Plane crash bodies still not sent home

TIMIKA, Irian Jaya (JP): Bad weather hampered efforts to move the bodies of nine victims from the Navy's Cassa plane accident site on Thursday amid official preparations to honor the deceased in their cities of origin.

The Jakarta Post's correspondent reported from Timika on Thursday that rescue team members had managed to separate all nine bodies from the wreckage, despite difficulties encountered when trying to free four of the victims.

Rescuers required the use of saws and other equipment in the operation, which lasted until 5:10 p.m. local time when all four bodies were finally removed from the wreckage.

However, the rescuers failed to fully evacuate the bodies which include: Trikora Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Tonny A. Rompis, Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. Gen. FX. Sumardi, speaker of the Irian Jaya Legislative Council Nathaniel Kaywai, pilot Maj. Sutopo Waluyo, co-pilot First Lt. Dedi Haryanto, adjutant to the Irian Jaya governor police Sgt. Maj. Jeheskia Z., head of the Irian Jaya Prosecutors' Office Bismar Mannu, technicians First Sgt. Sultan, and Ordinary Seaman Gunawan.

Nine tables were prepared for the bodies in a hangar at the Timika airport, as well as a ceremony to mark their arrival.

A cortege of police and Army personnel was also assembled at the airport to officially escort the bodies in the planned military ceremony.

Deputy Chief of the Army Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, Deputy Chief of the Navy Vice Adm. Fred Salem Lonan and Deputy Chief National Police Insp. Gen. Pandji Atmasudirdja are now in Timika to attend the evacuation. They said they would stay in Timika until all the of the deceased were transported there.

Trikora Military Command Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. K. Ralahalo, who led the operation, said all evacuation efforts had to be halted at about 10 a.m. due to bad weather. "We'll resume the operation early tomorrow (Friday)."

He said that the rescuers required oxygen masks during the evacuation operation and had to use saws to free four bodies from the wreckage.

The location of the crash is known as Trikora peak in the mountainous Silimo area.

Unlike other regions, most mountains and cliffs in Jayawijaya have sharp slopes with gradients of up to 80 degrees.

National Search and Rescue Agency operational unit chief First Adm. (ret) Sukapdjioto, who was also in Timika, said it was hard to breathe at such a high altitude of 11,800 feet, even though the rescuers were using oxygen masks.

The ill-fated Navy Cassa U-614 crashed during its flight from Timika to Jayapura on Monday. There have been no clues as to why the plane crashed in an area 11,800 feet above sea level, between the villages of Palimo and Silimo in the regency of Jayawijaya.

"As the plane had no black box, the Navy Headquarters in Jakarta will be working to identify the cause of the accident," Ralahalo said, referring to the Cassa N212 made by an Indonesian aircraft manufacture company in Bandung, West Java.

Funeral

Latest reports from Timika stated that all military and police officers killed in the accident would be buried at Jakarta's Kalibata Hero Cemetery.

The body of Nathaniel will be transported directly to Jayapura.

Meanwhile, National Police chief. Gen. Soerojo Bimantoro is scheduled to lead the funeral of FX. Sumardi at the Kusumanegara Hero Cemetery in Yogyakarta on Friday (today).

The plan is still unchanged, despite the fact that the victims' bodies have yet to be evacuated from the crash site.

Eka, one of Soemardi's three children, told reporters on Thursday, "We plan to have my father buried soon after his body arrives." Sumardi was born in Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta.

Antara news agency reported on Thursday that Tonny A. Rompis' family had been informed about the funeral.

According to plans announced earlier, Tonny will be buried at the Cikutra Hero Cemetery in Bandung.

Ronald, Tonny's first son, said from the family's residence in the Puri Kembangan housing complex in Jakarta, that the funeral in Kalibata was planned for Friday (today). "But we are waiting for the latest reports from Wamena."

Families of the victims and thousands of Jayapura residents have been waiting since Wednesday for the evacuation of the bodies.

Government offices and residents' houses in Jayapura hoisted the national flag at half-mast on Thursday following instructions from Irian Jaya Governor JP Salossa on Wednesday. (35/edt/sur)