Military launches operation to hunt down Irian rebels

Military launches operation to hunt down Irian rebels

JAKARTA (JP): The military in Irian Jaya has launched an operation to hunt down separatist rebels who abducted a French and an Indonesian mining prospectors in the Paniai regency.

The two hostages were freed within 24 hours on Wednesday in an operation that involved shooting between the military and rebels. Noone was hurt in the rescue mission.

Paniai military chief Lt. Col. Armentony A, who headed the military operation, told Antara yesterday that an operation was now underway to capture the rebels, estimated at 20, "dead or alive."

Armentony said the rebels are led by a man identified as John Magai Yogi who has been operating in the West Paniai district.

The incident is the second abduction attempt by separatist rebels that involved foreigners as captives since January. Another group of rebels has been holding 13 people, including six Europeans, hostage in the Jayawijaya regency, since Jan. 8.

The tough approach used by the military in Paniai contrasts sharply with the "softly softly" approach in Jayawijaya, with churchmen and the international Red Cross officials acting as mediators to secure the safe release of the hostages.

The Frenchman involved in this week's abduction was identified as Frederic Penti, 28, and the Indonesian Gabrial Go, 41. They were employees of PT Nabire Bhakti Mining which was working from a base camp in the Mogo-Mogo village.

Armentony explained that the two men managed to escape from their captors just as the military was sending a helicopter to near the rebels' hiding place.

The two men dashed downhill for about 500 meters before they were picked up by the helicopters. The rebels who were chasing them opened fire at least twice at the two men and also at the helicopter, he said as reported by Antara.

The two men were now resting comfortably in Paniai after undergoing the 24-hour ordeal.

Armentony's account contrasted with earlier press reports that suggested that the rebels fled because they were intimidated by the sound of the helicopter, and left the two hostages behind.

The rebels however did manage to get away with two radio units, a camera and an Rp 3 million in cash belonging to the company.

Meanwhile in Jayapura, Maj. Gen. A. Dunidja, the chief of the Trikora Military Command which oversees Irian Jaya, was quoted by Antara as saying that contacts with rebels holding the 13 captives in Jayawijaya have now been re-established, raising hopes that the crisis could come to an end soon.

Dunidja however refused to predict when he hoped the hostages will be released.

"We intend to resolve the case without the loss of a life. That's why we have not set a specific deadline," he said.

The rebels holding the 13 hostages is now led by Daniel Yudas Kogoya. Kelly Kwalik, the man who had earlier led the operation was believed to have fled to an unknown destination.

Dunidja warned people against making comparison between the successful military operation in Paniai and the lengthy process in Jayawijaya.

"There are various factors that make them different. For one, the field condition is totally different," he said.

Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the chief of the Army's Special Force Command, returned to Wamena earlier this week, according to Kompas. Prabowo had supervised the operation to secure the release of the hostages in the first two weeks. (emb)