Daring Rescue in Papua: Indonesian Military Saves 18 Workers

Indonesian military successfully rescued 18 workers from Freeport Indonesia who were trapped by armed rebels in Papua for three days. The rebels, part of the Free Papua Movement, aim for the region's secession. The military used drones for supplies before safely evacuating the workers without firing shots.

In a bold rescue operation, the Indonesian military has safely evacuated 18 workers from Freeport Indonesia who were besieged by armed rebels at a company outpost in the troubled Papua region. The Free Papua Movement, an insurgent group, seeks to achieve secession from Indonesia, which has governed over half of the mineral-rich island since 1969 following Dutch colonial rule.

The ordeal began when workers repairing Freeport's electric towers in the mountainous Central Papua province were surrounded by the rebels last week. According to Rico Ricardo Sirait, a spokesperson for Indonesia's defense ministry, the workers faced intimidation and psychological distress as the rebels fired shots to intimidate them.

Despite the challenging situation, the Indonesian military executed a successful extrication operation without firing a single shot. Utilizing drones to provide food and medication, the military managed to safely withdraw the workers after three days. Papua remains one of Indonesia's poorest areas despite its vast natural resources, including Freeport's Grasberg mine, a major gold and copper source.

(With inputs from agencies.)