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The Canadian Press | Canada's Trusted News Leader

The Canadian Press | Canada's Trusted News Leader

A New Zealand pilot is freed after 19 months in rebel captivity in Indonesia's Papua region

The Canadian Press | Canada's Trusted News Leader
Summary
Nutrition label

83% Informative

New Zealand pilot held hostage for more than a year in restive Papua region of Indonesia .

Phillip Mark Mehrtens , 38 , was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air .

He was abducted by rebels from a remote airport on Feb. 7, 2023 .

Rebels have used violence to try to achieve independence as security situation deteriorates in Papua .

In August , gunmen stormed a helicopter and killed its New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning , after it landed in a remote village.

In April 2023 , armed separatists attacked Indonesian troops who were deployed to rescue Mehrtens , killing at least six soldiers.

In 1996 , the Free Papua Movement abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission in Mapenduma .

Two kidnapped Indonesians were killed by their abductors.

VR Score

86

Informative language

85

Neutral language

67

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

Language complexity

56

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

Source diversity

1

Affiliate links

no affiliate links