KPN ready to reveal identity of suspects
KPN ready to reveal identity of suspects
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government-sanctioned National Investigation Commission
(KPN) has completed its investigation into the killing of Papuan
proindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay and claims it is ready to
submit its report to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
While insisting that the murder was purely a crime, KPN
chairman Koesparmono Irsan told reporters on Monday that the team
would also suggest that the President order a separate
investigation into the disappearance of a key witness in the
case, Theys' driver Aristoteles Masoka.
"The investigation into Theys' killing has been completed, but
the missing of Aristoteles should also be investigated. I have
ordered KPN's field assistance team in Irian Jaya to find
Aristoteles' whereabouts," he said.
He added that further reports from the assistance team, which
comprises local prosecutors, military police and the police, may
be added to the final report.
Koesparmono, who is member of the National Commission on Human
Rights (Komnas HAM), said the report includes the testimonies of
two groups of civilian witnesses who helped the commission
identify suspects in the killing.
The first group comprises six people who witnessed both Theys
and Aristoteles arrive and leave the Army's Special Force
(Kopassus) Tribuana task force compound on Jl. Hamadi, Jayapura,
while other group comprises four people who claimed to be around
the Entrope area near the border with Papua New Guinea where
Theys was abducted by unidentified assailants.
None of the witnesses, whose identities are being withheld,
recognized the alleged culprits, Koesparmono said.
"Three of them are in police protection, and as far as I know
they have not been intimidated or threatened," he sad.
Theys, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), was
found dead inside his car one day after attending a Heroes Day
celebration at the Tribuana headquarters on Nov. 11 last year.
The investigation revealed that Aristoteles was seen being
brought back to the headquarters in a minivan and needing
assistance in walking.
An Indonesian Military (TNI) internal investigation has
implicated three of the task force members in the killing. TNI
officials said the three could be charged with insubordination.