Jayapura. Papua Police arrested three members of the outlawed Free Papua Movement organization in the country’s easternmost province on Thursday, shooting a rebel commander in the legs and detaining two fighters.

Papua Police spokesman Patridge Renwarin told the Jakarta Globe that the police’s special task force had nabbed Leonardus Magai, a commander of Paniai chapter of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) at around 10.45 a.m. local time along with two other members.

Patridge said that police officers were chasing five OPM members in a car in Sanoba Atas village in Nabire district, Papua.

Police said Leonardus was shot in both knees after the men opened fire on police.

“We arrested Leonardus and his two other friends, but the remaining two members managed to get away,” said Patridge.

Leonardus is currently being treated at Nabire District Hospital for his injuries, Patridge said.

The OPM, which is seeking independence for Papua from Indonesian rule, has waged a low-level guerrilla war against state security forces since Papua was annexed in 1969.

 

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