Investigation into Theys' murder draws skepticism

Investigation into Theys' murder draws skepticism

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Papuan people's hope for a thorough investigation into the
apparent murder of proindependence Papua Presidium Council (PDP)
Chairman Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluay may have been dashed as the
government decided to include the military (TNI) and Police in
the proposed investigation team.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono revealed on Wednesday that President
Megawati Soekarnoputri would issue immediately a decree on the
proposed establishment of the independent commission that would
include both the TNI and the police.

He said the inclusion of the TNI and of the National Police in
the commission was to "accommodate the team's requirement should
they encounter problems in dealing with the military and police
during the investigation."

Besides officials from the military and the police, the
investigating commission would also have prominent Papuan
members, including religious leaders and several human rights
activists from the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas
HAM) in Jakarta and Papua.

Susilo however, declined to reveal the names of the commission
members, saying that he was awaiting approval of the President
before exposing it to the national and foreign press and the
people.

Susilo made the statement only weeks after the government said
two weeks ago that both the police and military would be included
in the commission.

Both Papuan officials and religious figures have called on the
government not to include the military and the police but to
appoint independent and credible professionals to carry out the
investigation. They are of the opinion that it would be
impossible to conduct a fair and objective investigation should
the military and the police be included in the commission.

A group of Papuan religious leaders also proposed a number of
independent professional activists to carry out the
investigation.

The establishment of an independent commission has been
proposed after numerous teams from numerous institutions,
including the Irian Jaya police failed to fully identify Theys'
murderers.

Theys was found dead in his car in Koya Tengah Village near
the provincial capital Jayapura -- which is close to the border
with Papua New Guinea -- on Nov. 10, 2001, a day after he and his
driver Aristoteles Masoka were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.

The Irian Jaya Police have said the Army's special forces unit
in Hammadi, Jayapura, was allegedly involved in the murder but
they could not carry out further investigations into the case
because servicemen were not under Police jurisdiction which only
includes civilian law.