Jakarta. Philip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot who was held hostage by Papuan rebels for nearly 20 months, was released on Saturday and has now been handed over to New Zealand authorities, Indonesia's Military Chief Agus Subiyanto confirmed on Sunday.

Mehrtens was taken hostage by a rebel group led by Egianus Kogoya in Papua’s Nduga Regency. The group had previously declared that they would hold him until the Indonesian government allowed Papua to declare independence. However, the rebels voluntarily released him after prolonged negotiations.

Agus explained that the release was achieved through diplomatic efforts and negotiations, avoiding the need for military intervention.

"Praise be to God, Mehrtens was freed yesterday morning. Last night, the National Police Chief, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, and I officially handed him over to the New Zealand government, in a meeting with the New Zealand ambassador to Indonesia," Agus said.

"We have been negotiating for his release for a long time, involving various elements of the community -- the military, the police, local government officials, religious leaders, tribal chiefs, and youth leaders," he added.

Mehrtens had been abducted on February 6, 2023, after the Susi Air plane he was piloting was raided by the armed rebel group upon landing at a remote airstrip in the Paro district, Nduga Regency.

The Free Papua Movement (OPM), which consists of various rebel factions including Egianus Kogoya’s group, hinted last month that they would release the pilot unconditionally. OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom stated that their only condition was that the release be facilitated by the local church council, without Jakarta's involvement.

On Saturday morning, Indonesian security forces retrieved Mehrtens from Maibarok district, Nduga Regency.