Hundreds leave Papua villages in separatist standoff
JAYAPURA, Indonesia — Hundreds more people have left villages in Papua that were at the centre of clashes with separatists, Indonesian police said Monday.
It was the second evacuation from the region near the U.S.-owned Grasberg gold and copper mine in a week.
Papua police chief Boy Rafli Amar said about 800 villagers were bused to the town of Timika and are being accommodated in a local hall.
“They finally asked to be evacuated or relocated because the conditions there were traumatizing,” Amar said.