Student climbers 'inexperienced'

TIMIKA, Irian Jaya: The two students who died after being caught in a snowstorm last week while climbing the Cartenz Peak of Mt. Jayawijaya were inexperienced and poorly equipped.

Bona Venture, 26, and Herman C.R., 23, both students of Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, were reportedly caught in the snowstorm on Thursday. They were found dead the next day.

Antara quoted a friend, M. Sigit, as saying yesterday that the two left Nabire, the capital of Paniai regency, for Ilaga on a twin-otter aircraft on Sept. 30. Along with Sigit, another mountain climber, Rully, and 23 porters, the students trekked from Ilaga to the foot of the Cartenz Peak.

While Rully and Sigit set up tents, Bona and Herman went on climbing. Sigit said that Bona had only very limited experience in mountaineering, while Herman had none. He added that their clothing was inadequate for an assault on Cartenz.

Vice governor Basyir Bachtiar paid his respects to the deceased students yesterday before dispatching the bodies for home.

"They chose a different route from the ones that most climbers take," Sigit said of his friends. (swe)