FBI confirms Papua rebels killed Americans: Da'i

Abdul Khalik and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has concluded that the ambush on a bus carrying U.S. and Indonesian teachers on Aug. 31, 2001 was perpetrated by 15 members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said seven FBI agents had met with his officers to present the results of their investigation into the shooting, which killed one Indonesian and two U.S teachers.

"They told us that the Indonesian Military was in the clear. Instead, they said that it (the shooting) was done by 15 rebels," said Da'i.

National Police deputy chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Dadang Garnida said that all of the 15 perpetrators were still at large in Indonesia, but the police had already identified them.

"From the joint investigation with the Indonesian police, these agents told us that the man responsible for the ambush was Antonius Wamang, together with 14 others," Dadang said.

He said that the leader of the group was Kelly Kwalik but Antonius acted outside Kelly's control.

Antonius, 32, was charged last week by a U.S. court and could face the death penalty if arrested and convicted.

Dadang said all of them were members of the Papuan National Military (TPN), out to kill foreigners and Indonesian Military (TNI) and police personnel.

"They felt that Freeport, the TNI, and police had made their lives miserable. So, they wanted revenge by planning an initial bomb attack on Aug. 14 (2001)," he said.

Dadang said the plan was delayed until Aug. 31, but by this stage the plan had been changed from a bombing attack to a rifle attack.

The ambush took place on the road connecting Timika and Tembagapura in Papua, and killed Americans Ted Burcon and Rickley Spear, and FX Bambang Riwanto, an Indonesian. Twelve other passengers were wounded in the attack.

TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said Friday that he would file libel and slander complaints against all those who had tarnished the military's image by accusing it of involvement in the ambush.

Endriartono said Papua-based non-governmental organization Elsham was a prime target for action. "The FBI said that the NGO knew about the incident but had intentionally pointed its finger at the TNI."

"OPM member Dicky Moerib testified to FBI agents that he was asked by the NGO to tell the police that soldiers were involved in the ambush.

"He (Dicky), however, failed to provide evidence to support his testimony to the police as he engineered the story with Elsham," Endriartono said.

A U.S. grand jury charged Antonius on Thursday (Friday Jakarta time) with two counts of murder and eight counts of attempted murder.

But a Papuan human rights activist immediately cast doubt on Antonius' indictment, saying the was a sandalwood vendor with close ties to the Indonesian army.

"If he did it, it's impossible that he was operating on his own," said John Rumbiak, who fled Papua in 2002 for Sydney, Australia, after being warned that Indonesian Army death squads were looking for him.

"This is a very naive attempt to scapegoat the Free Papua Organization as the guilty party." he said as quoted by AP.

Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said allegations about Antonius' links with the Special Forces were "rubbish."

"This indictment greatly vindicates what Indonesia has said all along -- that the Papuan rebels are behind the heinous, cowardly murders," Marty said.