Government team on Theys' murder nowhere to be seen<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
All plans to conduct an investigation into the Nov. 11 murder
\nof Papuan independence activist Theys Hiyo Eluway were clouded in
\nuncertainty on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The joint military-police team that the central government
\nsaid had been set up last week was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya's religious leaders made a joint statement making
\nit clear that they flatly rejected the monitoring team formed by
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). They
\ninsisted that what was needed was an independent investigation
\nteam.<\/p>\n
The religious leaders were the first to call for Komnas HAM to
\nform an independent team, free from police or military
\nintervention who are widely suspected of being involved in the
\nmurder.<\/p>\n
At the House of Representatives, a group from the Papuan
\nPresidium Council demanded that the legislative body set up its
\nown independent investigation team.<\/p>\n
The statement that probably raised the most eyebrows came from
\nTrikora Military commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon, whose area
\nof jurisdiction covers Irian Jaya. He claims that he had not
\nheard of the team that the government formed last week.<\/p>\n
\"What joint team?\" he retorted when journalists asked him how
\nthe team was doing. Simbolon was at the Army Headquarters in
\nJakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The formation of a joint military-police team was announced by
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono last week. The decision was made in a
\ncoordinating meeting on security and political affairs.<\/p>\n
The move was intended to show that the authorities were
\nserious about looking into speculations that the military was
\nbehind Theys' murder.<\/p>\n
It turned out that Mahidin had set up his own investigation
\nteam. The result so far is that \"there were no military personnel
\ninvolved in the incident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I also support the police's efforts to investigate the case
\nin an objective way,\" Mahidin said.<\/p>\n
Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) activists set a deadline of
\nDec. 10 for the National Police to announce the results of their
\ninvestigation into the case, otherwise they will reject efforts
\nto seek a peaceful solution to the rising separatism in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"If they miss the deadline, we won't trust the government any
\nlonger,\" Tom Beanal, deputy chairman of the PDP, told House
\nSpeaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
Accompanying him were PDP secretary-general Thaha Mohammad
\nAlhamid and PDP member Yorris Raweyai.<\/p>\n
\"Only if the results of the investigation are disclosed, we
\nwill be willing to continue the talks on Papuan autonomy and its
\nimplementation,\" Tom added.<\/p>\n
The PDP delegation also called on the House to form a special
\ncommittee to investigate the murder or to facilitate the setting
\nup of an independent team to probe the murder.<\/p>\n
\"The investigation should be carried out by the authorities in
\nIrian Jaya instead of setting up another kind of inquiry team,\"
\nTom said, contrary to the demands of other members of the PDP
\ndelegation.<\/p>\n
Responding to the delegation's demand, Akbar simply said that
\nthe House gave \"serious attention\" to the murder, adding that
\ndialog would be necessary to solve the separatist problem.<\/p>\n
Although investigation by the local joint team is still in
\nprogress, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told the House
\nthat no military personnel were involved in the murder.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika who
\nwas also present at the hearing said that the police had
\nquestioned 47 people as witnesses and none had been named as a
\nsuspect.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-team-on-theys-murder-nowhere-to-be-seen-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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