical and psychological examination after the release, Captain Mehrtens had lost weight but was mentally and physically healthy. Jakarta officials handed over Captain Mehrtens to the New Zealand ambassador in Jakarta, from where he was flown to New Zealand to reunite with his family.
In early August 2024, the TPNPB announced they were ready to release Captain Mehrtens unconditionally for humanitarian reasons in September 2024. The release process gained tension after unknown perpetrators killed another pilot from New Zealand in the Alama District, Mimika Regency on 5 August 2024, only a few days after the TPNPB announcement. Security forces accused the TPNPB of killing the pilot. In response, the TPNPB published a media release according to which they denied responsibility for the killing. On 17 September 2024, the TPNPB proposed a release scenario significantly differing from the actual release process.
Background
TPNPB members captured Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens, in the Paro District of Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 7 February 2023. On 26 May 2023, a short video was released, in which Mehrtens stated that the TPNPB would execute him if New Zealand did not support Papuan independence. Hope emerged in February 2024 after the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) ordered the release of a New Zealand pilot.
People from Yuguru accompany Captain Mark Mehrtens to the helicopter
Free at last: Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens with Indonesian authorities
