Ex-hostages remain loyal

TIMIKA, Irian Jaya: Employees of PT Kamundan Raya recently freed from a group of rebels, who held them hostage for several weeks, said on Sunday they would continue working for the logging company.

"We'll keep working for the company, but first we want to go home and see our families," Markus, one of the freed hostages, was quoted by Antara as saying.

The other ex-hostages also expressed similar intentions.

Markus said they had been treated badly during their captivity.

One of the hostages, Suhadi, was beaten when he tried to escape. "We were also forced to eat 'unusual' food," said Markus.

The Armed Forces freed nine hostages on Saturday. The rebel group, which originally held 16 hostages captive, still has three hostages. Two of the remaining hostages had managed to escape earlier, while two others were released by the kidnappers. (imn)