Military takes Irian Jaya's largest rebel training camp

R.K. Kadir, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Troops from the Indonesian military (TNI) on Wednesday seized Irian Jaya's largest rebel training camp, in the village of Meruai, Bonggo subdistrict, east of the provincial capital of Jayapura.

Chief of the Jayapura Military District Command Lt. Col. Seno Purbo B. said that the operation had taken place at 3 p.m.

"Fifty hand-made rifles and traditional weapons like arrows, machetes and spears were seized from the complex."

The troops, consisting of one company from Battalion 611 Awalong, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, and a number of joint-troops from the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) and police, overpowered the separatist group members, he said.

"The only resistance from the rebels was when three armed people tried to intercept the army troops at the Armofa village in Bonggo. They disappeared after the army members returned fire," a field commander, who refused to be named, said.

Bonggo is a roughly 40 minute helicopter ride from Jayapura.

The raid was conducted following an attack by rebels on the TNI's post in Armofa village on Sept. 23, during which two rebels were killed and one transmigrant kidnapped (by the rebels).

Seno said that hundreds of rebels had earlier escaped. It was believed that the TNI's plan to raid the training camp had been leaked to them.

"The military training camp is located in a remote area that is very difficult for the troops to reach," said Seno. "The training camp was established in 1999."

According to TNI's records the training camp had graduated five groups prior to this year. "Each group consisted of 500 people," Seno said.

The well-trained members had been stationed in various locations to lead rebellious actions against the government of Indonesia.

The wood-construction training camp had also been used to produce hand made rifles, Seno said, pointing to the vacant workshop in the complex.

Military reports said that, one week before Wednesday's raid, around 300 members of the self-styled Free Papua National Liberation Troops led by Col. Hans Juweni, who is commander for Bonggo, had left.

The escaped rebels were believed to be staying in nearby forests in the districts of Demta and Sarmi, said Seno. "We are continuing to hunt them."

Before the military offensive on Wednesday the separatist group had also sent a letter to the TNI rejecting military operations and offering to negotiate. The letter was signed by Karel Gustav Oduas, who claimed to be a lieutenant colonel.

"We'll consider the offer very carefully," said Seno.