Hostages freed

On Wednesday, the happy news reached us from Irian Jaya that most of the members of the 1995 Lorentz Expedition Team were freed by the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) and were alive. The move by ABRI, which was code-named Operation Taskforce Bird of Paradise, was led by Army Brig. Gen Prabowo Subianto, who is also the commander of the Army's Special Forces. The team of researchers was taken hostage by OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka) rebels on Jan. 8. 1996.

Many people are of the opinion that this last-resort measure had to be taken after the International Commission of the Red Cross gave up its efforts. ABRI then took effective measures that led to the release of the hostages.

In any operation aimed at the rescue of hostages, there may be victims. Under the worst outcome, there could be victims from among the hostages, the rescuers as well as the abductors. According to reports, there were victims among the captors and the hostages. Two hostages were killed by their captors. Eight rebels died and two others were captured alive.

ABRI's accomplishment in this case has been praised by many. The UN Secretary General and the British ambassador in Jakarta expressed their relief at the success of the rescue operation. The families of the hostages who survived the ordeal have also expressed their gratitude.

To the families of those hostages who were killed, we convey our condolences. Everything is in God's hands.

-- Republika, Jakarta