New team on Theys starts to work<\/p>\n
R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
Three members of the controversial government-backed team set
\nup to investigate the murder of pro-independence Papua Presidium
\nCouncil (PDP) chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay, arrived here Monday for
\na three-day preparatory visit.<\/p>\n
The National Investigation Committee (KPN) team, set up by the
\ngovernment on Feb. 5, has come under fire from Papuan leaders
\nopposed to military and police representation on the team.<\/p>\n
The team's credibility has been further strained after two of
\nits three Papuan members quit. Karl Lukas Degey and Simon Petrus
\nMorin, legislators for the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle and Golkar Party respectively, quit after Papuan
\nreligious leaders criticized the team.<\/p>\n
The visiting members included retired police general
\nKoesparmono Irsan, P.H. Erary and Dr. Amarsing.<\/p>\n
\"The team remains solid and we are convinced that we are going
\nto achieve our goals,\" Irsan said on arrival when asked about the
\ntwo members who quit the 11-strong team.<\/p>\n
Church leaders as well as leaders of non-government
\norganizations have objected to the establishment of the team,
\nsaying it was partial and would classify the murder as a \"common
\ncrime\" instead of a crime against humanity.<\/p>\n
They said what they needed was an independent team comprising
\ncredible individuals, forensic experts, legal and human rights
\nactivists and UN officials.<\/p>\n
Theys, the charismatic leader of the separatist PDP, was found
\ndead in his car in an area bordering Papua New Guinea on Nov. 11,
\na day after he was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified
\nassailants.<\/p>\n
The abduction took place after Theys returned from attending
\nHeroes Day celebrations at the Army's Special Force (Kopassus)
\ncompound.<\/p>\n
Apart from the government's team, the military has also set up
\nits own investigation team lead by military Police chief Maj.
\nGen. Djasri Marin, who is also a member of the KPN.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has admitted the
\npossible involvement of military personnel in the murder.<\/p>\n
PDP secretary general Muhamad Thaha Al-Hamid said it as well
\nas Theys' wife and relatives had demanded to review the
\nestablishment of the team.<\/p>\n
The reason was that the government had still not done anything
\nabout the murder three months after it had taken place, Al-Hamid
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"A number of investigating teams had come here without any
\nresults whatsoever, like the team from the TNI headquarters, the
\nmilitary police and now the KPN,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The presidium, he said, had made it known to the president
\nprior to the setting up of the team that the Papuan people had
\nobjected to it but it went unheeded.<\/p>\n
Al-Hamid said that the presidium had its own choice of 21
\npeople to make up the investigation team including Bambang
\nWidjojanto, Munir, Ifdal Kasim, Ori Rachman, Johnson Panjaitan,
\nMunarman and Mappinawang.<\/p>\n
Lawyers appointed by the presidium in Jayapura included El
\nShaam director Johanis Bonai, Anton Raharusoun, Legal Aid
\nInstitute chairman Anton Raharusoun, Demianus Wakman and Piter
\nEll of Kontras.<\/p>\n
Investigation team member Koesparmono Irsan and Erary met with
\nIrian Jaya police chief Made Mangku Pastika Monday while Dr.
\nAmarsing met with Dr. Clemen Manyakori, chief of Jayapura
\nhospital to check on Theys' death records.<\/p>",
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