Hostage crisis drags on, special troops withdrawn

Hostage crisis drags on, special troops withdrawn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more members of the Special Forces who were sent to Wamena after the first two weeks of the hostage crisis have been withdrawn.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)