Indonesia’s new president Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in on 20 October.
Photo: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana
It is a relief New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was freed before Indonesia’s new president took power, West Papua Action Aotearoa spokesperson Catherine Delahunty says.
Indonesia’s new president Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in on 20 October.
Mehrtens was released after 19 months in captivity in West Papua, Indonesia, on Saturday.
The armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army kidnapped Merhtens in February 2023 after he landed a small commercial plane in a remote, mountainous area.
New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens following his release at a press conference in Timika.
Photo: HANDOUT
Delahunty, a former Green MP, said previous negotiations had stumbled and it was a relief they had finally reached a peaceful solution.
Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty.
Photo: Johnny Blades / VNP
“This has been such a long and difficult ordeal for him and his family. We’re all really worried about whether it would be possible. Getting him free was a series of very delicate negotiations,” she said.
“Many of them have started and stumbled and not led to anything. It’s a great relief that he is free. And I think one of the things that was important to people over there is they really wanted to get this resolved before the new president of Indonesia, who he has a terrible reputation associated with his military career before he became president. And they have achieved that.
“And as far as I know, there was no bloodshed.”