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.