Papuans commemorate death of Theys
Papuans commemorate death of Theys
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua
Members of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) commemorated here
on Tuesday the death of former charismatic PDP chairman Theys
Hiyo Eluay, who was killed two years ago by Indonesian military
personnel.
The anniversary, which was held under tight surveillance by
the police, took place in the grounds of Theys' house in the
Jayapura area of Sentani.
The function took place on Tuesday morning after a large
number of PDP members and Theys' relatives had traveled to
Entrop, some 45 kilometers from Jayapura, to hold a prayer
service at a memorial park there where the killing of Theys took
place two years ago.
They also visited the Sentani Memorial Park, where Theys is
buried. Later they returned to Theys' house for a prayer service
organized by Theys' family and the PDP.
The service was led by the Rev. Chris Warow and was attended
by some 200 PDP members, including representatives of a number of
Papuan tribes.
The situation was tense, with dozens of uniformed and
plainclothes police personnel, including Sr. Comr. Slamet
Sopandi, the Papua Provincial Police's intelligence chief,
watching from nearby.
The Morning Star flag, which symbolizes the independence of
Papua, was seen hoisted at half staff in front of the house. But,
the police do not intervene in order to prevent the situation
from turning ugly.
The police imposed tight security for fear that the crowd
could turn ugly, and fuel tension in the province ahead of "Papua
Independence Day" on Dec. 1.
Theys was murdered by a number of soldiers from the Army's
elite Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in the Entrop area, after
he attended a Heroes' Day celebration at the Kopassus
headquarters in the Hamadi area on Nov. 10, 2001. The remains of
Theys were found a day later in Entrop, but Aristoteles, his
driver, is still missing. The seven Kopassus soldiers were tried
and convicted. All received extremely light sentences, however,
of between 24 and 42 months in jail.
For the Indonesian government, Theys was tantamount to a
traitor, but for PDP members, he was a true hero, said Vorkorus
Yaboisembut, the chief of the Mamberamo Tami tribe.
"He has fought for the rights of Papuans," he said in a speech
to the crowd.
Vorkorus shared the same concern as Theys that Papuans
remained poor and backward, although their province was blessed
with abundant wealth and natural resources.
Vorkorus called on Papuans to continue Theys' struggle in
order to improve the life of Papuans. But, he added that it
should be peaceful.
Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno called on
Papuans not to celebrate the Independence Day of Papua, which
falls on Dec. 1.
"We would suggest that they don't do it. But, if they insist
on doing it, they should do it at home or in a restrained manner.
There are other people in Papua who may disagree with the
celebration of Papuan Independence Day," he said in Jakarta, as
quoted by Antara.
The statement came a day after local government and military
authorities in Papua -- the governor of Papua and the Trikora
military commander overseeing Papua, banned Papuans from
celebrating Papuan Independence Day on Dec. 1.