Papua wants Theys murder trial held in Jayapura
R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
Irian Jaya Governor Jaap Salossa demanded on Tuesday that the trial for the killers of Papuan separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay be held in the province's capital of Jayapura.
The governor made the request during a meeting with three members of a government-approved team investigating November's slaying of Theys, the leader of the rebel Papua Presidium Council (PDP) in Jayapura.
Salossa did not specify the reasons for his request.
Koesparmono Irsan, who chairs the team, countered that the venue of the trial for Theys' murderers would be decided after it was clear whether the case was a common crime, or a human rights atrocity.
"If it is a human rights violation, the trial will be staged in Jakarta because the case should be dealt with by ad-hoc judges and prosecutors," Koesparmono said.
During the meeting with the governor, koesparmono, a retired general, was accompanied by two other team members, Dr. Amarsing and Rev. Erary, a local Papuan leader.
On the second day of their visit, the three team members also met with Papuan provincial legislative council speaker Jhon Ibo at his office in Jayapura.
The visit by the team, called the National Investigation Commission (KPN), was put together for a preliminary investigation into the mysterious death of Theys.
However, Koesparmono said that the meetings with Salossa and Ibo were not part of the investigation, as the team just wanted to inform them about the team's arrival, its membership, and the mechanism of the inquiry.
The team was scheduled to return to Jakarta on Wednesday after gathering preliminary information from relevant authorities in Jayapura for three days, he added.
The information included the dossiers of potential suspects and witnesses provided by the provincial police and military.
Meanwhile, Theys' widow, Yaneke Ohee and her son Boy Eluay told, The Jakarta Post that they were ready to testify before the latest government-approved team -- provided that it manages to uncover the truth about the murder case.
"With this team, we hope the real killers and their motives will be known," Yaneke said.
Boy said that he is prepared to be an eyewitness should he be summoned by the government's team.
The latest statements by Theys' family were surprising to many Papuans, as they were rumored to have rejected the KPN, which was established by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Feb. 5.
However, Yaneke admitted that she and her family had actually been opposed to the investigations because there have been at least five such teams looking into the case, but none have been successful.
"What we want is a credible team -- which includes foreigners -- so we will no longer need to question the results," she added.
Theys was found dead in his car on Nov. 11, the day he was seen kidnapped by assailants. The abduction took place while he was on his way home from the celebration of the Heroes Day at the Army's Kopassus elite force in Jayapura.
Kopassus troops have been accused of involvement in the murder. It has been thought that this prompted the Indonesian Military to set up its own team to study the case.