Australia and New Zealand in the West Papua Conflict: A New Zealand pilot's abduction focuses attention on Wellington and Canberra's hands-off approach to the long-running conflict in Indonesia.

Abstract

<p>The drawn-out hostage drama in West Papua over New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens has focused Western attention on this neglected area of the world. Mehrtens was abducted and his plane burned by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on February 7, 2023. He was accused by the group of violating a no-fly zone it had issued over the West Papua region. On April 16, rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated in a recorded message that TPNPB has "asked the Indonesian and New Zealand governments to free the hostages through peaceful negotiations." The group originally demanded that Indonesian authorities recognize the independence of West Papua, but more recently it indicated that it was prepared to drop the demand for independence and seek dialogue.</p>