Irian Jaya rebels kill four Kopassus soldiers<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Security authorities in the restive
\nprovince of Irian Jaya have stepped up their search for the
\nseparatist rebels accused of killing four soldiers from the
\nArmy's Special Force (Kopassus) on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon said on
\nSunday two platoons from Kopassus and the Army Strategic Reserves
\nCommand (Kostrad) were combing the jungle near Kuitav Betav
\nvillage in Pantai Timur district for the rebels.<\/p>\n
"I have ordered a search for the rebels responsible for this
\nattack," Mahidin said.<\/p>\n
Second Sgt. Zulkarnain, Second Sgt. Wani, Chief Sgt. Nandang
\nand Pvt. Sudirman were found dead, their bodies covered with
\nsevere cuts, after some 100 armed rebels attacked a military post
\nin Kuivar Betav at 5 p.m. on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Another Kopassus member, Pvt. Paulinus, survived the attack.<\/p>\n
The head of Kopassus' Tribuana unit, Col. Nus RHN, said on
\nSunday there were seven soldiers assigned to the post, but two of
\nthem were away from the post at the time of the attack.<\/p>\n
The raid came just minutes after an attack by a smaller group
\nof alleged rebels, who the soldiers were able to turn back.<\/p>\n
The assailants in the second attack, armed with arrows, spears
\nand machetes, snatched six SS-1 rifles, a handgun and ammunition
\nfrom the military post.<\/p>\n
They captured four of the Kopassus soldiers defending the post
\nand tortured them to death.<\/p>\n
One of the attackers, identified as Mesak Dawin, who is known
\nto be a military instructor for the Papua rebels, was killed in
\nthe incident.<\/p>\n
The remains of Zulkarnain, Wani and Nandang were flown to
\nJakarta on Sunday morning for burial, while the body of Sudirman
\nwas transported to his hometown, the South Sulawesi capital of
\nMakassar.<\/p>\n
Mahidin accused a rebel leader in the Bonggo district in the
\nJayawijaya hinterland, Hans Ore Yuweni, of masterminding the
\nattack.<\/p>\n
"We do not know the real motive of the attack but it is
\nprobably related to an earlier handover of guns by another rebel
\nleader, Max Rumbiak, in January," Mahidin said.<\/p>\n
Rumbiak surrendered on Jan. 22 two guns seized by his
\nfollowers on Christmas Eve to Kopassus troops assigned to the
\nBetav military post.<\/p>\n
Mahidin said Rumbiak's decision to turn in the guns apparently
\nangered Hans.<\/p>\n
"We have detected cracks in the rebel group. We also have
\nreceived reports that during the attack the rebels demanded the
\nguns be given back to them," Mahidin said.<\/p>\n
Free Papua Movement rebels operating in Irian Jaya have
\ncarried out numerous attacks and abductions over the years, the
\nmost recent being the kidnapping of 16 employees, including three
\nSouth Korean executives, of PT Korindo timber company in Merauke
\nregency in January.<\/p>\n
The military post attacked on Saturday is located near an
\noffice of timber company Somalindo in Kuivar village.<\/p>\n
Kopassus has deployed its personnel to Irian Jaya to back up
\nsecurity authorities in maintaining peace and order in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The Kopassus troops are stationed at several posts across 14
\nregencies here. Each post has between five and seven Kopassus
\nmembers. (35\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/irian-jaya-rebels-kill-four-kopassus-soldiers-1447893297",
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