Reward offered to locate rebel

Reward offered to locate rebel

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The military has offered a reward to
anyone who can provide information about a notorious rebel leader
in the easternmost Irian Jaya province, a report said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Johny Lumintang, responsible for security in the
province, said Wednesday the military will provide "an attractive
reward" for information on the whereabouts of Kelly Kwalik, one
of the leaders of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

"If anyone knows anything, please let me know so that he can
be captured immediately," Lumintang was quoted by Antara as
saying.

The OPM has been seeking an independent state in Irian Jaya,
which shares a border with Papua New Guinea, since the late
1960s. Kwalik's group in January last year kidnapped 26 people,
including seven European scientists, in the mountainous jungle
area in central Irian Jaya.

They gradually released most of the hostages until the
remaining nine, including seven foreigners, were freed four
months later following a military operation in May. Two
Indonesian hostages were killed in the operation. (swe)