Indonesia takes precautionary measure on Free Papua Movement anniversary

Source: Xinhua| 2019-11-30 22:12:06|Editor: xuxin
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JAKARTA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian military and police will dispatch personnel to spots in Mimika district of the country's easternmost province of Papua during the anniversary of Free Papua Movement's birthday on Sunday, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

Police and military personnel will be deployed into 58 spots in the district in anticipating possible security problems during the event, said district police chief I Gusti Gede Era Adhinata.

"We have called on all parties to avoid activities which can disturb security and the existence of the unitary state of Republic of Indonesia," he said in the district's capital of Timika.

The officer stressed that the personnel would take stern actions against those trying to separate territory from Indonesia.

So far, a total of 600 soldiers and policemen will involve in the precautionary measure, he pointed out.

On the possibility of those raising the rebel's flag known as "Bintang Kejora (morning star)," the officer said that such perpetrators will be arrested, media reports said.

Mimika district is home to the world's largest gold mine and the world's second largest copper mine operated by PT Freeport Indonesia, former subsidiary of U.S. Giant Mining firm Freeport McMorant.Inc.

The Grasberg mine produced a total of 270,000 tons of copper ore per day last year, according to energy and mineral resources ministry.

Papua province and nearby West Papua province had been stricken by a series of unrests in recent months.

Papua is home to insurgency of the Free Papua Movement which has emerged since the 1960s and sought an independent state through guerrilla wars. Civilians, soldiers and PT Freeport Indonesia have been targeted by the separatist group.

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