New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens sits among the separatist fighters in Indonesia's Papua region. File/Reuters

Attackers from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, carried out the assault against Indonesian soldiers on Saturday in the hilly district of Nduga, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the mineral-rich but impoverished region since the early 1960s.

Papua military spokesperson Col. Herman Taryaman said the soldiers at the Mugi army post were part of a group deployed to search for Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot for the Indonesian aviation company Susi Air who was abducted by the rebels in February.

READ MORE

G7 vows to step up moves to renewable energy, zero carbon

Death toll from Sudan clashes rises to 56

He said authorities are still searching for about 30 other soldiers still missing after the attack, including nine believed to be held by the rebels.

"It’s still unknown exactly how many Indonesian army troops died and were injured,” Taryaman said. "We are still searching, but heavy rain, foggy weather and a lack of communication have hampered our search and evacuation efforts.”

An Indonesian army report circulating among journalists said there were about 36 soldiers at the post in Mugi Mam village when the separatists launched their attack with automatic weapons, killing at least six troops and sending 21 others fleeing into the jungle. It said nine soldiers were being held by the rebels.

Associated Press