Papuans impatient with slow probe of Theys death<\/p>\n
R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
Papuans are becoming increasingly impatient with the slow pace of
\nthe investigation into the death of independence leader Theys
\nHiyo Eluay, who many believed was murdered for political reasons.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. General I Made Mangku
\nPastika said on Thursday that they would not reveal preliminary
\nfindings about Theys' death in order not to disrupt the
\ninvestigation process. He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Over 1,000 students and residents of provincial capital
\nJayapura protested in front of the office of the Irian Jaya
\ngovernor on Thursday, calling for the setting up of an
\nindependent international team to probe Theys' murder last month.<\/p>\n
Early on Thursday morning, police forcibly dispersed
\nprotesters occupying the office of the Irian Jaya governor since
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The protesters also expressed strong objections to the
\nautonomy law, which is expected to be formally handed over to
\nPapuan elders by President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she visits
\nthe province later this month, and the planned deployment of
\nadditional troops in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The demonstration at the tightly-guarded gubernatorial office
\nwas the second in three days after last Tuesday when hundreds of
\nstudents held a rally at the office, demanding a meeting with
\nIrian Jaya Governor Jaap Salossa.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Jaap bowed to their demands for talks. He was
\naccompanied by Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin
\nSimbolon, Irian Jaya Police chief Made Pastika and head of Irian
\nJaya High Court Togar Hutabarat as well as other senior
\ngovernment officials.<\/p>\n
\"Traitor, traitor,\" shouted the protesters when Jaap told the
\ncrowd that Irian Jaya should accept the wide-ranging autonomy
\nstatus as the best solution to develop the troubled province.<\/p>\n
During the meeting protesters urged the government to organize
\nnational and international dialogs to review the province's
\npolitical status.<\/p>\n
According to the protesters, the future of Irian Jaya should
\nbe determined through a referendum, as was done in East Timor
\nwhere people are asked to choose between accepting the proposed
\nautonomy within the unitary state of Indonesia or breaking away
\nfrom Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Under the autonomy law, which was endorsed by the House of
\nRepresentatives in October, Irian Jaya would be renamed Papua and
\nwould be allowed to have its own flag and anthem and would
\nreceive a greater share of the revenue from its rich natural
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Governor Jaap said that the autonomy law was drafted by
\nPapuans themselves including the rector of Cendrawasih University
\nMusfakrik, lecturers and religious leaders in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
\"It is our responsibility to improve the welfare of Papuans
\nand we are determined to work for the betterment of the Papuan
\npeople,\" Jaap told the protesters.<\/p>\n
Trikora military chief Mahidin, for his part, denied
\nallegations that more troops would be deployed in the country's
\neasternmost province.<\/p>\n
\"I know nothing about the report. It's only the work of the
\nmedia. There is no such a plan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Pro-independence protests have risen since the murder of
\nindependence leader Theys, chairman of the Papuan Presidium
\nCouncil (DPP) in November. He was found dead in his car on Nov.
\n11 after attending a military function in Jayapura. Autopsy
\nreports show that he died from suffocation.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) said on Thursday that it would recommend that the government
\nset up an independent team to probe Theys' death, its secretary-
\ngeneral Asmara Nababan said.<\/p>\n
The commission, after a five-day fact-finding mission in Irian
\nJaya earlier this month, said on Wednesday that there was a need
\nfor an independent inquiry into the incident, which is believed
\nto have been politically motivated.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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