Transcript
The photo, like countless others released by the rebel group, shows several young men posing ceremoniously with an array of high-powered weapons.
But in this one, the guns are almost as tall as some of the fighters: they are children.
A West Papua Liberation Army spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, says the group has used fighters aged between 15 and 18 for decades.
"Why are young freedom fighters going fight against Indonesia? Because they was born in the jungle."
Mr Sambom says there are only a few child soldiers, and only because they have no other choice in conflict-prone Papua.
Still, the comments and photo provide evidence the Liberation Army has violated international laws against the recruitment of child soldiers.
The rebel outfit is championing independence in Papua and since last year ramped up its attacks in Papua's Central Highlands.
In December, its guerilla fighters massacred at least 16 Indonesian construction workers in Nduga regency in the bloodiest incident in years.
Chris Wilson, a senior lecturer at Auckland University who specialises in conflict in Indonesia, says the use of child soldiers will prolong the violence in Papua.
"It's going to make these people invested in the conflict from a very young age going to make, it's going to be very difficult for them to be reintegrated into society once they're involved in the actual violence from the type of age."
The escalating violence in Nduga, which has killed dozens of rebels and soldiers since the December attack, has already impacted communities.
One human rights group said in April that more than 32,000 people had been displaced from the regency since the massacre.
Hipo Wangge is an Indonesian researcher who this month interviewed Papuans who fled the conflict in Nduga.
He says he recently met a young boy who wanted to join the Liberation Army, which is led in Nduga by Ekianus Kogoya, an amibitious 21-year-old commander.
"When I asked them, why don't you go back to Nduga? And he says, if I go back, then I will join Ekianus Kogoya's group to take arms and to fight against the Indonesian army. I would say, really? You're too young to take arms."
Experts say child soldiers in Papua are part of a cycle of violence, with many joining the fight after their parents die in battles with Indonesia's military.
Although there are no definitive estimates of the number of child soldiers in Papua, they are not only fighting in troubled Nduga.
Mr Wangge and Sebby Sambom, the Liberation Army spokesperson, say underage soldiers can be found in other parts of Papua.
Auckland University's Chris Wilson says this will complicate any clashes for Indonesia's military.
"It may be that it's a way of precluding the tearing the use of overwhelming force by the Indonesian military, obviously, you know, the Indonesian military will have extra concerns about using overwhelming force against against children."
A spokesperson for Indonesia's military, Mohammed Aidi, says he's unaware of the use of child soldiers by the Liberation Army.
This is Mackenzie Smith.
