Hero's procession for Theys' body
R.K. Nugroho & Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Makassar
Thousands of people, including many university students, on Tuesday accompanied the ambulance which was carrying the body of Theys Hiyo Eluay from the provincial legislative council building in Jayapura to his residence in Sentani.
Hundreds of motorcycles were seen escorting the vehicle carrying the body of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) chairman. A large number of people also followed the procession on foot to Sentani, which is nearly 45 kilometers away.
It was the type of procession normally reserved for heroes as the car carrying Theys' body was partially covered with the Free Papuan "Morning Star" flag and the people shouted "Free Papua" as they made their way along the route.
A large number of mourners lined the streets as well to offer condolences and shout slogans with the crowd. Many of them burst into tears as the procession passed them.
Jayapura was in a state of mourning as well on Tuesday. All schools and shops were closed and many people left their offices early.
Elderly citizens said that Theys was very popular among younger generation, including students, in Jayapura, Sentani and its surrounding areas.
On Monday, the crowd carried Theys' body to the legislative building and demanded that the legislators set up an independent team to investigate the death of their hero.
John Tibo, the deputy speaker of the legislative council, promised to urge the police to investigate Theys' death thoroughly. John also promised the group on Monday that he would arrange a meeting with legislators to discuss Theys' death on Tuesday. But such a meeting did not materialize.
Theys, the 63-year-old pro-independence leader was found dead in his Toyota Kijang on Sunday morning at Muara Tami, a district west of Jayapura. His driver Ari Masoka is still missing. Theys had been reportedly kidnapped by a group of people while on his way home from attending a dinner party at the Kopassus base in Hamadi on Saturday evening.
As of Tuesday evening, there still had been no decision as to where, when and how Theys' body would be memorialized. A relative said that a meeting among family members, tribal leaders and the Papuan Presidium Council would be held to decide the details of the service.
The nuances of Theys' death, however, remain shrouded in some mystery.
Initial reports from police and pro-independence people assumed that he had been murdered.
However, a team of doctors who examined his body announced on Monday that Theys was not strangled as police originally suspected. Dr. Kelemen Mayakori, the leader of the team of doctors at Jayapura General Hospital said that Theys seemed to die from a lethal lack of oxygen, but ruled out strangulation as the cause of death as there were no bruises on the neck. Kelemen also announced that the body had some injuries about the nose and mouth as well as his hands, but was not able to determine with certainty how those injuries were inflicted.
The announcement came as somewhat of a surprise to many who had earlier been convinced that he was murdered.
Jayapura City Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said in a morning interview with Jakarta-based El-Shinta Radio on Tuesday morning that some of Theys' internal organs would be sent elsewhere for further examination.
Irian Jaya Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Gde Kusuma said police were waiting for the results of the examination from Makassar.
The fact was not revealed even by Dr. Kelemen and his team in Jayapura.
Dr. Mahmud, a pathologist at Hasanuddin University said later in Makassar on Tuesday that, "Theys' heart was sent to the University of Indonesia's Forensic Laboratory."
National Police deputy spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said in Jakarta on Tuesday that he had not yet been informed about the ongoing post-mortem examination.
"I have yet to receive all of the information. Just ask Irian Jaya (Papua) Police chief. He is the one in charge of the investigation," he said in a telephone interview.