Three people killed by West Papua rebels in disputed clash

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Papua
on Sunday, state-news agency Antara reported. Photo: AFP

Three people were killed by rebels in Indonesia's West Papua on Friday, ahead of a presidential visit to the troubled region over the weekend.

Indonesia's military claims the dead were civilian motorcycle taxi drivers, while the West Papua Liberation Army says they were soldiers.

The incident in Intan Jaya district is one of many disputed clashes between rebels and the state in Papua's Central Highlands to take place since December.

Military spokesperson Eko Daryanto was quoted by state media saying the three drivers were shot dead, before their bodies were hacked at with machetes.

A report from the pro-independence Liberation Army said the soldiers they claimed to have killed died during a shootout.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Papua on Sunday, state-news agency Antara reported.

Source: RNZ