Non-military action preferred on hostage case
JAYAPURA (JP): Army deputy chief Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri and Deputy chief of Irian Jaya police Brig. Gen. Moersoedidarno Moerhadi said in separate interviews on Monday that military action would be the last resort to free the 16 people taken hostage by a separatist group in Merauke, Irian Jaya.
Kiki told reporters after overseeing the ceremony of the installment of Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon as Irian Jaya's new Trikora Military chief, replacing the late Maj. Gen. Tonny A. Rompis, that negotiation was still possible with the separatist rebels, who abducted them. "Therefore, non-military efforts were preferable."
He said that military action would become the last step to free the hostages. "We have yet to receive the police's request to help free the hostages."
Deputy chief of Irian Jaya Police Brig. Gen. Moersoedidarno Moerhadi shared his opinion, saying that negotiations continued as police saw that 'talks' with the abductors were likely to work.
"The hostages are still in Irian Jaya and in good condition. We have just sent them rice (given by PT Korindo)," he said, hinting that the police had a special contact person in the group (abductors).
The abduction of 16 officials and employees of a South Korean joint company PT Korindo were kidnapped in the district of Asiki, Merauke, last Tuesday by members of the Papua Liberation National Army (TPN) led by Willem Onde. The abductors have demanded US$1 million in compensation for environmental damage, the withdrawal of the police's mobile brigade troops from the district of Asiki, and a total halt to logging.
Asiki district is about 12 hours drive from Merauke town, which is located about 900 kilometers south of the capital, Jayapura.
Two days later five more people, including two more Korean nationals Lee Hoon, an executive director of PT Korindo, and Lee Jongmy, a manager of the firm's palm oil plantation in the region, were taken hostage by the same group when they were trying to negotiate the release of the eleven.
In another interview, Irian Jaya Police chief of Operation and Control Sr. Comr. Kusnadi revealed that Willem Onde sent a letter to local authorities in Merauke, saying that the hostages would be freed as long as the military/police did not undertake any armed operation to release them.
"All officials will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to decide further steps over this abduction case. The note shows that he (Willem) is willing to negotiate and therefore I think it's better to be patient and avoid casualties. Rescue (military) operations are usually fast but it is also a risky option for the hostages," Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post by phone.
The officer further said that the abductor's action was rather more economically motivated than political.
"Personally, I think Willem Onde is not a terrorist. He is asking only for simple things such as money, not the release of (proindependence leader) Theys Hiyo Eluay," he said. (35/edt/sur)