ICRC sends team to meet Irian rebels
ICRC sends team to meet Irian rebels
JAKARTA (JP): A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Jakarta flew to Irian Jaya yesterday to join in the government's efforts to secure the release of 13 people, including six Europeans, held hostage by separatist rebels.
The team is headed by the ICRC's chief representative in Indonesia, Henry Fournier, Antara reported quoting an official of the Red Cross office in Jakarta.
The team's mission was approved by the government, Sri Wahyu Endah, an ICRC information officer, told the news agency.
She stressed the Red Cross' role was as a facilitator in the mediation between the government and the rebels. She added that the rebel leader Kelly Kwalik had sent a letter to the ICRC office in Jakarta requesting to meet with Red Cross officials.
AFP news agency reported that the ICRC team consists of five officials. Two proceeded to Wamena where the military has set up a command post to oversee the operation to secure the release of the hostages, and the other three went to Timika, believed to be the home base of the rebels, to spread word of the Red Cross' intention to meet with Kelly Kwalik.
The 13 captives, all scientists on an expedition to the Lorentz nature park, were abducted in Mapunduma on Jan. 8. They include four Britons, two Dutch citizens and seven Indonesians.
The military have not had contact with the rebels since Jan. 25. The rebels have since left the Mapunduma village for an unknown destination.
Earlier mediation efforts involving local church officials led to the release of 13 of the 26 hostages originally abducted.
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said in Jakarta yesterday that the military would continue to use the persuasive approach with the rebels to seek the release of the remaining hostages.
Although when asked about the possibility of the use of force, he said, "Later, but you don't need to know that. That option is always available."
The military operation in Irian Jaya is led by Maj. Gen. A. Dunidja, the chief of the Trikora Military Command, but he takes his orders directly from Gen. Feisal in Jakarta.
Feisal said the military was still trying to determine the whereabouts of the rebels.
He ruled out the suggestion that the rebels might be heading for the Papua New Guinea border. "That's too far," he said. (emb)