Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Indonesia says Papuan rebel shot dead in gun battle

Posted at 08:22 on 16 September, 2004 UTC

A group of suspected Free Papua Movement rebels attacked 15 soldiers in the Indonesian province of Papua on Tuesday, leaving one rebel dead and a soldier injured.

The Indonesian Military says the attack occurred when TNI soldiers patrolling the Punchak regency were ambushed by a group of about 50 suspected rebels.

A private from the elite special forces unit was wounded in the shoulder and evacuated to Jayapura.

The second gunfight to take place in the area in the past month, the attack comes less than a week before Indonesia’s presidential election.

More than 10,000 police and soldiers have been sent to secure polling stations in the province.