Govt accused of planning Theys' death

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) accused the government on Friday of being behind the recent death of Papuan independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, saying that his murder was part of a plan to repress rising calls for independence in the province.

"Our accusation is based on a document issued by the directorate general of national integrity and public protection at the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 9 last year.

"The document contains several points, including a list of dozens of Papuan figures considered a threat to the central government due to their stance. Theys was one of them," Kontras coordinator Ori Rahman told a media conference.

"The document, known as the Matoa Document, was drafted in a special coordinating meeting at the ministry on June 8, 2000, which discussed several contingency plans to anticipate the Papuan political situation should they keep demanding freedom," Ori said.

Also present at the meeting were officials from the former state intelligence coordinating agency (Bakin), the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s Strategic Intelligence Body, Army Headquarters, National Police Headquarters, the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) and the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), Ori added.

Ori said that Jakarta-based Papuan figure Yorrys Raweyai and M. Bonai from a local non-governmental organization (NGO) were also included on the list.

Theys, chairman of the proindependence Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), was found dead in his car on Nov. 11 at Muara Tami, a district west of Jayapura, Irian Jaya, hours after allegedly being kidnapped by a group of people on his way home to Sentani.

Prior to his death, Theys attended a dinner at Kopassus headquarters in Jayapura, in observance of National Heroes' Day.

When asked whether Willem Onde, the leader of the Papuan Liberation Army (TPNP) who died in September, was also included on the list, Ori said: "Yes, he was one of the targets too."

Onde and his assistant Juhanis Toming, was found shot to death. Local security officers, however, did not make any official reports regarding the deaths.