Journalists questioned on murder of Theys<\/p>\n
R.K Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
At least three journalists covering events in Irian Jaya have
\nbeen questioned by government investigators as witnesses in
\nconnection with last year's murder of top Papuan separatist
\nleader Theys Hiyo Eluay.<\/p>\n
Eva Rukdiati, who works for the Jayapura bureau of Antara, was
\nthe latest to face questioning by the Military Police team on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The other two journalists -- Odio Data of the Papua Post
\nOnline and Agapitus of the Papua Post daily -- failed to answer
\nthe summonses for questioning by the same team.<\/p>\n
Odio did not show up for questioning as she was undergoing
\nmedical treatment in the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura, while
\nAgapitus was traveling to the remote town of Merauke.<\/p>\n
However, both Odio and Agapitus had previously been
\nquestioned, along with Eva, by the Jayapura Police in relation to
\ntheir attendance at a military function organized by the Army's
\nKopassus special forces to celebrate National Heroes Day on Nov.
\n10, 2001.<\/p>\n
Hours after the gathering in Jayapura, Theys was abducted with
\nhis driver, and was found dead in his car in an area bordering
\nPapua New Guinea one day later.<\/p>\n
Military Police investigators asked Eva at least 21 questions
\non Monday during the 3.5-hour probe.<\/p>\n
The questions included her knowledge of the news on the
\nabduction of Theys.<\/p>\n
At least 60 people, including the three journalists and 12
\nKopassus troops, have been questioned by the authorities in
\nrelation to the murder of Theys, who was the leader of the
\nseparatist Papua Presidium Council (PDP).<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the Military Police team inspected the Kopassus
\ncamp as part of their investigation into Theys' mysterious death.<\/p>\n
The 25-member fact-finding team looked through the troops'
\nbarracks and other parts of the camp located on Jl. Hamadi in
\nJayapura, and at the hall where the celebration was held.<\/p>\n
Investigators said the inspection was aimed at cross-checking
\nand verifying the testimony given by witnesses with the facts in
\nthe field.<\/p>\n
The Military Police team was set up by the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) to investigate the case after the police revealed
\nindications of the military's involvement in the incident.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has established a separate
\nteam to investigate the same case. It is led by retired military
\nofficer Koesparmono Irsan, a serving member of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
However, it has met opposition from Papua-based non-
\ngovernmental organizations and local religious leaders. Karl
\nLukas Degey, a Papuan representative on the team, has quit.<\/p>\n
Separately on Monday, a defense team of lawyers for Papuan
\nrebel leaders Thaha Al Hamid, Rev. Herman Awom and Don Al Flassy
\ndemanded that their clients be acquitted of all subversion
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
In their defense plea read out by team coordinator
\nAbdurachman, the lawyers told the Jayapura district court that
\ncharges by prosecutors against the defendants were baseless as
\nthe allegations had not been corroborated.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors had demanded that the court sentence each of the
\nthree defendants to 30 months in jail for treason as they were
\ninvolved in campaigning for independence in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
But their lawyers said such charges had not been proven in
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
\"Under the law, treason means an attempt to attack or the act
\nof attacking others, such as killing them or removing their
\nfreedom,\" Abdurachman said.<\/p>\n
He argued that the defendants had never attacked others in
\ntheir campaign for independence in Irian Jaya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/journalists-questioned-on-murder-of-theys-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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