Papuan quits inquiry team on Theys' murder<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government received a slap in the face when a civilian member
\nof a government-appointed team investigating the murder of Papua
\nindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay announced plans to resign,
\nalong with a report indicating that another resignation may be on
\nthe way.<\/p>\n
Reports of the two resignations were made public on Tuesday
\namid mounting pressure from non-governmental organizations and
\nchurch groups in Indonesia's easternmost province for the
\ndisbandment of the team in favor of an independent inquiry.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 5, President Megawati Soekarnoputri approved the team
\nthat included an army general, a chief detective from the
\nNational Police, and other government officials, along with four
\nPapuan figures.<\/p>\n
The two members in question are local Papuans.<\/p>\n
\"I have written a resignation letter to President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, as she was the one to issue the decree\" forming
\nthe team, Lukas Karl Degey, one of six civilians in the 11-member
\nteam, said as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
Degey, a legislator from Megawati's Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle, said that health reasons were the main cause.<\/p>\n
But he was quick to add that he has \"neither experience nor
\ncompetence as an investigator,\" noting that \"investigation is the
\nwork of police and prosecutors, and not a civilian like me.\"<\/p>\n
Degey told AFP that he has yet to receive a reply to his
\nletter.<\/p>\n
A second legislator and team member, Simon Patrice Morin, was
\nquoted by the Detikcom online news service as saying that he,
\ntoo, wants to quit.<\/p>\n
He could not be reached for confirmation, however.<\/p>\n
Morin was quoted as saying that he saw no point in the team's
\nexistence. \"What we need is a commitment from Megawati to use her
\npowers to act on the findings of the police.\"<\/p>\n
The team originally comprised of five government officials --
\nincluding officials from the national police and the military --
\nand six civilians.<\/p>\n
Many people in Papua, including the police chief, the governor
\nand human rights activists, have said that there were indications
\nthat Kopassus special forces members played a role in the murder.<\/p>\n
And army chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has said that
\neyewitness testimony has indicated Kopassus involvement.<\/p>\n
But local police said that, after questioning at least seven
\nKopassus members, they hit a dead end in their investigation.<\/p>\n
Theys, a charismatic Papuan leader from the separatist Papua
\nPresidium Council (PDP), was found dead in his car in an area
\nbordering Papua, New Guinea on Nov. 11, a day after he was
\nreported kidnapped by an unidentified group of men.<\/p>\n
He had been abducted the previous evening by the men as he
\ndrove home from a celebration hosted by the Kopassus unit in the
\nprovincial capital of Jayapura.<\/p>\n
A low-level but sustained armed rebellion against Jakarta's
\nrule began in Iriyan Jaya after the Dutch ceded control of the
\nterritory to Indonesia in 1963.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuan-quits-inquiry-team-on-theys-murder-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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