Kopassus lawyer calls Theys' murder suspects `heroes'

Kopassus lawyer calls Theys' murder suspects `heroes'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A lawyer representing seven military officers in their trial
for the murder of Papuan separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay,
called them "heroes" and warned that punishing them would set a
bad example for other soldiers in conflict zones.

Lawyer Hotma Sitompul was representing seven mid- to high-
ranking officers of the Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) in
the court martial on Tuesday, charged with killing Theys on his
way home in Papua on Nov. 10, 2001.

"They (the defendants) have fought with all they have, their
minds, careers and their lives, to defend the unitary state of
Indonesia. So this defense statement can be titled no other than
'Heroes on Trial'," said Hotma as he read out the defense's
opening statement, Antara reported.

Theys was murdered on National Heroes' Day in 2001, and was
last seen during its commemoration dinner at Kopassus
headquarters in the Papuan capital of Jayapura, which he had
attended at the invitation of Papua Kopassus Commander Lt. Col.
Hartomo.

During the dinner, Hartomo heard of Theys' plan to reaffirm
Papua's independence and ordered his men to anticipate the plan.

A team of six Kopassus officers then followed Theys, including
two officers who accompanied Theys in his own car.

Apparently, the two intended to extract information from
Theys, but instead got into an argument. The Papuan leader died
of suffocation, after one of the soldiers -- as he claimed --
clamped his hand over Theys' mouth to avoid him from screaming
out during the quarrel.

Ariestoteles, Theys' driver, fled the scene and remains
missing. Over a year later, he is now presumed dead.

Hotma, however, said the soldiers were doing only their job.

"So let us think about the impact the judges' verdict will
have on soldiers all over Indonesia... Don't let the verdict
weaken the soldiers' spirit in defending the unitary state of
Indonesia," he argued.

During the court hearing on March 5, prosecutors demanded
sentences of between two to seven years in prison for the three
defendants, two-and-a-half years for Kopassus Commander Hartomo,
and three years for Chief Pvt. Achmad Zulfahmi, who was directly
responsible for Theys' death. Achmad has already been discharged
from service.

Appearing at the court martial on Tuesday were Papua Kopassus
Commander Hartomo, Capt. Rionardo, Chief Sgt. Asrial and Achmad
Zulfahmi.

The other defendants, Maj. Donny Hutabarat, First Lt. Agus
Suprianto and First Sgt. Lorensius are to be tried at a separate
hearing.