'Abductees' deny radio report

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Two locals believed kidnapped by separatist rebels recently have reappeared and denied the report.

One of the men, P. Ramandey, said Wednesday he was surprised by a recent state radio RRI broadcast saying he and his colleague were abducted by the Free Papua Movement (GPK).

Ramandey said he and fellow Irianese workers at a forestry firm were collecting firewood when their friends rushed to a military post in Arso subdistrict after hearing shouts from unidentified people.

"Catch them, kill them!" Ramandey quoted his friends as reporting to military personnel. He said it turned out the cries were from other workers who were chasing monitor lizards.

The local military command announced on Thursday the two men had returned to their workplace without showing signs of abduction. (34)