Jayapura, Papua, Oct. 9 -- A senior separatist commander was killed in a gunfight with Indonesian forces in the Papuan highlands earlier this week, the military said on Wednesday evening.

Major General Lucky Avianto, commander of Joint Task Force Habema, confirmed the death of Mayu Waliya, the operational commander of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) faction Kodap XII/Lanny Jaya.

"Mayu Waliya was killed during a firefight on Monday (Oct 6) in Unambunggu, Lanny Jaya District. His identity was confirmed on Wednesday after our team retrieved and analyzed data from a mobile phone found at the scene," Avianto said.

The military said Waliya operated under the command of Purom Okiman Wenda, a prominent separatist figure in the ...