Five Irian proindependence activists named suspects
Five Irian proindependence activists named suspects
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Irian Jaya Police have named five
independence movement activists suspects in a treason
investigation.
Irian Jaya Police chief of detectives Col. Tukarno said on
Tuesday that chairman of the Papuan presidium Theys Hiyo Eluay,
his secretary Thaha Alhamid and the presidium's members Don
Flassy, John Mambor and Rev. Herman Awom would soon stand trial.
Except for Theys, all the suspects have undergone questioning.
Apart from them, three members of the Papuan People's Congress
organizing committee have also been quizzed as witnesses.
The congress, held earlier this month, concluded with a
declaration that West Papua, or Irian Jaya as the territory is
formally called, is no longer part of the republic. It also
formed a presidium, led by Theys, which was assigned to make
preparations for the independence.
Tukarno said police investigators focused their questioning on
the suspects' involvement in independence campaign activities
dating back from the Morning Star separatist flag hoisting across
the province on Nov. 12 last year.
"We did not ask, for example, who funded them or who provided
the place for the congress. We just talked about the agenda of
the congress," Tukirno said. Police, he added, had never banned
the congress.
Local leaders and human rights activists protested the
police's decision to name the congress committee members, saying
the investigation would not stop the mounting independence demand
in the province.
"If the presidium members are named suspects for their
independence struggle, then all Papuan people deserve the same
treatment," former House of Representatives legislator Wellem
Rumsarwir said.
Anton Raharusun of the Papuan People's Human Rights Advocacy
said investigators raised many tricky questions in a bid to
declare Theys and his colleagues suspects.
President Abdurrahman Wahid received support for the country's
territorial integrity from leaders of countries he visited during
his latest overseas trip. (eba)