The kidnapping of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens by Papuan separatist rebels has put a spotlight on the deteriorating security situation in Indonesia’s Papua region. The rebels released a video on April 26, 2023, showing Mehrtens in good condition but expressing concerns about recent military attacks launched by the Indonesian army. The rebels ambushed 36 soldiers in Nduga district, killing at least five, prompting a military response. The incident reflects the ongoing low-level insurgency in the region, which was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969. The situation has seen a spike in rebel attacks in recent years, with 179 civilians, 35 Indonesian troops, and nine police killed in clashes between rebels and security forces between 2018 and 2022.
