Jakarta, May 26 -- Indonesia's military has evacuated 44 gold miners from a remote village in Papua Highlands after residents fled over fears linked to separatist activity by the Free Papua Movement (OPM), authorities said.

The evacuation was carried out by the Habema Joint Regional Defense Command after the miners escaped from Kawe village in Awimbon Subdistrict, Pegunungan Bintang District, on May 24.

"This evacuation reflects the state's presence in protecting civilians affected by security disturbances in the Papua Highlands interior," Habema spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel M. Wirya Arthadiguna said in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.

Wirya did not provide details on the circumstances surrounding the miners' escape or whe...