One rebel killed, two arrested

One rebel killed, two arrested

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Troops have killed a separatist rebel and arrested two others in the eastern most province of Irian Jaya, Antara reported Monday.

The shooting took place during a clash in the Tiom sub- district on December 23, Irian Jaya military spokesman Lt. Col. Maulud Hidayat said.

A raid on two villages in the province on December 27 led to the capture of two rebels, Lieutenant Colonel Hidayat said.

The rebels were members of the Free Papua Organization which has been seeking an independent state in Irian Jaya since the late 1960s.

The dead man was a member of the group which kidnapped 26 people, including seven foreign scientists, in the mountainous jungle near Tiom in January. Two hostages were killed and the rest were eventually released or freed by troops.

The two rebels who were captured were members of a group which kidnapped 16 Indonesian logging company workers in August. Two hostages were found dead and the rest were either released or escaped.