Military takes Irian Jaya's largest rebel training camp<\/p>\n
R.K. Kadir, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
Troops from the Indonesian military (TNI) on Wednesday seized
\nIrian Jaya's largest rebel training camp, in the village of
\nMeruai, Bonggo subdistrict, east of the provincial capital of
\nJayapura.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Jayapura Military District Command Lt. Col. Seno
\nPurbo B. said that the operation had taken place at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
"Fifty hand-made rifles and traditional weapons like arrows,
\nmachetes and spears were seized from the complex."<\/p>\n
The troops, consisting of one company from Battalion 611
\nAwalong, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, and a number of joint-troops
\nfrom the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) and police, overpowered
\nthe separatist group members, he said.<\/p>\n
"The only resistance from the rebels was when three armed
\npeople tried to intercept the army troops at the Armofa village
\nin Bonggo. They disappeared after the army members returned
\nfire," a field commander, who refused to be named, said.<\/p>\n
Bonggo is a roughly 40 minute helicopter ride from Jayapura.<\/p>\n
The raid was conducted following an attack by rebels on the
\nTNI's post in Armofa village on Sept. 23, during which two rebels
\nwere killed and one transmigrant kidnapped (by the rebels).<\/p>\n
Seno said that hundreds of rebels had earlier escaped. It was
\nbelieved that the TNI's plan to raid the training camp had been
\nleaked to them.<\/p>\n
"The military training camp is located in a remote area that
\nis very difficult for the troops to reach," said Seno. "The
\ntraining camp was established in 1999."<\/p>\n
According to TNI's records the training camp had graduated
\nfive groups prior to this year. "Each group consisted of 500
\npeople," Seno said.<\/p>\n
The well-trained members had been stationed in various
\nlocations to lead rebellious actions against the government of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The wood-construction training camp had also been used to
\nproduce hand made rifles, Seno said, pointing to the vacant
\nworkshop in the complex.<\/p>\n
Military reports said that, one week before Wednesday's raid,
\naround 300 members of the self-styled Free Papua National
\nLiberation Troops led by Col. Hans Juweni, who is commander for
\nBonggo, had left.<\/p>\n
The escaped rebels were believed to be staying in nearby
\nforests in the districts of Demta and Sarmi, said Seno. "We are
\ncontinuing to hunt them."<\/p>\n
Before the military offensive on Wednesday the separatist
\ngroup had also sent a letter to the TNI rejecting military
\noperations and offering to negotiate. The letter was signed by
\nKarel Gustav Oduas, who claimed to be a lieutenant colonel.<\/p>\n
"We'll consider the offer very carefully," said Seno.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-takes-irian-jayas-largest-rebel-training-camp-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }