JAKARTA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian military has intensified military operation in some areas in the eastern Highland Papua province to fight armed separatist groups, Commander Admiral Yudo Margono said on Tuesday.
"We upgrade the operation from soft approach to battle standby following the attack by a separatist group on April 15," Margono said.
On Saturday, an armed criminal group attacked military officers in a remote area of Mugi-Mam in Nduga regency, Highland Papua province, killing one soldier and injuring four others.
The attack occurred when the soldiers were searching for Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens who had been kidnapped by the group in February.
"So far, we also apply soft approach in terms of social communication. However, when we encounter an attack, we have to be in the standby mode for a battle," Margono said. ■