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)