Rebel group blamed for Manokwari attack

Rebel group blamed for Manokwari attack

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The separatist rebel group led by
Daniel Awom has been blamed for the armed attack in Manokwari
that left five Mobile Brigade police officers and one civilian
dead on Wednesday.

A local military source said on Thursday that the group had
joined the armed rebel movement in the mineral-rich province
since the fall of New Order regime under President Soeharto in
mid-1998.

He said the group was also responsible for an attack on
employees of local forest concession holder CV Patika Papua in
March, which killed three people.

Both the provincial police chief, Insp. Gen. Mangku Pastika,
and the local military commander, Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon,
have ordered their troops to be on alert following the latest
onslaught, which took place in the village of Wondiwoi, Wasiur
district of Manokwari regency.

"We have to remain vigilant in case the group mounts guerrilla
attacks," Mahidin said.

Mangku said the hunt for the separatist group, reportedly made
up of eight people, has now been concentrated on the forest and
coastline near the village.

First Brig. Ibrahim, First Brig. Lando Pakpahan, First Brig.
Hasbur, Second Brig. Firmansyah H, Second Brig. Taufik Hidayat
and the civilian who was later identified as Yadi, an employee of
CV Patika Papua, died of gunshot wounds in the predawn raid.

The attackers seized an SS-1 rifle and a Czech-made automatic
rifle, along with about 500 bullets from the slain police
officers, who were asleep when the raid was launched.

Provincial police spokesman Adj. Comr. Zulkifli AR said that
the bodies of the victims would be flown to their respective
hometowns for burial on Friday. (34)