Hostage negotiations continue in Irian Jaya
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Local authorities and community leaders continued negotiations with rebels on Tuesday to free 16 hostages held in a remote jungle location in the province.
Irian Jaya Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Moersoeti Darnomoerhadi said that four (police) units have been deployed to handle the hostage situation and have been instructed to use persuasive measures.
Moersoeti however declined to further elaborate about the function of the units.
"We received news that the hostages are in good condition," he said after a coordination meeting between the police and military on Tuesday.
The 16 hostages, including three Koreans, were allegedly abducted by separatists led by Willem Onde of the Papua Liberation National Army (TPN Papua), a faction of the Merauke- based separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM).
"We are also keeping contact with the civilian negotiating team led by a local priest," he said.
The exact whereabouts of the hostages remains unknown. There are reports that they have been moved closer to the border with Papua New Guinea.
"The hostages were kept deep in a rebel camp in Merauke and one of the negotiators has met them and they are okay," Irian Jaya's Police Detective chief Sr. Comr. Tukarno claimed as quoted by Antara.
Separately, Indonesia's Red Cross (PMI) chairman Mar'ie Muhammad stated PMI's readiness to act as a mediator.
"We will gladly help the authorities resolve the case," Mar'ie said in Jayapura.
The hostages are employees of PT Korindo, a South Korean timber company operating in the province.
The abductors are demanding US$1 million in compensation for environmental damage, the withdrawal of Police Mobile Brigade forces from the district of Asiki, and a total halt to logging operations.
Such abductions in the province have made headlines before with the most noted being the abduction of 26 people in 1996 in the hinterland of Mapenduma.
After being held for four months the crisis was resolved in a still controversial military raid. Two hostages were killed during the rescue operation. (edt)