FBI questions witnesses in Timika slayings
FBI questions witnesses in Timika slayings
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A team of United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
agents have arrived in the Papuan town of Timika and questioned a
number of witnesses in connection with an ambush in which three
employees of an American company were killed in August 2001.
National Police detective chief Com. Gen. Erwin Mappaseng said
on Thursday the FBI team had also examined the bullets used to
shoot the victims.
"A four-strong FBI team arrived in Indonesia on Sunday and
left for Papua on Monday, accompanied by the National Police team
led by Brig. Gen. Indarto. In their latest report police said the
American investigators had questioned several witnesses related
to the case," said Erwin.
He said that a team in Papua led by Papua Police deputy chief
Sr. Comr. Tommy Yacobus would assist the FBI team in providing
access to question the witnesses.
"The FBI team has to ask permission and assistance from the
Indonesian Police to question witnesses. It is officer Tommy's
team who knows the witnesses and the situation there better,"
said Erwin.
Unidentified gunmen fired at two buses carrying Freeport
employees from the Tembagapura International School on Aug. 31
last year. Two American school teachers and one Indonesian were
killed and 12 others were wounded.
Human rights groups, including the Institute for Human Rights
Study and Advocacy for West Papua (Els-Ham), have demanded that
an independent team be established to investigate the attack as
speculations surfaced that military personnel might have been
involved in the incident.
The alleged involvement of military soldiers emerged after
Papuan Police and Els-Ham listened to the testimony of Decky
Murif, who is believed to be a separatist member.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has denied the allegation
several times, saying that it doesn't fit the facts found by the
TNI investigating team.
Erwin said he would be open to the possibility of the FBI team
questioning military personnel if necessary.
"We will let them question every individual they wish to in
order to solve the case as quickly as possible," said Erwin.
The FBI sent special agents Edward Montoth and Robert
Deardorss and an interpreter earlier this year after the U.S.
government expressed disappointment with the conflicting
conclusions of the police and military investigations in January.