30 Mar 2017

West Papuan 'separatist' killed in police shootout

3:06 pm on 30 March 2017

Indonesian police have shot dead a West Papuan man described by authorities as an armed separatist leader.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning in Papua Province's Yapen district, Maikel Merani was killed in an exchange of fire with local police.

Various Indonesian media reports said the gunfight stemmed from a police raid on Mr Merani's house which turned violent.

Mr Merani, whose body was taken to Serui hospital, was understood to have been a long-term entrant on the Indonesian police wanted list.

Indonesian authorities released pictures of Maikel Merani's corpse as well as arms and paraphernalia alleged to have been discovered in Mr Merani's house.

These included an assault rifle, various ammunitions, knives, wads of cash and the outlawed Papuan Morning Star Flag.

Gear unearthed during Indonesian police raid on West Papuan Mikail Merani's house in Yapen, 29 March 2017.

Gear unearthed during Indonesian police raid on West Papuan Mikail Merani's house in Yapen, 29 March 2017. Photo: Supplied

According to the Jakarta Globe, a witness to the raid said police harassed and tortured Mr Merani's family members.

Police then reportedly took a man believed to be Mr Merani's father in for interrogation.

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