Military chases settlers' killers

Military chases settlers' killers

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The military is chasing members of an
Irian Jaya separatist group suspected of killing three
transmigrants in Arso village recently.

Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, in charge of the Trikora Regional
Military Command, overseeing Maluku and Irian Jaya, said here
yesterday that the three transmigrants, identified as Nurcholis,
Saidi and Suparman, were gunned down Wednesday evening on their
way home to the Arso resettlement site from the oil palm
plantation where they worked.

They were killed instantly when several men, suspected of
being members of the rebel group, blocked their way and opened
fire on them.

Sembiring expressed his grief over the deaths and pledged to
pursue the killers.

He also urged locals to be vigilant.

"Please report anything suspicious to the security authorities
immediately," he said, as quoted by Antara.

He said the incident indicated that separatists were still
active and that the military presence was still needed in the
region.

The incident, however, would not affect the military's
intention to withdraw some of its troops posted in remote areas,
depending on the situation in these areas, he added. (rms)