Villagers return home

JAYAWIJAYA, Irian Jaya: Some 500 residents of Geselama village have started returning home after fleeing in May during army operations to free hostages held by local rebels, Antara reported yesterday.

The army said it will continue to hunt rebels in the dense forests of the Jayawijaya mountain range where nine hostages -- four Britons, two Dutch nationals and three Indonesians -- were held for four months before being freed on May 15.

Two Indonesian hostages were killed by their abductors before the army's special force soldiers found the group.

Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Maulud Hidayat said in Jayapura, Irian Jaya, that the villagers were "loyal followers" of the Free Papua Movement whose leaders, Kelly Kwalik and Daniel Kogoya, led the kidnap.

He said the rebels had incited them to leave the village to hide in the jungle.

The government would provide returning villagers food, clothes and health and education services at a traditional ceremony, he said. (swe)