Military forms force to track down abductors

Military forms force to track down abductors

JAKARTA (JP): The military in Irian Jaya has formed a special
force to track down separatist rebels who captured 24 people,
including seven Westerners, to prevent them from crossing the
border to Papua New Guinea.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo told
Antara that the special force is under orders to secure the
release of the 24 before they get to the Papuan border.

Suwarno said the captives were members of an expedition team
working in the Baliem Valley. They were attacked and captured by
about 200 rebels on Monday, he added.

There was not a word about the condition of the 24 abducted or
their whereabouts, and whether indeed they were being taken
towards the Papuan border.

But in the past, OPM rebels have often found sanctuary across
the border as the Indonesian military would not chase them. Some
rebels are currently holding captive two Indonesian senior high
school students and are demanding ransom for their release.

The seven foreigners were four Britons, two Dutch citizens and
one German while the Indonesians include many non-Irianese from
Jakarta. Some were members of the Biological Science Club (BScC)
while several were members of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature
that were on a three-month expedition to the Lorentz Nature
Reserve in the area.

The military did not say whether the rebels had made any
specific demands or ransoms. But it identified the seven
foreigners and some of the Indonesians held captive.

The four Britons, all graduates of Cambridge University, are
Daniel Start (21), Bill Oates (22), Anna McIvor (21), and Annette
van der Kolk (21).

The three World Wildlife Fund for Nature workers seized are
Frank Momberg of Germany and Mark van der Wal and Martha Klein of
the Netherlands.

Suwarno said the kidnapped Indonesians include Navy Panekenan,
Yosias Lasemahu, Adinda Saraswati, and Jualita Tanasale. They are
all from the Jakarta-based Biological Science Club (BScC).

Others include Markus Watipi of the Cendrawasih University in
Jayapura, Abraham Wangai of the Irian Jaya Natural Resources
Consultation Center, Jacobus of the Indonesian Institute of
Science, and four local residents -- Alex Nuvigi, Philipus
Waseirak, Isaac Waseirak, Lewi N., Marthavina, Nafali Wanebo, and
Marthin Wiyangge -- and a local Christian priest Zakeus Elopere.

The British, Dutch and German embassies in Jakarta have sent
diplomats to Jayapura to find more about the case.

The WWF office in Jakarta appealed to the military that their
chief concern should first and foremost the safety of the
captives.

"We appeal to every one to help with the release of our
colleagues, giving priority to their safety," according to a WWF
statement received by Antara.

Relatives of two of those abducted in Jakarta made similar
appeals to the military, one even suggesting that the military go
soft on the rebels to secure the release.

"My hope is that the government will move swiftly. My daughter
went there with the approval of the government," Mrs. W.H.J.
Tanasale, the mother of 29-year old Jualita, told Antara.

"We hope the government will be softer this time. We heard
that the government refused to negotiate in the abduction of the
two senior high school students," Anne Menik Andayani, sister of
Adinda Saraswati, told the news agency. (imn)