All hostages fine: Military

All hostages fine: Military

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen.
Amir Sembiring said on Tuesday that 11 Irianese hostages released
by rebels on Monday "are in fine condition".

They were treated well by their abductors, the two-star
general said.

"The only thing they are suffering from are scratches on their
feet because their abductors always demanded they move from one
place to another to avoid arrest (from the security
authorities)," Sembiring was quoted by Antara as saying.

The hostages, most of them women, were kidnapped by an
Irianese rebel group on May 5 following a raid on a residential
area at Arso oil palm plantation in Jayapura.

According to Sembiring, none of the women were assaulted by
their abductors.

"I have received no such report in this case," he said.

Led by Hans Bomay, the rebels killed four villagers, wounded
three and robbed others during the raid, the military said.

With the help of the Papua New Guinea military, the people
were freed on Monday morning from the rebels' hideouts in Bewani,
PNG, which is located about 12 kilometers from the border with
Irian Jaya.

The 11 villagers are scheduled to be handed over to the
Indonesian authorities on Wednesday in Vanimo by PNG Minister of
Defense Pieter Weiang to Indonesian ambassador at the country,
Benny Mandalika.

Amir Sembiring and Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi also are
scheduled to fly to Vanimo on Wednesday to transport the hostages
back to Jayapura. (bsr/34)