REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA - The Indonesian military said it hopes the government of Papua New Guinea acts firmly against armed civilians that often went to hiding in that country after causing security problem in the Indonesia part of the island. 

"Gangs of armed men often cross the border to PNG after causing trouble in the Indonesian frontier area that we could not pursue them beyond the border," chief of the Cenderawasih military command Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua said.

"We strongly hope that good relations between the two countries could be maintained by PNG chasing away the gangs of armed men hiding in that country," Zebua said.

The general made the statement after inspecting the condition in the border area where the Indonesian military clashed with a group of armed civilians on Sunday. A police and military officers were injured when their cars were shot at by ambushers believed to be separatists that seek Papua independence. 

The military and police went to the border area upon receiving report that the "Morning Star" flag of the rebels being hoisted there. There was no PNG police or military personnel in the border when the incident took place but they appeared in the afternoon when the condition has been normal again. 

A number of buildings including a car wash building were destroyed and burned in the location where the armed clash took place. The military closed the border on Saturday as a precaution ahead of the legislative elections on April 9. The border would remain closed until April 12, a government official said.

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