Three Indonesian troops discovered useless after insurgent ambush

Indonesia’s navy has confirmed that three troopers lacking since a weekend ambush by rebels within the restive Papua area have been discovered useless, in a setback for its mission to find a New Zealand pilot held captive by separatists.

The navy mentioned the our bodies of these troopers and one other earlier confirmed useless had been airlifted from the world.

5 wounded troops who have been discovered the day gone by had additionally been relocated.

Indonesia’s navy chief on Tuesday dismissed a declare by the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB) that 15 troops have been killed within the assault on a bunch of 36 troopers trying to find the place Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens was being held.

“At the moment the 4 troopers who died have been evacuated,” a navy spokesman in Papua, Herman Taryaman mentioned within the assertion.

The kidnapping in February of Mehrtens has intensified battle between rebels and Indonesia’s safety forces within the distant, resource-rich area which got here below Indonesian management after a 1969 referendum that adopted the top of Dutch colonial rule.

TPNPB on Wednesday mentioned it had photos and video proof to indicate its model of Saturday’s occasions was correct.

Spokesman Sebby Sambom mentioned these pictures can be later shared as proof.

The rebels say they attacked the troopers as a result of Indonesia had not responded to its request for peaceable negotiations.

Australian Related Press