Hostages freed

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