One arrested over killing of soldiers in Irian Jaya
One arrested over killing of soldiers in Irian Jaya
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): A military team set up following
Saturday's killing of four soldiers in Betav, Jayapura regency,
Irian Jaya, apprehended on Tuesday a man believed to be a member
of the separatist group that killed the soldiers.
A military source, who asked for anonymity, said here on
Tuesday that the man, identified as Torius Intora, was caught
when trying to escape into a forest in Betav village, where four
soldiers of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) were slain.
"The 20-year-old man claimed to be a member of the Papuan
Liberation Front Army (TPN Papua) and was caught with 19 metal
arrows, 36 bullets for an FN handgun, a holster for an M-16 rifle
and documents and photos of the TPN Papua," the officer said. "He
also claimed to be one of the attackers of the Kopassus
soldiers."
The officer said Torius was still being questioned.
Betav is a remote hilly land about 600 kilometers from the
capital of Jayapura. It is a one-hour helicopter trip to the
village from Jayapura.
The terrain apparently prevented reporters based in Jayapura
from traveling there to cover the arrest.
The area has been open since timber company PT Somalindo
started operations there several years ago.
On Saturday, Second Sgt. Zulkarnain, Second Sgt. Wani, Chief
Sgt. Nandang and Pvt. Sudirman were tortured to death, allegedly
by members of TPN Papua. One Kopassus soldier, Pvt. Paulinus,
survived the attack.
One of the rebels, Mesak Dawin, was shot dead in the assault.
The attackers also stole guns and other military equipment
from the soldiers. However, later on Sunday, the rebels returned
most of the military equipment, including five rifles, to
Indonesian Military personnel in Betav.
Militant groups of indigenous Irianese have tried to obtain
separation from the Republic of Indonesia ever since the mineral-
rich land became an Indonesian province in the 1960s.
Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon has
accused Hans Ore Yuweni, leader of rebels in the Bonggo district
in the Jayawijaya hinterland, of plotting the killing of the four
Kopassus members.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said that members of the Free
Papua Movement operating in the Merauke regency area planned to
release on Wednesday the remaining three people taken hostage
last month. Thirteen of the hostages have already been released.
The rebels, led by Willem Onde, abducted 16 people, including
three South Koreans, who work for timber company PT Korindo in
the district of Asiki in January.
They demanded, among other things, US$1 million in
compensation for environmental damage, the withdrawal of the
police's Mobile Brigade from the regency of Asiki and a total
halt to logging. (35/sur)