Papuan officials slam KPN's conclusions on Theys murder

Papuan officials slam KPN's conclusions on Theys murder

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Papuan officials lashed out at the National Investigative
Commission's (KPN) recommendation that the murder of
proindependence Papuan leader Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluway was an
ordinary crime as stipulated by the Criminal Code, saying it was
not in line with "the true story" the Papuan people knew about.

Irian Jaya Governor Jaap Solossa said most Papuan people were
disappointed with the investigation's result because they knew
that it was a serious violation against human rights.

He admitted his office has received many letters from numerous
groups protesting the commission's recommendation and the ongoing
investigation of the case.

"Papuan people have expressed their anger with the
commission's bad performance and the absence of the government's
strong commitment to investigate the case thoroughly," he said in
a break at a seminar on Papua's special autonomy here on Tuesday.

Solossa insisted that Theys' murder was a serious human rights
violation because besides committing no wrongdoing, Theys was
abducted and killed sadistically and his body was dumped at a
remote area outside the provincial capital of Jayapura.

"What is wrong that Theys was killed sadistically. Papuan
people know he was killed because he had a different opinion with
Jakarta on the province's future and he had fought peacefully,"
he said, citing the difference of opinion was guaranteed by the
Constitution.

Theys was found dead inside his Kijang minivan on Nov. 11,
2001, in a remote area in Koya Tengah, bordering with Papua New
Guinea, after attending the celebration of the National Heroes'
Day at the Army Special Force (Kopassus) compound in Hamadi area
in the city a day before. Theys was accompanied by his driver
Aristoteles Masoka when he was abducted by unidentified men who
were believed to have killed him.

National Military Police are still investigating three members
of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) who were held responsible
for Theys' murder.

The investigation was carried out after the commission led by
Koesparmono Irsan, a member of the National Commission of Human
Rights, recommended the government to have the National Military
Police investigate the case which was classified into an ordinary
crime.

Solossa said he won't interfere with the ongoing investigation
but the Papuan people have hinted a panel of Ad Hoc judges to try
the human rights violation.

"The government's credibility is being tested on the fairness
of the investigation of the case and how the trial will be
conducted since the case has gained the world wide attention," he
said.

John Ibo, chairman of the Irian Jaya provincial legislative
council, concurred and said that many people who had given their
testimonies had been terrorized by unidentified men.

"The police must provide protection for all the witnesses and
investigate the recent shooting by a Kopassus member of a
witness," he said.

First Sgt. Yani was arrested by the military police unit of
the Trikora Military Command overseing Papua, for shooting 27-
year-old Yeret Imowi. Imowi survived the incident.

John said Theys murderers put Aristoteles in a hideout because
he was a key witness in the case.

He said that according to witnesses' testimonies, Aristoteles
knew the men who abducted Theys but he was hidden to prevent him
from revealing the truth.

"According to six witnesses who accompanied Aristoteles to
report Theys' abduction to the Kopassus unit commandant, he knows
the abductors and they frequently had lunch at Theys' residence
in Sentani, near the city," he said.