Clashes erupted in Indonesia's Papua region on Monday as hundreds of residents protested, demanding the withdrawal of military personnel. The demonstration saw students and civilians confront law enforcement in the insurgency-hit province. The protest follows a military operation conducted in the region earlier this month, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including women and children. This operation was carried out against armed separatists who have sought independence for the resource-rich Papua region since 1969, when a vote overseen by the United Nations brought it under Indonesian control following more than six decades of Dutch colonial rule. The country's human rights watchdog last week confirmed these fatalities and urged the government to review its operations in the region, though the military has yet to acknowledge the casualties.…