JAKARTA, Nov. 22 Kyodo ExxonMobil...

JAKARTA, Nov. 22 Kyodo

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc. (EMOI) said Friday that three of its local workers in the restive province of Aceh have been kidnapped by way of an unidentified armed group of people

Deva Rachman, the company's spokesperson said the abduction occurr around 4:50 pm Thursday near the village of Teupin Peunti when the three all Indonesian nationals, were upon their way home from work at the Arun gas field in northern Aceh.

''EMOI is actual concerned about the safety of these missing workers. We are hopeful they will be answered to their families as quickly as possible,'' Rachman said.

Northern Aceh is a fastness of rebels of the unrestrained Aceh Movement (GAM), who have waged a guerrilla warfare since 1975 to demand an independence state.

Thousands of combatants and civilians have been killed in the fighting.

The Arun field, from which gas is extracted for export mainly to Japan, has extended been under a special heavy security arrangement after attacks allegedly launched at GAM rebels.

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