The Meaning of Pilot Hostage in Papua

The safety of the New Zealand pilots is a priority, but no less important is the safety and involvement of indigenous Papuans to build peace and stability in their territory.

The hostage of Captain Philip Merthens, a pilot of Susi Air, since 7 February 2023, by an armed group, has attracted the attention of the domestic and international community.

This is considering the long duration that the foreigner has been held hostage, the first since the hostage of foreign and domestic researchers in 1996, also in the Nduga region.