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)