Irian separatists kill three settlers

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Separatist guerrillas killed three transmigrants yesterday who were on their way home from work at a nearby palm oil plantation.

The three men -- Nurcholis, Saidi and Suparman -- all in their 20s, were on their way home to Arso I village when they were attacked by separatists, according to Lt. Col. Koesmayadi of the 172 military resort which oversees Jayapura.

He said the victims were shot at close range and then beaten with machetes.

The village, about 50 kilometers southwest of here, is inhabited mostly by transmigrants from Java.

Koesmayadi said Armed Forces officers are currently hunting the separatists. He added that this was the first such attack reported this year. (lem)