German hostage temporarily freed
German hostage temporarily freed
JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya separatist rebels holding 15 people captive released a German hostage temporarily yesterday to take their message to the Indonesian military, Antara reported.
Frank Momberg, from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) was "lent" to the military in Wamena in exchange for food and medicine that were dispatched to the rebels by helicopter, the news agency said.
Under the deal, Momberg was to go back to the rebels, Antara quoted Armed Forces chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo as saying.
The rebels sent Momberg to prove that the hostages had been well treated, Suwarno said, adding that this was also confirmed by the German. "Momberg was asked to explain the various demands made by the captors. But he will have to go back," he said.
In a brief interview broadcast by TVRI last night, Momberg said that all the hostages were safe and in good condition.
"During our captivity, we were treated well and given enough food. None of us were taken ill," he said in fluent Indonesian. "Unfortunately, one of the hostages, Martha Klein, is pregnant and another Jacobus, has a six month-old child," he said referring to two of the hostages.
Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the chief of the Army's Special Force who is supervising the military operation, told TVRI Momberg "has agreed to help until this matter is resolved."
The military has set up a command post in Wamena, the main town nearest to Mapunduma village in the mountainous Jayawijaya regency where the rebels are believed to have settled in, and about half an hour away by helicopter.
Suwarno described the area where the rebels are settling as harsh and rugged. Temperatures drop to as low as 4 degree Celsius and the area is constantly covered by fog.
Earlier on, the military dispatched four local church officials by helicopter as requested by the rebels to mediate between them and the authorities.
The four were identified by Antara as Paul Brukat of the Jayapura Christian Missionary, Uramus Gobay, Andrian Van Der Bell, and Bishop Moninghoof.
The military have rejected rebels' demands for an aeroplane or a helicopter with a civilian pilot, in exchange for the release of all the hostages. "We would only send an aircraft to collect the hostages, but not for use by the rebels," Suwarno said.
The 15 hostages yesterday began their second week in captivity in the hands of the armed separatist movement. The military estimated that 200 rebels were involved in the abduction of the hostages in Mapunduma village on Jan. 8.
The rebels released nine of the 24 people it abducted on Friday. Those released were village officials from Mapunduma.
Among those still held captive include four Britons: Daniel Start, William Oates, Annette van der Kolk and Anna McIvor; two Dutch citizens, Mark van der Wal and Martha Klein, and several scientists from Jakarta.
They were all members of an expedition team to study conservation measures in the Lorentz natural reserve close to the Baliem Valley. When they were abducted last week, they were in the final phases of the three-month expedition.
The Irian rebel movement has stepped up its campaign to make its cause better known to the world. In November, rebels killed two public works officials and last month they abducted two senior high school students and took them across the border to Papua New Guinea. They are demanding Rp 40 million ($17,400) ransom for their release. The military has refused to negotiate.
In Jakarta, a group of 15 Moslem students staged a peaceful demonstration outside the Papua New Guinea embassy yesterday, demanding Port Moresby keep its promise not to provide sanctuary to OPM rebels.
The two students kidnapped by rebels are both Moslems.
The group also condemned Port Moresby's inaction in the face of recent rebel activities. Three of the protesters were allowed to meet with Papua New Guinea's military attache Col. Karry Frank to present their message. (emb/01)
Editorial -- Page 4