Andrew Mathieson – The Indonesian military has claimed to have killed 18 West Papuan separatists and a further three civilians during its latest operation in the easternmost region of the Papua territory during an ongoing internal conflict.
Indonesian military spokesperson, Kristomei Sianturi, said in a statement the military seized dozens of munitions which included assault rifles, and bows and arrows during the operation.
Several morning star flags of West Papua – used as a resistance symbol for Papuan independence – were also seized, alongside communication equipment.
Indonesian forces deployed personnel around the operation sting in anticipation of movements from the West Papuan rebels, the statement added.
The military also provocatively said they are yet to sustain a casualty in the largely ground battle, however this is disputed by the West Papuan movement.
The three Papuan civilians who were killed were found to have died during a reported shootout between West Papuan rebels and Indonesian soldiers.
The gunfire caused nearly 1000 local civilians to be evacuated from their village.
In a statement, reported by Kompas – an Indonesian national daily publication that is published in Jakarta – Indonesia's military said its presence was "not to intimidate the people", but instead to protect Papuans from violence on patrol.
They say their actions have been conducted in line with international law.
However Ronald Rischard, the head of a chapter of the West Papua separatists, said the attacks came just as villagers were asleep, urging the nation's human rights body to independently investigate the incident away from Indonesian influence or pressure.
"This has become a cycle of violence," Mr Rischard said, condemning the latest collateral damage on civilians.
During the shooting, a child's ear was reportedly grazed by a bullet, though Mr Rischard said it is unclear which side of the fighting fired the shots.
Rebels have historically been fighting in a low-level campaign for independence from Indonesia in the resource-rich Papua territory since Western New Guinea was controversially brought under Indonesian control in 1962 following the abandonment of Dutch colonial rule.
In 1969 the United Nations then oversaw a vote which endorsed Indonesian sovereignty.
The same rebels have taken foreigners hostages in the past, including a group of 26 wildlife researchers in 1996 and more recently a New Zealand pilot, who was eventually released last year after being held captive for 19 months.
They have claimed to have they killed 17 people over time, saying Indonesian soldiers had been disguised as nearby gold miners.
But attacks by Papuans in March and April of this year were said to have been instigated by an armed criminal group.
The escalation of violence in the Papua territory, a human rights researcher said, appears on par with some of the most intense times of the cultural conflict during the past six decades.
The increased military presence was also driven by resources, Jakarta-based researcher Andreas Harsono added.
Mr Harsono said just over the past month, he received an unusually high number of messages accompanied by "gruesome" photos which show Papuan civilians being slaughtered.
"The fighting is much more frequent now," Mr Harsono said.
"There are more and more Indonesian soldiers sent to West Papua under President Pradowo.
"At the same time, Indigenous Papuans are also gaining more and more men, and unfortunately also boys, to join their fight in the jungle." Research suggests escalation could match similarly intense periods of conflict in 1977, 1984, and 2004.
Mr Harsono said recent attacks on civilians would be a clear breach of human rights.
However, he said it was difficult to prove due to the remoteness of the area.
A West Papua independence leader says the escalating violence is forcing Indigenous Papuans to unfairly flee their ancestral lands.
"We will not allow the people of Papua to live in fear in their own land," Benny Wenda, speaking on behalf of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, said.
Mr Wenda said women and children are being forced to hurriedly leave the villages over escalating flighting.
"The current military escalation in West Papua has now been building for months," he said.
"Initially targeting Intan Jaya, the Indonesian military have since broadened their attacks further into other highlands regencies."