Megawati orders accurate probe into Theys' death<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle and R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Jayapura<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has given a three-month deadline
\nto the National Investigation Commission (KPN) to investigate the
\nmurder of Papua proindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, despite
\nopposition from the local elite, especially religious leaders.<\/p>\n
The head of the commission, Koesparmono Irsan, said Megawati
\ncalled on Thursday for an honest and accurate investigation and
\nwarned the team against working only to confirm or refute public
\nopinion concerning Theys' death.<\/p>\n
\"The President didn't specifically mention the alleged
\ninvolvement of Kopassus in They's murder, but it is an example of
\npublic opinion,\" Koesparmono told reporters on Thursday after his
\nmeeting with President Megawati.<\/p>\n
Earlier investigations by Papua police and Army headquarters
\nconcluded that certain military elements were behind Theys'
\nmurder.<\/p>\n
Theys was found dead in his Kijang van on Nov. 11, hours after
\nhe had attended a National Heroes Day commemoration at the
\nJayapura headquarters of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus).
\nAutopsy reports showed that he died from suffocation.<\/p>\n
Theys' driver, Aristoteles Masoka, who escaped and reported
\nthe abduction, disappeared shortly after.<\/p>\n
Koesparmono said the investigation team would depart to
\nJayapura on Sunday to follow up the preliminary evidence they
\nreceived from the National Commission on Human Rights and the
\nNational Police. The team will also receive reports from the
\nmilitary police investigating the case, Koesparmono said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the military police team has reportedly completed
\nits investigation into the case, but was not available to confirm
\nthe possibility of soldiers being involved in the murder.<\/p>\n
Col. Sutarna, chief of the military police at Trikora Military
\nCommand overseeing Irian Jaya, said the team returned to Jakarta
\non Thursday, taking with it the investigation's results for
\nfurther analysis.<\/p>\n
\"The team made much progress in the investigation, but I have
\nno authority to reveal it to the press,\" Sutarna told The Jakarta
\nPost in the Papuan capital of Jayapura on Friday.<\/p>\n
The 12-member team, which spent 21 days in Jayapura,
\nquestioned 93 people as witnesses, including 34 from the Kopassus
\nunit and six others from the military command.<\/p>\n
Sutarna, who accompanied the team in the city, said the team,
\nwhich was initially led by military police chief Maj. Gen. Djasri
\nMarin and later by Col. Hendardji, would draw up its conclusion
\nof the investigation after analyzing its results in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Most important is that the military police achieved much
\nprogress needed to determine who was behind the murder,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the possible involvement of Kopassus members in
\nTheys' murder, Djasri said no proof of it had been found.<\/p>\n
\"It remains an indication, which could be right or not,\"
\nDjasri told reporters.<\/p>\n
Koesparmono said that on its first visit, the KPN team would
\nmainly investigate the cause of death and establish a regional
\nteam, comprising elements from the police, the military police
\nand the prosecutor's office, to conduct the formal investigation.<\/p>\n
\"A regional team is necessary because the KPN does not have
\nthe authority to draw up dossiers for the trial,\" Koesparmono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said KPN had no plan thus far to replace the two Papuan
\nrepresentatives who have withdrawn from the team, as the
\nremaining nine commission members were confident they could
\ncontinue to perform their duties well.<\/p>\n
Papuan officials and religious figures contested the inclusion
\nof the military and police in the KPN due to concerns that their
\npresence would prevent the team from doing its job in a fair and
\nobjective manner.<\/p>\n
Karl Lucas Degey and Simon Petrus Morin, two Papuan
\nlegislators of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) and the Golkar Party who were on the team, objected
\nto military and police officers being included on the team and
\nquit.<\/p>",
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