Indonesia: March 8, 2000

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  Details are emerging about a daring rescue of a kidnapping victim in East Timor. Apparently ten former New Zealand commandoes were hired to rescue an Indonesian businessman held for ransom by former Indonesian soldiers and police in East Timor. The victim, Johnson C Lo,  was flown to New Zealand, where his rescuers await the payment of their $108,000 fee. Meanwhile, in Aceh, rebels threatened to attack industrial targets if the army and police did not withdraw. The violence in Aceh has steadily increased this year, with at least 250 dead in the last two months. The government is also making further changes to the army to weaken army control over Indonesian society. For decades, the armed forces had veto power over government appointments and the ability to overrule government decisions.