FBI called to join probe into deadly Papua ambush<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta<\/p>\n
U.S. President George W. Bush has called for a Bali-style joint
\ninvestigation into an August ambush that killed two Americans and
\nan Indonesian in Papua province, an Australian newspaper reported
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
The Age, of Melbourne, said Bush made the proposal during a
\nmessage to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri over the
\npast two weeks.<\/p>\n
Police have said Indonesian troops are suspected of
\ninvolvement in the ambush.<\/p>\n
Indonesian police have received widespread praise for the
\nsuccess of their investigation, conducted with Australian Federal
\nPolice, into the Oct. 12 Bali bombing that killed at least 190
\npeople, almost half of them Australians.<\/p>\n
The Age said the success of the Bali team has prompted the
\nU.S. government to push for a similar team including FBI officers
\nto probe the August ambush near the giant U.S.-owned Freeport
\ncopper and gold mine in Papua.<\/p>\n
FBI officers have at least twice already traveled to Papua to
\nmonitor the progress of the Indonesian investigation into the
\nambush, which was carried out by unknown gunmen on employees of
\nan international school operated by Freeport. Twelve others, most
\nof them Americans, were wounded.<\/p>\n
Asked to confirm whether or not Bush had contacted Megawati,
\nher chief spokesman Geribaldi Sujatmiko told AFP: \"I'm sorry I
\ndon't know. I just heard about it from you.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesian police in Papua told AFP in November that
\nIndonesian special forces soldiers were suspected of involvement
\nin the ambush.<\/p>\n
The province's deputy police chief said Deky Murib, who had
\nbeen an informer and guide for the Kopassus special forces, had
\nidentified four of 11 soldiers allegedly involved in the attack.<\/p>\n
Police cannot investigate military officers but said they
\ninformed a military investigation team of the suspected
\ninvolvement of Kopassus. The special forces have denied any role
\nin the murders.<\/p>\n
Army officials have previously blamed the ambush on Kelly
\nKwalik, a separatist guerrilla leader who has denied links to the
\nattack.<\/p>\n
According to The Age, Bush made clear that there will be no
\nresumption of U.S. military aid to Indonesia until the U.S. is
\nsatisfied with progress in the case.<\/p>\n
Cooperation was sharply reduced during the East Timor violence
\nin 1999 but U.S. officials have been seeking to resume links with
\nthe Indonesian military as part of their war on terrorism.<\/p>\n
Nine Kopassus soldiers are awaiting trial in a military court
\nfor involvement in the murder of Papuan separatist leader Theys
\nHiyo Eluay last November.<\/p>\n
The current Kopassus chief, Major General Sriyanto, has been
\nnamed a suspect for gross human rights violations during the
\nSeptember 1984 fatal shooting of 24 Muslim protesters.<\/p>\n
Freeport's mine is considered a vital national asset and is
\nheavily guarded by government forces.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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