Papua wants Theys murder trial held in Jayapura

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.