Four killed by rebels in Irian Jaya

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Bill Skate sent condolences on Tuesday to the families of four Arso plantation workers who were killed by Indonesian rebels in an attack here two weeks ago.

Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, Trikora Military commander overseeing Jayapura, disclosed the news of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) prime minister's condolences to reporters on Tuesday after receiving a PNG envoy in Jayapura.

At the meeting, the PNG consul told the commander the condolences were conveyed at an earlier meeting between PNG Armed Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Jerry Singirok and Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Benny Mandalika in Port Moresby on Tuesday.

At the Port Moresby meeting, Singirok pledged to deploy a unit of PNG troops to secure the release of 11 other plantation workers who were abducted and were being held at the rebels' headquarters in a Bewani complex in Sandaun province of PNG, some 12 kilometers from the Indonesia-PNG border, Antara reported.

Singirok said Bill Skate had ordered him to secure the hostages' freedom as soon as possible in a bid to help improve relations between the two countries.

The rebels attacked and robbed the plantation on May 5. (01/34)