Megawati orders accurate probe into Theys' death

Megawati orders accurate probe into Theys' death

Annastashya Emmanuelle and R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Jayapura

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has given a three-month deadline
to the National Investigation Commission (KPN) to investigate the
murder of Papua proindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, despite
opposition from the local elite, especially religious leaders.

The head of the commission, Koesparmono Irsan, said Megawati
called on Thursday for an honest and accurate investigation and
warned the team against working only to confirm or refute public
opinion concerning Theys' death.

"The President didn't specifically mention the alleged
involvement of Kopassus in They's murder, but it is an example of
public opinion," Koesparmono told reporters on Thursday after his
meeting with President Megawati.

Earlier investigations by Papua police and Army headquarters
concluded that certain military elements were behind Theys'
murder.

Theys was found dead in his Kijang van on Nov. 11, hours after
he had attended a National Heroes Day commemoration at the
Jayapura headquarters of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus).
Autopsy reports showed that he died from suffocation.

Theys' driver, Aristoteles Masoka, who escaped and reported
the abduction, disappeared shortly after.

Koesparmono said the investigation team would depart to
Jayapura on Sunday to follow up the preliminary evidence they
received from the National Commission on Human Rights and the
National Police. The team will also receive reports from the
military police investigating the case, Koesparmono said.

Meanwhile, the military police team has reportedly completed
its investigation into the case, but was not available to confirm
the possibility of soldiers being involved in the murder.

Col. Sutarna, chief of the military police at Trikora Military
Command overseeing Irian Jaya, said the team returned to Jakarta
on Thursday, taking with it the investigation's results for
further analysis.

"The team made much progress in the investigation, but I have
no authority to reveal it to the press," Sutarna told The Jakarta
Post in the Papuan capital of Jayapura on Friday.

The 12-member team, which spent 21 days in Jayapura,
questioned 93 people as witnesses, including 34 from the Kopassus
unit and six others from the military command.

Sutarna, who accompanied the team in the city, said the team,
which was initially led by military police chief Maj. Gen. Djasri
Marin and later by Col. Hendardji, would draw up its conclusion
of the investigation after analyzing its results in Jakarta.

"Most important is that the military police achieved much
progress needed to determine who was behind the murder," he said.

Commenting on the possible involvement of Kopassus members in
Theys' murder, Djasri said no proof of it had been found.

"It remains an indication, which could be right or not,"
Djasri told reporters.

Koesparmono said that on its first visit, the KPN team would
mainly investigate the cause of death and establish a regional
team, comprising elements from the police, the military police
and the prosecutor's office, to conduct the formal investigation.

"A regional team is necessary because the KPN does not have
the authority to draw up dossiers for the trial," Koesparmono
said.

He said KPN had no plan thus far to replace the two Papuan
representatives who have withdrawn from the team, as the
remaining nine commission members were confident they could
continue to perform their duties well.

Papuan officials and religious figures contested the inclusion
of the military and police in the KPN due to concerns that their
presence would prevent the team from doing its job in a fair and
objective manner.

Karl Lucas Degey and Simon Petrus Morin, two Papuan
legislators of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party who were on the team, objected
to military and police officers being included on the team and
quit.