Last three hostages freed by leader of Free Papua Movement

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Willem Onde, the leader of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), released on Wednesday afternoon three hostages, including two Koreans, who had been held for 23 days.

"Three PT Korindo Merauke employees, including two Korean nationals, were released this afternoon at about 2:45 p.m. local time after being held hostage since January 16," Chung Mulia Wijaya, vice president of PT Korindo logging and plywood company, told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Chung said the three released hostages, identified as Lee Jong Myung, Kuon O Deok and Emerikue Kamelius, "were in good condition and only lost few kilograms".

"Thank God the two Koreans are surveyors who have been living in Indonesia for 20 years ... so they are used to mosquito bites and raw food," he said.

The kidnappers, who are from a faction of OPM, seized 16 employees of the South Korean-owned plywood firm based in Asiki district, some 360 kilometers from Merauke.

Thirteen of the hostages were released on Jan. 28 following negotiations with the rebels at their camp in Asiki district. The rebels then demanded a US$1 million ransom, a halt to logging in the area and the withdrawal of police from the timber-cutting area for the release of the remaining three hostages.

"I met with Onde during the previous negotiations. Onde released the hostages on the grounds that President Abdurrahman Wahid agreed to meet with him in Jakarta. Basically he (Onde) was only trying to channel his aspirations for Papua freedom and it had nothing to do with Korindo," Chung said.

Merauke Regent Johanes Gluba Gebse was in Jakarta on Wednesday reportedly to confirm the planned meeting between the President and Onde. Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said earlier that the President had agreed to meet with Onde.

Both Chung and Korindo director Eugenius Simon Lestuny said no ransom had been paid for the release of the hostages.

"No ransom was paid. Logging is continuing as usual and as for the withdrawal of troops, that is up to the government," Lestuny said.

The three hostages left Onde's camp in the Asiki district near Digul River with negotiators, who included Merauke Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yohanis Agus Mulyono, the chief of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) in Tribuana, Lt. Col. Nus Rasia, and two Koreans officials from PT Korindo.

"We are glad that all hostages are safe and sound and no rescue operation was necessary," Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon and Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika said.

"We thank Mgr. J. Duivenvoorde, Rev. Kees de Roy, (local residents) Marius Marip, Vitalis and Linus, and Nor Bertha (Onde's sister), who played wonderful roles as negotiators, along with the government, the security forces and all related parties that have helped us in peacefully securing the release of the hostages," Kim Dong Hwan, the vice chairman of PT Korindo, said in a statement.

The company, however, urged the government to be more sensitive in understanding the situation in the regions.

PT Korindo has been operating in Indonesia for 30 years. The company has 4,000 employees in Irian Jaya. (edt/35)