Aceh rebels kidnap Aceh LNG workers

Separatist rebels in Aceh province have kidnapped two workers of Arun natural gas liquefaction (NGL) plant part-owned by US energy giant ExxonMobil, a company spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Irwandar said one employer, Bambang Budi Santoso was abducted near the plant's coumpound while another worker was abducted in a bus.

Irwandar suspected that members of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) abducted them for money.

Meanwhile, Aceh Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Yani Basuki said members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) abducted the 45-year-old Indonesian engineer at gunpoint from the PT Arun LNG plant in North Aceh on Thursday.

"The GAM gunmen kidnapped the engineer, identified as Bambang Budi, and fled in the victim's car," Basuki was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.

He said the rebels are demanding a ransom of Rp60 million (about $7,000), adding that security personnel have been mobilized to track down the kidnappers.

PT Arun is 55% owned by state oil and gas company Pertamina, 30% by ExxonMobil Indonesia and 15% by Japan Indonesia LNG.

In 2002, GAM kidnapped several workers at the natural gas fields operated by ExxonMobil and later released them unharmed after failing to secure ransom payments.

Conflict between GAM and the Indonesian military has long created problems for ExxonMobil. Attacks on its operations and staff forced the company to suspend production at Arun for five months in 2001, resulting in reduced exports of liquefied natural gas from Indonesia.

The rebels and some human rights groups claim that military personnel on ExxonMobil's payroll have in the past used the company's facilities as "torture camps and killing chambers".

In August 2003, rebels were blamed for a grenade attack that caused minor damage at ExxonMobil's administrative office. It was the first attack against the company since the government on May 19 launched a massive military offensive to crush the rebels.

Less than a week after the grenade blast, a fire halted operations at the Arun Cluster III/IV and a nearby water treatment plant. Authorities initially suspected sabotage, but officials later said the fire was apparently sparked by an electrical short circuit.(*)