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)