Rights body offers to mediate in hostage crisis
Rights body offers to mediate in hostage crisis
JAKARTA (JP): The military yesterday gave the go-ahead to the National Commission on Human Rights to try to mediate with Irian Jaya separatist rebels for the release of 13 people, including six Europeans, held captive since Jan. 8.
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung during a meeting with leaders of the commission however warned that any delegation sent to meet the rebels could itself be held captive.
Six members of the commission visited Feisal's office on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat to discuss the hostage situation as well as a host of other human rights issues.
After the meeting, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo said that Gen. Feisal did not object to the commission's intention to mediate between the authorities and the Irian Jaya rebels.
The hostage crisis entered its 26th days yesterday with no end in sight.
An information officer at the Trikora Military Command in Jayapura said last night that there had been no new development yesterday. "The rebels made contact at 8 a.m. today. We have yet to receive details of the conversation," Second Sgt. Rusmanto told The Jakarta Post by phone.
The rebels are demanding the recognition of a West Papua state in the present Irian Jaya province, something which the Indonesian authorities have firmly rejected. Kelly Kwalik, a top rebel leader who is leading the kidnappers, has sent letters to various embassies in Jakarta and the National Commission on Human Rights to state his position.
The commission has also received letters from a number of non- governmental organizations abroad calling for its intervention in the hostage crisis.
The rights commission delegation yesterday was led by deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman. Other members were secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa, Charles Himawan, Djoko Soegianto, Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, and Soegiri.
Suwarno said the commission congratulated the armed forces' on its persuasive approach in handling the kidnappers.
He said the commission was surprised by Kelly Kwalik's move. The commission last year sent a delegation to Irian Jaya on another matter and met with a representative of Kelly, who assured them of his peaceful intentions, Suwarno said.
Baharuddin Lopa told reporters separately that the commission would discuss the possibility of sending a delegation now that the military has given the go-ahead.
Commitment
He declined to state how soon a delegation could leave.
Lopa said that during the meeting, Gen. Feisal also stated his commitment to resolve the hostage crises peacefully, hoping that the rebels would be persuaded.
Suwarno said the discussion yesterday also touched on a number of human rights cases, including the recent alleged torture by military officers of 14 residents of Menamang village in Kutai regency, East Kalimantan.
The delegation also informed Gen. Feisal of the inaugural ceremony of the commission's representative office in East Timor, he said.
During the meeting, Gen. Feisal was accompanied by the Director of the Armed Forces Intelligence Agency Maj. Gen. Syamsir Siregar, the chief assistant for operational affairs Rear Admiral Tarmin, the chief assistant for public security and order Maj. Gen. Edison Sihaloho, and territorial assistant to the chief of the armed forces for general affairs Maj. Gen. Arie J. Kumaat. (imn)