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)