TNI claims GAM kidnapped oil workers

TNI claims GAM kidnapped oil workers

Agencies, Banda Aceh

Separatist rebels in Indonesia's Aceh province are demanding a
ransom for three kidnapped oil company workers, the military said
here on Wednesday.

The three Indonesians, who are employed by a subcontractor of
state energy firm Pertamina, have been held since March 16 by the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM), military spokesman Maj. Zaenal Muttaqin
told AFP.

Muttaqin said the three were driving to the Pertamina-owned
Rantau oil and gas field in the Sukaramai area of East Aceh when
they were abducted at gunpoint.

He said rebels had contacted Pertamina officials in East Aceh
and demanded a ransom of Rp 2 billion (approximately US$208,000).

Pertamina's public relations chief, Ridwan Nyak Baik,
confirmed the kidnapping.

He told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Wednesday that the
three people -- a driver and two workers at Pertamina's oil and
gas field in Perapen, Kuala Simpang, a subdistrict of East Aceh
regency -- had been abducted on March 16.

Ridwan said the company had contacted the police in Aceh Timur
and was informed that the whereabouts of the three workers were
still unknown.

"We also cannot confirm whether or not they have been
kidnapped by members of the Free Aceh Movement," he said, adding
that the Perapen oil and gas field was part of the Rantau
production field, which produces about 6,700 barrels of oil per
day and 85 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

The oil production area employs more than 500 people. But it
is not clear whether there are any foreign workers there.

Officials of the Rantau field did not mention any ransom
demands from the kidnappers.

The military said Pertamina only reported the kidnapping to
them on Monday.

There have been a number of previous kidnappings in Aceh, but
this is the first kidnapping for ransom. These earlier
kidnappings included seven junior high school and high school
students in Peureulak, East Aceh, and five religious leaders and
city councillors in South Aceh.

Meanwhile, six suspected GAM rebels were killed in separate
incidents over the past two days, the military and police said.

Two rebels were shot dead in the Gle Blang Malo area of Pidie
district on Tuesday, said district military chief, Lt. Col.
Supartodi.

Soldiers killed another rebel in Pidie's Gle Seunong area on
Tuesday, he added.

Soldiers shot dead three rebels in Darul Makmur, West Aceh, on
Monday, according to district police spokesman Dadek Ahmad.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in Aceh since
December 1976, when GAM began its fight for an independent
Islamic state in this province on the northern tip of Sumatra
island.

More than 300 people have been killed this year alone in the
resource-rich province.