16-month hostage situation of NZ pilot Phillip Mehrtens by West Papua Liberation Army remains unresolved due to lack of trust between rebels and Indonesian Military.
16 months after New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage by West Papua Liberation Army in Papua highlands, no breakthrough has been made in his release. Mehrtens, who was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air, was accused of breaching a no-fly order issued by the rebels. Despite efforts to rescue or secure his release, progress has been limited due to the lack of trust between the West Papuan militants and the Indonesian Military.
June 19, 2024
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