ID :
65549
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 05:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/65549
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POLICE END REBEL CONTROL OVER KAPESO AIRSTRIP
Jayapura, June 12 (ANTARA) - Papua police have succeeded in taking back Kapeso airstrip in Mamberamo Raya district from armed separatist OPM (Free Papua Organization) rebels who had occupied the area since early last May, a spokesman said.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Bagus Ekodanto told the press here Friday, the airstrip had been cleared of the rebels' presence since Wednesday (June 10) at 17.00 local time.
"The 'Bintang Kejora' (Morning Star) flag the rebels had raised at the airstrip has been replaced with our Red-and-White." he said after returning from Mamberamo where he had personally witnessed the symbolic restoration of national sovereignty over the area.
"We are now consolidating government control over the area which is quite enormous in width and dotted with a number of camps where the rebels have left behind traditional weapons such as bows and arrows, self-made fire arms and combat uniforms," Ekodanto said.
He said to reach Kapeso airstrip he had to make a four-hour trip by a motorized proa from Kasonaweja, capital of Mamberamo Raya district.
Before taking the airstrip, the police first had to occupy a church building located about 300 meters from the airstrip.
"Inside the church the troops found writings indicating the area was an OPM base. A graph showing the rebel force's personnel composition identified their leader as Decky Imbiri," he said.
Police and local civilian authorities were now also trying to approach locals who had fled the area to return to their homes in Kapeso.
The Kapeso area was now free from rebel control as the insurgents who had occupied it had fled into the forests, Ekodanto said.
Asked when the airstrip could be used again, the Papua police chief said he estimated it would take a week for police to fully normalize the security conditions in the area. ***4***
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Bagus Ekodanto told the press here Friday, the airstrip had been cleared of the rebels' presence since Wednesday (June 10) at 17.00 local time.
"The 'Bintang Kejora' (Morning Star) flag the rebels had raised at the airstrip has been replaced with our Red-and-White." he said after returning from Mamberamo where he had personally witnessed the symbolic restoration of national sovereignty over the area.
"We are now consolidating government control over the area which is quite enormous in width and dotted with a number of camps where the rebels have left behind traditional weapons such as bows and arrows, self-made fire arms and combat uniforms," Ekodanto said.
He said to reach Kapeso airstrip he had to make a four-hour trip by a motorized proa from Kasonaweja, capital of Mamberamo Raya district.
Before taking the airstrip, the police first had to occupy a church building located about 300 meters from the airstrip.
"Inside the church the troops found writings indicating the area was an OPM base. A graph showing the rebel force's personnel composition identified their leader as Decky Imbiri," he said.
Police and local civilian authorities were now also trying to approach locals who had fled the area to return to their homes in Kapeso.
The Kapeso area was now free from rebel control as the insurgents who had occupied it had fled into the forests, Ekodanto said.
Asked when the airstrip could be used again, the Papua police chief said he estimated it would take a week for police to fully normalize the security conditions in the area. ***4***
