FBI called to join probe into deadly Papua ambush

FBI called to join probe into deadly Papua ambush

Agence France-Presse, Jakarta

U.S. President George W. Bush has called for a Bali-style joint investigation into an August ambush that killed two Americans and an Indonesian in Papua province, an Australian newspaper reported Saturday.

The Age, of Melbourne, said Bush made the proposal during a message to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri over the past two weeks.

Police have said Indonesian troops are suspected of involvement in the ambush.

Indonesian police have received widespread praise for the success of their investigation, conducted with Australian Federal Police, into the Oct. 12 Bali bombing that killed at least 190 people, almost half of them Australians.

The Age said the success of the Bali team has prompted the U.S. government to push for a similar team including FBI officers to probe the August ambush near the giant U.S.-owned Freeport copper and gold mine in Papua.

FBI officers have at least twice already traveled to Papua to monitor the progress of the Indonesian investigation into the ambush, which was carried out by unknown gunmen on employees of an international school operated by Freeport. Twelve others, most of them Americans, were wounded.

Asked to confirm whether or not Bush had contacted Megawati, her chief spokesman Geribaldi Sujatmiko told AFP: "I'm sorry I don't know. I just heard about it from you."

Indonesian police in Papua told AFP in November that Indonesian special forces soldiers were suspected of involvement in the ambush.

The province's deputy police chief said Deky Murib, who had been an informer and guide for the Kopassus special forces, had identified four of 11 soldiers allegedly involved in the attack.

Police cannot investigate military officers but said they informed a military investigation team of the suspected involvement of Kopassus. The special forces have denied any role in the murders.

Army officials have previously blamed the ambush on Kelly Kwalik, a separatist guerrilla leader who has denied links to the attack.

According to The Age, Bush made clear that there will be no resumption of U.S. military aid to Indonesia until the U.S. is satisfied with progress in the case.

Cooperation was sharply reduced during the East Timor violence in 1999 but U.S. officials have been seeking to resume links with the Indonesian military as part of their war on terrorism.

Nine Kopassus soldiers are awaiting trial in a military court for involvement in the murder of Papuan separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay last November.

The current Kopassus chief, Major General Sriyanto, has been named a suspect for gross human rights violations during the September 1984 fatal shooting of 24 Muslim protesters.

Freeport's mine is considered a vital national asset and is heavily guarded by government forces.