Indonesian police have been evacuating residents from several villages in the Highlands of Papua province amid a standoff with a pro-independence group.

Photo: AFP PHOTO / OLIVIA RONDONUWU

The West Papua National Liberation Army, or TPN, recently declared war on the Indonesian state.

The TPN said its goal was to close the Freeport mine in Mimika regency.

Freeport is Indonesia's single largest source of revenue but Papuans say they get no benefit from it.

Shootings near the mine since August which have left one policeman dead and several injured have been blamed by police on the TPN.

Following this, hundreds more police and military officers deployed to the area and began exchanging fire with the TPN.

Unconfirmed reports from Mimika's Tembagapura area said two TPN members were killed at the weekend.

Police said they had started evacuating residents from the area because it is too dangerous to stay.

But in an ominous sign, those being evacuated have mainly been non-Papuan migrants, adding to fears a major assault is about to take place.