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)