by Abu Hanifah

JAKARTA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Separatism-related violence in Indonesia's easternmost Papua Province has intensified recently, with killings against road construction workers and attacks against a military outpost.

The fresh violence occurred as separatist groups commemorated what they called as Independence Day on Dec. 1.

A group of militants identified as Civilian Criminal Armed Band (KKSB) made an ambush on a military outpost in Nduga regency, killing a soldier and injuring another.

A military officer overseeing the attack scene said Tuesday that efforts to evacuate the remains of the killed soldier and the injured one were underway at present, with helicopter being used due to the tough terrain.

"This (the ambush) has a relation with the previous killing against road construction workers, perpetrated by the KKSB," local media quoted Deputy Commander of Cendrawasih Military Command Dax Sianturi as saying Tuesday.

Papua Provincial Police Spokesperson Mustafa Kamal confirmed on Monday that 31 workers constructing the government-initiated Trans Papua road were killed by KKSB on Sunday.

The KKSB insurgents initially killed 24 workers at the road construction site in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak, Mustafa said.

They chased the other eight workers, who managed to flee, and killed another seven, whom they captured. Another worker also managed to escape from the insurgents' chase.

Reports said the killings were prompted as the insurgents found the workers taking photos of them conducting ceremony to observe their independence day.

Mustafa added that efforts to pursue the KKSB insurgents and retrieve the bodies of the killed civilians were hindered by telecommunications problem and tough terrain in the remote regency.

Responding to the latest development in Papua, Indonesian President Joko Widodo stressed that efforts to develop economy in the province must continue despite the challenging situation.

"We know that the process would be hard due to extreme geographical condition and security issue. Development in Papua must be expanded and carried on. It should not be stopped because of such an incident," the president said here on Tuesday.

The Trans Papua road project spans from Papua's northern city of Sorong to the easternmost city of Merauke and is expected to be completed next year.

The 4,325-km road would provide convenience land transport for locals and logistics, lowering the cost of transportation, the main driving factor of economy in this easternmost province, which has been lagging behind other regions for decades. Enditem

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