New Zealand pilot insists he is healthy in new hostage video

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who has been held captive for almost three months, has appeared in a new video shared by his kidnappers.

A New Zealand pilot who has been held hostage for almost three months by Papuan rebels in Indonesia has said he is healthy in a new video released by his kidnappers.

Phillip Mehrtens, who was flying for Indonesian airline Susi Air, was captured after landing at a remote airstrip in Nduga in Indonesia’s West Papua province in early February by the West Papuan National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

“Today is Monday the 24th of April of the year 2023,” he said in the blurry video as he sat between two TPNPB fighters with his hands tied.

“It’s almost three months since OPM [Free Papua Movement] kidnapped me from Papua. As you can see, I’m still alive. I’m healthy, I’ve been eating well, drinking.

“I live with the people here. We travel together as required. We sit together. We rest together.”

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has said he is healthy in a new video released by his kidnappers. Picture: West Papua Liberation Army

Mr Mehrtens, 37, has a wife and son. In another hostage video last month he said he loved and missed them, and thought about them every day, but warned “this could go on for a long time”.

In the video, said to be filmed on Monday, Mr Mehrtens went on to ask the government to stop dropping bombs in the area.

“Indonesia has been dropping bombs in the area of the last week and please, there’s no need. It’s dangerous for me and everybody here,” he said. “Thank you for your support.”

Mr Mehrtens has been held hostage for almost three months.

At the time of his kidnapping TPNPB threatened to kill him if the government in Jakarta did not recognise the independence of West Papua – which refers to the western side of the island of New Guinea.

The Australian reported that earlier this month they appeared to drop that demand but are still insisting that Mr Mehrtens will not be released until both the Indonesian and New Zealand governments come to the negotiating table.

Earlier this month after a group of 36 Indonesian soldiers was ambushed by TPNPB fighters while searching for the pilot in Nduga.

Indonesian officials confirmed at least one soldier had been killed, while TPNPB claimed it killed at least nine, and journalists citing Indonesian military sources put the death toll at six.

The Australian said since the attack, the TPNPB had accused the military of staging air strikes in the area and hitting neighbouring villages.