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This News Service is posted by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ (Tel +44-71-413-5500,
Fax +44-71-956-1157)
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News Service 12/96

EXTERNAL: EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 23 JANUARY 1996
AI INDEX : ASA 21/07/96



IRAN JAYA: MINIMUM HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS SHOULD BE OBSERVED

      As negotiations continue between the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) and an armed
opposition group holding 13 hostages in the Indonesian province of Iran Jaya, Amnesty
International today called for the release of the hostages and for all parties -- including the
Indonesian army -- to abide by minimum humanitarian standards.

      ~We hope that this volatile situation can be resolved without a human rights tragedy,~
said Amnesty International.

      On 8 January, 26 hostages were taken by a group of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka
(Free Papua Movement or OPM) in Mapunduma village, in the Baliem Valley of Irian Jaya.
The OPM is fighting for the independence of Irian Jaya, the western half of the island of New
Guinea, which was ceded to Indonesia in 1963.

      Twelve of the hostages have already been released, while another, a German national,
was temporarily released on the understanding that he would return to the OPM. Seven
Indonesians and six foreigners are still being held. The OPM are not believed to have
threatened the lives of the hostages.

      Two Indonesian teenagers were also taken hostage by the OPM on 21 November. It is
believed they are now being held inside the border of neighbouring Papua New Guinea by a
different group of the OPM.

      Amnesty International opposes the taking of hostages by armed opposition groups
which is in contravention of the Geneva Conventions. The organization is calling on the OPM
to immediately and unconditionally release the remaining hostages.
      In addition to its call for the OPM to release the hostages, Amnesty International is
also concerned that any actions taken to secure the release of the hostages by the Indonesian
Armed Forces do not violate human rights. Any individual taken into detention for his alleged
role in the hostage-taking should not be ill-treated and should be given immediate access to
independent legal counsel.

      Amnesty International has expressed concern about human rights violations committed
in Irian Jaya by the Armed Forces. In September 1995, Indonesia~s own National Human
Rights Commission confirmed that 16 people had been extrajudicially executed by the army
and that torture, unlawful and arbitrary arrests and ~disappearances~ had also occurred.
Those targeted for the violations were those suspected of links with the OPM.




      ~In the midst of this hostage situation, Irian Jaya is in the international spotlight,~
Amnesty International said. ~But even if it is resolved, the Indonesian government should
continue to allow monitoring of human rights in the area.~ ENDS\







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