Jakarta, Sept. 27 -- Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto said separatist groups in Papua must be defeated, while security operations should be conducted alongside territorial approaches to support development and residents' welfare.

"The OPM (Free Papua Movement) is separatist, so it must be defeated. There can be no separatists in our country," Agus told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday.

Asked about public concerns over armed-group activities, Agus said resolving the Papua conflict could not rely solely on the military and required cooperation among multiple parties.

"As I said from the beginning, resolving the Papua issue requires collaboration, not just the TNI. If it is only the TNI, there will be violen...