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)