New team on Theys starts to work
New team on Theys starts to work
R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
Three members of the controversial government-backed team set
up to investigate the murder of pro-independence Papua Presidium
Council (PDP) chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay, arrived here Monday for
a three-day preparatory visit.
The National Investigation Committee (KPN) team, set up by the
government on Feb. 5, has come under fire from Papuan leaders
opposed to military and police representation on the team.
The team's credibility has been further strained after two of
its three Papuan members quit. Karl Lukas Degey and Simon Petrus
Morin, legislators for the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle and Golkar Party respectively, quit after Papuan
religious leaders criticized the team.
The visiting members included retired police general
Koesparmono Irsan, P.H. Erary and Dr. Amarsing.
"The team remains solid and we are convinced that we are going
to achieve our goals," Irsan said on arrival when asked about the
two members who quit the 11-strong team.
Church leaders as well as leaders of non-government
organizations have objected to the establishment of the team,
saying it was partial and would classify the murder as a "common
crime" instead of a crime against humanity.
They said what they needed was an independent team comprising
credible individuals, forensic experts, legal and human rights
activists and UN officials.
Theys, the charismatic leader of the separatist PDP, was found
dead in his car in an area bordering Papua New Guinea on Nov. 11,
a day after he was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified
assailants.
The abduction took place after Theys returned from attending
Heroes Day celebrations at the Army's Special Force (Kopassus)
compound.
Apart from the government's team, the military has also set up
its own investigation team lead by military Police chief Maj.
Gen. Djasri Marin, who is also a member of the KPN.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has admitted the
possible involvement of military personnel in the murder.
PDP secretary general Muhamad Thaha Al-Hamid said it as well
as Theys' wife and relatives had demanded to review the
establishment of the team.
The reason was that the government had still not done anything
about the murder three months after it had taken place, Al-Hamid
said.
"A number of investigating teams had come here without any
results whatsoever, like the team from the TNI headquarters, the
military police and now the KPN," he said.
The presidium, he said, had made it known to the president
prior to the setting up of the team that the Papuan people had
objected to it but it went unheeded.
Al-Hamid said that the presidium had its own choice of 21
people to make up the investigation team including Bambang
Widjojanto, Munir, Ifdal Kasim, Ori Rachman, Johnson Panjaitan,
Munarman and Mappinawang.
Lawyers appointed by the presidium in Jayapura included El
Shaam director Johanis Bonai, Anton Raharusoun, Legal Aid
Institute chairman Anton Raharusoun, Demianus Wakman and Piter
Ell of Kontras.
Investigation team member Koesparmono Irsan and Erary met with
Irian Jaya police chief Made Mangku Pastika Monday while Dr.
Amarsing met with Dr. Clemen Manyakori, chief of Jayapura
hospital to check on Theys' death records.