OPM and hostages may be in cohorts: ABRI

OPM and hostages may be in cohorts: ABRI

JAKARTA (JP): A senior Armed Forces (ABRI) official says he
suspects that the hostages kidnapped by the separatist Free Papua
Movement (OPM) in Irian Jaya are in cohorts with their captors.

ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono said yesterday
that "there are indications that there has been cooperation
between the separatists and the hostages."

The indications include the fact that the hostages seem quite
calm about the whole affair and some of those who have been
released wish to return to their captors.

Twelve people -- four Britons, two Dutch and six Indonesians
-- have been held hostage since Jan. 8. The rebels originally
kidnapped 27, but 14, including a German researcher, have been
released.

Soeyono said there was also an indication that a non-
governmental organization (NGO) is involved in the kidnapping,
and this week's riots in the copper town of Timika.

He would not say whether it was a foreign or local NGO.

The military is investigating the matter, he said. "I don't
know if it is a real NGO or an organization using the name of an
NGO. What is definite is that there is a particular group which
is taking advantage of the situation, or even running things,"
Soeyono said, adding that ABRI has also picked up unidentified
radio signals to confirm its suspicions.

Wide unrest broke out in Timika four days ago after a series
of vandalism forced a temporary closure of the PT Freeport
Indonesia's copper and gold mine in nearby Tembagapura.

Reports yesterday said Timika had resumed its daily
activities. PT Freeport spokesman Edward Pressman has maintained
that no Freeport personnel were seriously injured and damage to
facilities consisted mainly of broken windows.

Soeyono said the army through its Rapid Strike Reaction Force
acted quickly in quelling the riots in Timika.

There is now a force equivalent to the size of eight companies
of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) in the area.

He said while at present the identity of these groups
suspected of being involved in the unrest are unknown, ABRI
already has strong suspicions on who they might be.

"Yes, we will summon them and ask them about the signals. The
fact of the matter is there are these transmissions or radio
signals which carry messages," he said without elaborating on the
contents.

Meanwhile in a joint statement, four NGOs concerned with human
rights and the environment -- Walhi, ELSAM, INFID and LPPS -- said
the incident in Timika was a manifestation of deepseated
animosity and antagonism between PT Freeport and the local
people.

"Unrest is easily ignited when people repress innate anger and
dissatisfaction over what is being done to them," they said.

They said rather than indulging in accusations or allegations
of who instigated the riot, the authorities should resolve the
fundamental dissatisfaction of the people concerning the presence
of PT Freeport in the area.

Separately Bambang Suharto, a member of the National
Commission on Human Rights, told The Jakarta Post that he and two
fellow members will depart for Timika to investigate the unrest.

The team, including Marzuki Darusman, and Asmara Nababan, are
scheduled to leave some time next week. This will be the
commission's fourth visit to Timika.

Bambang said one of the aims of the visit is to investigate
the validity of claims from various NGOs that there were
casualties during the unrest. (17/imn/mds)