Separatist rebels release New Zealand pilot after 19 months captive in Papua
Independence fighters led by Egianus Kogoya, a regional commander in the Free Papua Movement, stormed a single-engine plane on a small runway in Paro and abducted Mr Mehrtens on February 7, 2023. Mr Kogoya initially said the rebels would not release Mr Mehrtens unless Indonesia’s government allows Papua to become a sovereign country.