Two Indonesian soldiers killed in separatist ambush in Papua

Indonesia's military says two soldiers have been killed in an attack by separatists in the eastern province of Papua.

An Indonesian military spokesperson says two Indonesian soldiers have been shot dead in Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua. 

An intelligence assistant for Indonesia’s special forces, Muhammad Aidi, said the separatist rebels ambushed the soldiers who had been transporting goods to a village in a remote area in Intan Jaya Regency, for end of year celebrations.

"Around 150 metres from the outskirts of the village, suddenly 10 members of an armed separatist group with various weapons attacked," Mr Aidi said in a statement.

Two Indonesian soldiers were reportedly shot dead in the province of Papua. Source: EPA

He added rough terrain, poor communications and bad weather in the area were hampering the evacuation of the victims.

Indonesia’s provinces of Papua and West Papua have suffered a decades-long separatist struggle which in recent months has seen a number of student rallies held across Indonesia.

After weeks of protests and civil unrest which began in August, Indonesia sent thousands of additional military and police personnel to the region.

Resource-rich Papua was a former Dutch colony and later incorporated into Indonesia after a controversial UN-backed referendum in 1969.