TNI evacuates villager from OPM conflict zone in C Papua

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian military personnel evacuated a villager from an area affected by activities of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Central Papua Province on Sunday (Aug. 9), the military said.

The evacuation took place while personnel from the Habema Joint Operations Command were patrolling Ugimba Subdistrict, according to an official statement received in Jakarta on Monday.

Habema Spokesman Lt. Col. Inf. Wirya Arthadiguna said troops found the villager while conducting a patrol in the Ugimba area.

The villager was believed to have been left behind by a group that had earlier evacuated to safety to avoid the OPM, Wirya said.

Troops then called in helicopters to evacuate the villager from the area, he said.

“The humanitarian evacuation was carried out using two Bell helicopters on Sunday from 12:25 p.m. to 12:48 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time,” Wirya said.

The villager was taken to Sugapa Subdistrict for further security and assistance, he said.

Upon arrival in Sugapa, the villager was handed over to Misael Sondegau, head of the Intan Jaya District conflict-response team, for further assistance, Wirya said.

Wirya said the operation demonstrated the military’s commitment to protecting civilians in Papua amid ongoing conflict involving the OPM.

He said the Habema Joint Operations Command would continue efforts to protect Papuan residents from violence by separatist OPM groups.