Nine more questioned over Timika killings<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Military investigators are questioning nine more
\nsoldiers over the possibility that they played a role in the
\nrecent murder of villagers in Timika, Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifudin, who heads a military team
\ninvestigating the incidents, said yesterday that the nine
\nsoldiers have so far been questioned only as witnesses and none
\nhave been detained.<\/p>\n
\"They will be arrested as suspects only if we have strong
\nevidence of their involvement,\" Amir was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying in the Irian Jaya capital Jayapura.<\/p>\n
Amir declined to reveal either the names or the ranks of the
\nnine soldiers.<\/p>\n
Late last month, the Armed Forces arrested one second
\nlieutenant and four privates on charges of involvement in the
\nkilling of villagers in Timika, which sparked an international
\noutcry.<\/p>\n
The killings reportedly occurred in and around the giant
\ncopper mining plant of PT Freeport Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The military says the shootings occurred during military
\noperations against Free Papua Movement rebels in efforts to
\nsafeguard PT Freeport.<\/p>\n
There have been varying accounts of the number of people
\nkilled. Non-governmental organizations have put the number at 17,
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights says 16 died, while the
\nmilitary says 11 died.<\/p>\n
The commission, which has conducted its own investigation,
\nsaid in September that 11 bodies were found outside the Freeport
\ncompound and another five inside.<\/p>\n
Amir said the suspects will be court-martialled in January
\nnext year. So far, military investigators have listed 67 people
\nas witnesses who will testify at the trial, he added.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that language barriers have hampered the
\ninvestigation as almost none of the tribal people summoned speak
\nthe Indonesian language.<\/p>\n
Besides, many of the eyewitnesses live deep in the jungle. The
\ninvestigators have had to cooperate with local priests to track
\nthem down, Amir said.<\/p>\n
\"We guarantee the safety of those who can tell us what they
\nsaw in the incidents. People should not be afraid to testify,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Investigators plan to exhume the bodies of two of the victims
\nfrom a grave in the Agani village before the trial begins. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nine-more-questioned-over-timika-killings-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}