JAKARTA: Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua area killed nine army personnel on Sunday after Jakarta failed to respond to a discussion request, according to a rebel spokesperson.
Herman Taryaman, a military spokesperson in Papua, confirmed the attack on Saturday but could not confirm the number of soldiers killed because communications were disrupted due to severe weather. In February, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) kidnapped a New Zealand pilot. The group first asked that Jakarta recognize the area’s independence, but this month they were willing to withdraw that demand in favor of talks.
In a recorded message on Sunday, rebel spokeswoman Sebby Sambom said, “We asked the Indonesian and New Zealand governments to free the hostages via peaceful negotiations.” According to Sambom, on March 23, the Indonesian military and police attacked people. Because of this, TPNPB troops said they would take revenge, which they had already begun, adding that fighting would continue on Sunday.
Herman rejected the March attack on civilians, claiming that security forces were defending civilians whom the rebels had chased out. Herman stated that efforts to aid and evacuation are still underway while asking for prayers for army forces searching for the detained Susi Air pilot, Phillip Mehrtens.
For decades, observers believe a low-level struggle for independence from Indonesia raged in the remote and resource-rich Papua region.
The confrontation between armed rebels and security forces has grown considerably in recent years. Tension has simmered since a controversial 1969 vote supervised by the United Nations that saw the former Dutch territory bought under Indonesian control.
