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Alert

Belgian TV documentary filmmakers reportedly held hostage

(PINA/IFEX) - On 20 June 2001, the Pacific Islands news service PINA Nius Online said "The Jakarta Post" reported that two Belgian TV documentary filmmakers missing in Indonesian-ruled West Papua are being held hostage by pro-independence rebels.




The newspaper quoted Indonesian police as saying a district head is negotiating with a local Free Papua Movement (OPM) leader to release the men.

Belgians Johan Van den Eynde, 47, and Philippe R.D. Simon, 49, were reported missing on 10 June, reportedly while making a documentary for Franco-German TV channel Arte. They are being held hostage by Free Papua Movement rebels in remote Palugan village, Ilaga district, "The Jakarta Post" said.

PINA Nius Online quoted Indonesia's Antara news agency as saying Ilaga district head Obadja Wakerwa has continued negotiations to free the men with local Free Papua Movement leader Penny Murib.

Irian Jaya Police chief Ins. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika confirmed that the police had handed over negotiation for the release of the hostages to Obadja, "The Jakarta Post" reported.

He also said the two Belgians had been advised against their trip to Ilaga due to security reasons, the newspaper reported.

Pastika was quoted as saying that the rebels are demanding, among other things, freedom for Irian Jaya (West Papua) and that they be allowed to hoist the Morning Star pro-independence flag, reported "The Jakarta Post".

He said the police could not meet such demands but would help the Ilaga district head in obtaining the release of the two hostages, the newspaper said.

Background Information

PINA Nius Online said the Free Papua Movement is waging a war for independence against Indonesian forces in West Papua, which borders Papua New Guinea. PINA Nius Online said the former Dutch colony was integrated into Indonesia in 1969 by a United Nations referendum which pro-independence West Papuan leaders say was a sham. The West Papuans say only a small group of men intimidated by the Indonesians took part. Indonesia calls it the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya.

Human rights activists say thousands of people have died in years of fighting between pro-independence West Papuans and Indonesian security forces. Indonesia has encouraged mass migration east by mainly Muslim Asians from its heavily populated main islands into mainly Christian West Papua. West Papuans are mostly Melanesians, like the people of neighbouring Pacific Islands countries.