Plane crash bodies still not sent home

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)