New Zealand Pilot Held Hostage in West Papua Marks One Year in Captivity

Efforts to secure the release of Phillip Mehrtens, kidnapped by militants in Indonesia's West Papua, continue amid escalating conflict.

Phillip Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot, was kidnapped on February 7, 2023, by rebels in West Papua, Indonesia, sparking international concern.
New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters urges for Mehrtens' immediate release, highlighting the pilot's well-being as a top priority.
Militants have used Mehrtens as a bargaining chip for independence, threatening his life if demands are not met.
A rift among Mehrtens' captors emerges, with some urging his release for humanitarian reasons, while others remain unyielding.
Efforts by New Zealand and Indonesian authorities to negotiate Mehrtens' release have been met with challenges, as the conflict in West Papua intensifies.