In Indonesia, six soldiers were killed and 30 more went missing during an operation to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage by separatists from the province of West Papua, the Australian ABC TV channel reports, citing local authorities.
Indonesian National Armed Forces spokesman Julius Widjoyono said rebels from the Free Papua Movement, which is considered terrorist in Indonesia, attacked Indonesian soldiers as they combed an area close to the pilot’s whereabouts. A search is underway for the missing soldiers, but heavy rain, foggy weather and a lack of communications have made work difficult, Armed Forces spokesman Herman Tarjaman added.
At the same time, the Free Papua Movement announced the killing of at least 13 Indonesian soldiers in an attack on two military posts, CNN reports. It is also reported that nine more Indonesian soldiers were executed after being captured in the Yal region.
Free Papua Movement spokesman Sebbi Sambon told reporters that members of the group carried out the attack in retaliation for the killing of two rebels in a shootout with Indonesian security forces in March. He also said that the movement had allegedly offered the governments of Indonesia and New Zealand to negotiate for the release of the pilot, but there was no response.
Source: Rosbalt
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