The head of Papua New Guinea’s defence force has praised his men’s patience and professionalism in rescuing two Indonesian hostages from West Papuan rebels last night.
The two men were seized on the Indonesian side of the border several days ago by armed members of the OPM, the Free Papua Movement, PNGDF said.
They were taken across the border to a remote part of PNG, and negotiations for their release began.
When a deadline for the release passed, the PNGDF troops were ordered to move in, and as the rebels fled into the jungle, some of the women who were with them brought the hostages safely to the PNG soldiers.
PNGDF Commander, Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo, says it was a potentially dangerous operation, but his men responded in a very disciplined and restrained way, and in the end the hostages were released without a shot being fired.
