Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Marines serving with a joint Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border security task force have recovered weapons and equipment suspected of belonging to an armed rebel group in Papua Highlands Province.
The discoveries were made between Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 in the Kali Braza area of Dekai Subdistrict, Yahukimo District, according to an official Marine Corps statement received on Thursday.
Marine Corps spokesperson Col. Rana Karyana said the operation began after troops received intelligence regarding suspected weapons caches.
Acting on local tips, the troops from the Gobang IX unit of Marine Battalion 3 searched remote areas along Kali Braza and inspected locations suspected of serving as stopovers for the armed group, Karyana said.
At the first site, troops found a tent containing two air rifles, a bow and arrows, an ax, machetes, food supplies, and cooking equipment.
They documented the items to report to their commanders.
The search continued at an abandoned house near the first site, where the Marines discovered additional weapons and supplies.
The findings included several barrelless air rifles, spent 5.56 mm and 9 mm ammunition casings, a bracelet bearing the Morning Star symbol, a camera, a damaged cellphone, six arrows, and a wallet containing identification documents, Karyana said.
The troops also found ammunition casings bound with wire that investigators suspect had been modified for use with air rifles.
Karyana said the troops had seized and examined all recovered items to gather further information on the armed group’s whereabouts.
He added that the Marine Corps remains committed to restricting the group’s movements to help protect local communities in Papua.
Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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