Military cites one fight in Irian Jaya

Military cites one fight in Irian Jaya

JAKARTA (JP): The military authorities in Irian Jaya say there
has been only one incident of exchange of fire with a local
separatist group in which one rebel was killed.

Maj. Gen. I Ketut Wirdhana, the chief of the Trikora Command,
said the incident happened last December in Tembagapura near the
giant mining operations site of the American company, PT Freeport
Indonesia.

The rebel was shot as he tried to get away after hoisting the
flag of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in the mining town,
Wirdhana told the Antara news agency in Jayapura, the capital of
Irian Jaya, on Thursday.

The military also arrested three people who were believed to
have participated in the flag hoisting attempt, he said, adding
that one of the three was an employee of Freeport.

Wirdhana, whose command covers Irian Jaya and Maluku, was
commenting on reports originating from Australia that up to 37
people, including OPM rebels and civilians, have been killed in a
series of incidents in Irian Jaya over the past year.

"It's not true that there have been mass arrests as the
reports suggested," Wirdhana added.

The allegations of killings have prompted the Australian
government to follow up the reports. Its ambassador to Indonesia
is planning a trip to Irian Jaya later this month. (emb)