Rebels free one hostage, but still hold 13 others

Rebels free one hostage, but still hold 13 others

JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya separatist rebels released one of their 14 hostages yesterday after the deadline given by the military to release everyone had passed.

They were still holding 13, including six Europeans, who were abducted in the Mapunduma village in Irian Jaya on Jan. 8.

The military yesterday morning sent three local missionaries -- Paul Bourkat, Andrian van der Boel, and Uhuwanus Gobay -- to talk to the rebels who are believed to be holed up in an area near Mapunduma in the rugged Jayawijaya regency.

There was no immediate word about the rebels' response to the Monday deadline set by the military to release all the hostages unharmed.

But the rebels released Yacobus Wandibai, a guide to the members of the expedition team which is still being held hostage by the rebels. He was on the plane with the missionaries, along with his wife and six-month old baby, on the return flight from Mapunduma to Wamena.

Capt. Edi Sulistiadi, a spokesman of the Trikora Military Command in Jayapura, told The Jakarta Post by phone last night that with the release of Yacobus, the military has agreed to extend the deadline indefinitely. "The kidnappers have shown their goodwill by releasing Yacobus," he said.

Maj. Gen. A. Dunidja, the chief of the Trikora Military Command which oversees Irian Jaya, said on Friday that he would consider "other options" if the rebels failed to respond to the military demand by the deadline.

The deadline had already been extended twice. The first was set for "the end of the week" last week. The military subsequently agreed to extend it to Monday, pending the mediation efforts of the missionaries.

Dunidja also heads the operation to release the hostages. But the day-to-day operation, conducted in Wamena, the town nearest to Mapunduma, is supervised by Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the chief of the Army's Special Force Command.

Antara reported that Yacobus and Frank Momberg, a German hostage released last week, appeared for the first time at a media briefing in Wamena last night.

Both men said their colleagues were all in good condition, were getting enough food, were not tied and were well treated by the rebels.

The hostages were kept in a house, Yacobus said. "It was not in an open field or anything like that."

Momberg said that although he was already freed, he would stay in Wamena to help with the effort to release his colleagues.

Here in Jakarta, Lt. Gen. Suyono, the Chief of General Affairs of the Armed Forces, told reporters that the military could not extend the deadline forever, Antara reported.

Asked on what course would be taken if the rebels continued to ignore the deadline, Suyono said: "We will take other measures. It could be a military operation or it could be other forms of operation."

He underlined that the rebels have been cornered. "They have no way out. So, it's now up to them how they want to resolve the situation. If they want to hold on, we will have to consider other options, whether military or other forms."

He added, however, that any military action must take into account various aspects, including the conditions of the field.

Suyono at the same time ruled out negotiating with the rebels.

"Kidnapping is already a criminal act. There is no question of ransom, or even bargaining," he added. (imn/emb)