Arrangements being made for Onde trip<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Tickets are being prepared for
\nIrian Jaya separatist leader Willem Onde and his men to go to
\nJakarta to meet President Abdurrahman Wahid as requested by him
\nafter the release of 13 of the 16 people kidnapped by the
\nseparatist group on Jan. 16.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya Police spokesman Maj. Zulkifli said here on Monday
\nthat the Merauke regent John Globe Gebze, who led the team
\nnegotiating with Onde's men in the Asiki district, had left the
\nnegotiation site and was preparing Onde's trip to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Around 10 people, including traditional and religious figures,
\nwould accompany Onde during the trip, Zulkifli said. However he
\ndid not have any idea when Onde would leave for Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Onde had asked to meet the President anywhere within seven
\ndays after he released 13 of the hostages. Three hostages remain
\ndetained as Onde wants a guarantee that his request to meet the
\nPresident is granted.<\/p>\n
The three remaining hostages are Kun Kwan and Lee Jongmy
\n(Koreans) and Kamilus Muyu.<\/p>\n
The Merauke-based Free Papua Organization (OPM), led by Onde,
\nabducted 11 people, including one Korean expatriate, hostage in
\nthe district of Asiki on Jan. 16. The hostages belonged to a
\nSouth Korean timber company PR Korindo operating in the area.<\/p>\n
The abductors demanded compensation for the destruction of
\nlocal forests, a total halt to logging and the withdrawal of the
\nPolice Mobile Brigade from Asiki.<\/p>\n
Two days later, five more PT Korindo staffers, including two
\nKoreans, were also taken hostage by the same people.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, the newly installed Trikora Military
\nchief Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon said on Monday that Onde, who is
\nover 50, is a good friend of members of the Army elite troops
\nKopassus posted at Merauke. \"Onde had also met Gus Dur prior to
\nthe Papuan Congress in November last year.\"<\/p>\n
\"Onde demanded that the (Indonesian) government give him and
\nhis men plots of land and houses. The request has yet to be
\nfulfilled since the government has been too busy with a myriad of
\nother problems. Kopassus itself could not make the necessary land
\nand houses available for him,\" Mahidin said. (02\/35\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arrangements-being-made-for-onde-trip-1447893297",
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