JAYAPURA: A joint team of soldiers and police officers was reported to be continuing their hunt for Papua Freedom Movement (OPM) members who moved into woodland areas following a small firefight between the two sides on Tuesday.
“Eduda village is now under [our] control. At the village, security personnel have raised the Red-and-White flag,’’ Papua police spokesperson Sn. Comr. Wachyono told media in Jayapura on Wednesday.
The OPM, under the leadership of Thadius Yogi, had made the village in Paniai regency its base camp before they were ousted from the area by government forces. The OPM had raised its Morning Star flag in the village.
The security force confiscated the OPM’s flag and documents.
As a result of the fighting, nearby residents have been forced to take shelter with relatives, and many children have not attended school.
“Because of the security operation, the people are afraid of being shot,” Yanes Douw, a human rights activist, said.
He said that evacuees had come from Uwamani, Badauwo, Toko Ada, Dagouto, Kubiyai and Dei villages