Body of missing soldier returned to RI

JAYAPURA, Papua: The remains of First. Sgt. Irfan Effendy, an Indonesian soldier killed during a border patrol in the Papua province, was returned to Jayapura from Papua New Guinea territory on Thursday.

The body was transported by the Indonesian Air Force helicopter from Vanimo area in the neighboring country, where the body was found by the Papua New Guinea authorities recently.

Irfan reportedly went missing on June 28 this year while patrolling Papua's Senggi area on the border of Papua and Papua New Guinea, along with his men.

He was allegedly killed by members of rebel Free Papuan Movement (OPM) when he was separated from his subordinates during the patrol, according to chief of Trikora military command overseeing Papua Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal. -- JP