Papuan rebels attack military post, two killed

Papuan rebels attack military post, two killed

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Fierce attacks by members of an Irian
Jaya rebel group on the military post at the transmigration site
in the district of Bonggo, forced 46 transmigrant families,
comprising more than 200 people, to leave the site.

A transmigrant said on Monday that the people would not return
to the site until "the situation is totally under control."

The transmigrant families are now at the health center and
community hall of the neighboring villager of Armopah.

Around 100 armed members of the Papuan Liberation Army (TPNP)
raided the post of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad) Infantry Battalion 511 in Bonggo, some 400 kilometers
west of Jayapura, on Sunday morning.

Two rebels were killed in a three-hour shootout between the
Army and rebels.

Sutrisno, a transmigrant hailing from Java, said that he had
been traumatized by the attack. The residents' fears escalated
when two people, Nunuk, 35, and Agus, 41, were taken hostage by
the rebels.

Nunuk, a teacher, and Agus, who made their escape from the
rebels' camp hours after being taken hostages on Sunday, said the
rebels intended to release them after the bodies of their
comrades had been released by the Army.

"The dead bodies were handed over by the Army, but we were not
released. We slipped away when they were busying themselves with
the two dead bodies," Nunuk said.

"They threatened to kill all transmigrants if the Army
personnel remained in the area," she added.

In anticipation of a deteriorating situation, a group of 28
troopers was deployed to the area of the incident.

"The troopers are snipers and well-trained personnel from
Infantry Battalion 751 and the police Mobile Brigade," Trikora
Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon said on Monday.

"They have been instructed to hunt down the armed separatist
group members," he said.

He told his men in Irian Jaya to keep vigilant. "Remember that
before the end of this year the UN will discuss conflict areas in
the world. The rebels may make a move any time just to show the
world that they exist."

According to Mahidin, some 150 soldiers will later be deployed
to protect the transmigrants. "But the deployment will be
gradual."

Army sources said that Bonggo was the main base of the rebels,
with at least 1,000 well-trained TPNP personnel.

"The Bonggo base has been supplying (rebels) personnel to
other areas in the province," the source said. "But they lack
weapons. They own a small number of handmade rifles." (35/02/sur)