Hostage crisis drags on, special troops withdrawn
Hostage crisis drags on, special troops withdrawn
JAKARTA (JP): The military withdrew some of the Army's Special
Forces from the Irian Jaya town of Wamena yesterday, in another
sign that the hostage crisis is likely to drag on for some time.
The military admitted that they had not had any further
contact with the separatist rebels who have been holding 13
people, including six Europeans, captive, since Jan. 8.
Officials also said that the rebels have moved out of their
jungle hideout in Mapunduma village, about 160 kilometers from
Wamena, for an unknown destination.
One theory is that the rebels, and their captives, might be
heading for the Papua New Guinea border, although the jagged
mountainous terrain of Jayawijaya regency would make such a trek
difficult and would take weeks.
The chief spokesman of the Trikora Military Command, Lt. Col.
Maulud Hidayat, said last night that there had been no new
development yesterday. "We have not had any contacts with the
rebels since last Thursday," he told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Meanwhile more members of the Special Forces who were sent to
Wamena after the first two weeks of the hostage crisis have been
withdrawn. The Special Forces Chief Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto,
who had been supervising the operation in Wamena and heading the
discussions with the rebels, had already returned to Jakarta last
week.
Officially, the operation is headed by Maj. Gen. A. Dunidja,
the chief of the Trikora Command.
Dunidja stressed that the standing order from Jakarta remains
that persuasion should be used to ensure the safe release of the
hostages, Antara reported.
"I'm hopeful that as a religious person, Kelly Kwalik will
free the hostages unharmed," he was quoted as saying.
The hostages include four Britons, two Dutch and seven
Indonesians. They were in the area on a scientific expedition at
the time. The rebels' main demand for a recognition of a West
Papua state in return for the release of the hostages has been
firmly rejected by the government.
The rebels have already released 13 hostages, including a
German scientist, in return for food and medicine.
With the rebels no longer in the Mapunduma area, the military
have, since the weekend, been sending non-commissioned officers
to the area to encourage villagers, who had gone into hiding in
the jungle when the hostage crisis began, to return, Antara
reported.
Andrian van der Bijl, a local missionary who was involved in
earlier negotiations with the rebels, joined in the drive to call
on the villagers to return. The military is also sending food
into the area to feed the villagers as well as the officers.
The chief of the Jayawijaya military command Lt. Col. Sumertha
Ayub told the news agency that the village was virtually deserted
when the military moved in.
Ayub also confirmed that the military did not have a clue of
the whereabouts of the rebels.
The people there had apparently abandoned their homes and
headed for the jungle amidst fears that their village would be
turned into a battle between the military and the rebels, he
said.
The military estimated that there are usually around 300
people living in Mapunduma. Only 53 had returned to their homes
by Sunday. (imn/emb)