By Banjir Ambarita on 1:10 pm February 2, 2014.
Jayapura. The Indonesian security forces killed one member of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) during a firefight in Yapen Waropen
district on Saturday, arresting 11 others in the latest crackdown on the separatist group this restive province.
A joint security forces with the Papua Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) staged a raid on a meeting of the OPM in
Yapen Waropen on Saturday. When the security forces attempted to storm the meeting, the OPM members allegedly opened
fire, injuring three people on the fight.
“We’d got an information that the group was holding a summit, so security officers led by the local police chief and
the Yapen military commander headed to the location,” Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Pujo Sulistyo said on Saturday.
“As soon as they arrived, though, they were welcomed with gunshots, so a firefight broke out.”
One OPM member, 38-year-old Yohasua Arampay, was killed in the battle.
“Eleven people have been arrested and they’re now undergoing questioning,” Pujo said.
The officers seized guns, bows and arrows and two Morning Star flags from the scene. The flag, the symbol of the Papuan
independence movement, is banned in Indonesia.
ENDS