Jakarta – Papua Police said they arrested 21 alleged members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) as they intercepted a convoy of new recruits for the group's military wing on Sunday, Indonesian media reported.

According to police, the 21 suspects were among 60 people who had just been sworn in as members of the OPM's West Papuan National Liberation Army, led by Terianus Sato.

Papua's deputy police chief, Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, said that the sixty were sworn in at the OPM's headquarters in Beraf hamlet, in the Nimbokrang subdistrict of Jayapura district.

"These sixty persons were new recruits, the decision [to appoint them] was read out during the admission ceremony led by OPM leader Terianus Sato. The ceremony was short, they only read out the decision, hoisted the Morning Star flag and closed the ceremony with a prayer," Paulus was quoted as saying by newsportal Liputan6.com on Monday.

Paulus said that police intercepted the group when they were being transported in trucks in Nimbokrang's Warombaim hamlet. They opened fire on the vehicle of Nimbokrang Police Chief Second Insp. Jerry K., who led the operation. Jerry then called the Jayapura Police for backup.

Police could only arrest 21 people – 16 men, four women and a child – while the others managed to escape. Police found three firearms in the trucks.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/papua-police-21-barely-sworn-opm-fighters-arrested/