Regional representatives in Indonesia's Papua and West Papua provinces have strongly urged the government to cease military operations and withdraw special forces from the region.
The Jakarta Post reports that the Regional Representatives Council, or DPD, says cessation of military operations is necessary to end the prolonged violence in Indonesia's easternmost provinces.
Last week, eight Indonesian soldiers and four civilians were killed in two separate shooting incidents in Puncak Jaya regency.
The DPD says the presence of elite forces within the Indonesian military has caused animosity among local groups who have launched attacks against them.
The DPD deputy chairman Laode Ida says if Jakarta wants to end violence, the militaristic approach has to stop.
He says the presence of special forces and their irregular operations have triggered attacks on garrison troops and innocent civilians.
