JAKARTA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian army has prepared for a mission to release hundreds of civilians being taken hostages by gunmen in eastern province of Papua.
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army Major General Imam Edy Mulyono said on Wednesday that army personnel are ready to be dispatched to free the hostages and make the province secure.
"We are ready to conduct the mission. We want to make the situation in Papua stable. We are waiting for the government's decision," Mulyono said in West Java province.
The general said that the acts of Free Papua Movement have challenged the armed forces and brought the disaster to the people in Papua, he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
Over 100 armed separatist from the Free Papua Movement have taken over 1,000 civilians as hostages near a mine of subsidiary of U.S. giant Freeport McMorant Inc. in Timika, Papua.
