JAKARTA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- An Indonesian police-military joint force has killed four members of a separatist group in shootouts in the country's easternmost province of Papua, a police officer said on Monday.
The fire exchanges occured on the weekend in Kali Bua area, Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district, spokesman for the provincial police, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Musthofa Kamal said.
The force seized three long rifle guns and several weapons from the members of the separatist group, which the government calls "the criminal armed group," he said in a statement.
The guns were believed to be stolen by the rebels from a police station and a security post in 2012 and 2014, according to him.
The Indonesian joint security force and the separatist have frequently been involved in shootouts in Papua province, leaving scores of casualties from both sides.
The separatist Free Papua Movement based in Papua province has sought an independence through guerrilla wars since decades ago, targeting soldiers, police personnel and civilians.
