Irian Jaya rebels still threaten town

Food supplies are reportedly running low in a remote town attacked at the weekend by separatist rebels in the eastern Indonesian province of Irian Jaya.

A military spokesman said Indonesian troops trying to reach the town of Ilaga were being hampered by bad weather.

There are conflicting reports as to whether the rebels, from the Free Papua Movement, still hold an airstrip used to supply the town.

Rebels released two Belgian hostages in August

Hundreds of guerrillas armed with machetes and bows attacked Ilaga on Friday, burning down the police station, several government buildings and mosques.

One rebel was reported killed and two soldiers were seriously wounded.

The Free Papua Movement has been fighting for an independent state of West Papua in Irian Jaya since the former Dutch colony was annexed by Indonesia in 1963.

Conflicting reports

Provincial police spokesman Senior Commissioner Zulkifli told the AFP news agency that at 1800 (0900GMT) the airstrip at Ilaga was still under rebel control.

"Bad weather is still preventing us from flying in reinforcements," he said.

President Megawati has offered the province more autonomy

But local military head Brigadier General Agustadi said the rebels had withdrawn from the town and airstrip into the surrounding jungle.

Ilaga lies about 3,500km (2,000 miles) east of Jakarta and almost 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) above sea level. and about

The world's largest copper and gold mine, the Grasberg mine is located about 80km (50 miles) away.

Large numbers of Indonesian troops are based in the province. Up to 30,000 people have died according to some estimates since the uprising began.

Government setback

Our correspondent in Jakarta says this latest attack is an embarrassing setback for the government, which has been trying to win the hearts of the minds of the people of Irian Jaya by offering much greater autonomy.

Clearly some elements within the separatist movement are not taking the government's offers very seriously.

The concern now for the authorities will be whether this latest incident marks the beginning of an escalation in the separatist campaign.