Hostage negotiations continue in Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Local authorities and community
\nleaders continued negotiations with rebels on Tuesday to free 16
\nhostages held in a remote jungle location in the province.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Moersoeti
\nDarnomoerhadi said that four (police) units have been deployed to
\nhandle the hostage situation and have been instructed to use
\npersuasive measures.<\/p>\n
Moersoeti however declined to further elaborate about the
\nfunction of the units.<\/p>\n
\"We received news that the hostages are in good condition,\" he
\nsaid after a coordination meeting between the police and military
\non Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The 16 hostages, including three Koreans, were allegedly
\nabducted by separatists led by Willem Onde of the Papua
\nLiberation National Army (TPN Papua), a faction of the Merauke-
\nbased separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM).<\/p>\n
\"We are also keeping contact with the civilian negotiating
\nteam led by a local priest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The exact whereabouts of the hostages remains unknown. There
\nare reports that they have been moved closer to the border with
\nPapua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
\"The hostages were kept deep in a rebel camp in Merauke and
\none of the negotiators has met them and they are okay,\" Irian
\nJaya's Police Detective chief Sr. Comr. Tukarno claimed as quoted
\nby Antara.<\/p>\n
Separately, Indonesia's Red Cross (PMI) chairman Mar'ie
\nMuhammad stated PMI's readiness to act as a mediator.<\/p>\n
\"We will gladly help the authorities resolve the case,\" Mar'ie
\nsaid in Jayapura.<\/p>\n
The hostages are employees of PT Korindo, a South Korean
\ntimber company operating in the province.<\/p>\n
The abductors are demanding US$1 million in compensation for
\nenvironmental damage, the withdrawal of Police Mobile Brigade
\nforces from the district of Asiki, and a total halt to logging
\noperations.<\/p>\n
Such abductions in the province have made headlines before
\nwith the most noted being the abduction of 26 people in 1996 in
\nthe hinterland of Mapenduma.<\/p>\n
After being held for four months the crisis was resolved in a
\nstill controversial military raid. Two hostages were killed
\nduring the rescue operation. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hostage-negotiations-continue-in-irian-jaya-1447893297",
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