Precedence: bulk CLASH BETWEEN OP< & ABRI in PNG (Richard Brunton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) PNGDF Intelligience reports say that a clash happened between ABRI and OPM forces on Saturday and other sources suggest this may be continuing. A senior nurse at the Provincial Hospital in Vanimo has confirmed that as of yesterday, 8 OPM have been admitted with injuries resulting from the clashes. She could not confirm whether any had been killed but did confirm that Willie Onde, an OPM leader from the south, was one of the injured. Major General of PNGDF, Jerry Singirok has appointed Captain Belden Namah as Chief negotiator for the release of the hostages. He (Captain Namah) has said that it is important that both PNG and Indon forces be withdrawn immediately from the area, to avoid any further clashes and to safegaurd the lives of the hostages. It is not known what response, if any, there has been from the Indonesians to this suggestion but PNGDF are expected remain at a safe distance to ensure that the hostage's captors do not feel intimidated by their presence, while negotiations take place. Captain Namah, who is from Bewani, was also in charge of operations during the negotiations for an earlier kidnapping of two Arso students in 1996. They were taken by the same OPM fighters during a raid on Arso. These negotiations were succesful and the students were delivered to their parents and family in Sentani, by the Captain and some members of his negotiating team, as well as goverment representatives from PNG. ------------------------------------------------- Richard Brunton P.O. Box 136, Gerehu Hub Manager N.C.D PACTOK-PNG PAPUA NEW GUINEA ------------------------------------------------- Ph: + 675 326 1602 Fax: +675 326 1346 ------------------------------------------------- ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
