Cartenz still closed to public

JAYAPURA: The chief of the Trikora (Irian Jaya and Maluku) Military Command. Maj. Gen. Johny Lumintamg says the Cartenz mountain range is still dangerous and closed to climbers.

The entry ban was imposed last August when 14 workers from the timber firm PT Kamundan Raya were taken hostage by 50 local tribespeople.

The Djajanti Group employees were captured when 50 tribespeople raided their base camp 60 kilometers north of Timika.

Johny said ban would be called off when the area was safe again, Antara reported yesterday.

"We don't want to see or hear about anything like this happening to mountain climbers or tourists," he said.

Johny said PT Kamundan Raya's Timika office has resumed operations. A source in Timika said it was working on minor projects. (sur)