Jayapura – Soldiers were involved in an exchange of fire with alleged Free Papua Organization members in Mulia, Puncak Jaya district, on Monday evening.

The firefight broke out after the armed group intercepted a military vehicle at about 6:30 p.m. when it was returning to its base in Puncak Senyum. Thirteen soldiers got out of the vehicle in time to defend themselves, a local resident and military sources told state news agency Antara.

"Last night's situation was terrifying, we could clearly hear the shootings," a resident said.

Puncak Jaya Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Alek Korwa said the armed group might have been members of the secessionist movement, also known as the OPM, who had escaped into the hills of Mulia district.

But spokesman Air Vice Marshal Sagom Tamboen said the military had yet to identify the perpetrators. "We hope they can be arrested as soon as possible, so we know who the real mastermind of terrorism in Papua is," Sagom said.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Widjonarko said that according to reports from local military intelligence officers, there had been some attacks by unidentified groups near the area. "The attacks are not only against police officers or soldiers, but also against local civilians."

He said the case was being investigated by the police. Asked whether the Army would conduct special operations in response to the attack, Suwarno said, "No, we will let the police probe the case. For us, it's just a common crime."

The military has for decades been fighting the OPM, a minor separatist movement in Papua. The group has been blamed for a string of attacks on the concession area of PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Mimika district, which it has denied.

Since the attacks began last year, three people have died, including a police officer and an expatriate Freeport employee. In the latest incident in January, nine people were injured.

This month, the International Crisis Group released a report saying some elements of the OPM and the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) were behind the attacks. (Antara, JG)