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