Papuans impatient with slow probe of Theys death

R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Irian Jaya

Papuans are becoming increasingly impatient with the slow pace of the investigation into the death of independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, who many believed was murdered for political reasons.

Meanwhile, Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. General I Made Mangku Pastika said on Thursday that they would not reveal preliminary findings about Theys' death in order not to disrupt the investigation process. He did not elaborate.

Over 1,000 students and residents of provincial capital Jayapura protested in front of the office of the Irian Jaya governor on Thursday, calling for the setting up of an independent international team to probe Theys' murder last month.

Early on Thursday morning, police forcibly dispersed protesters occupying the office of the Irian Jaya governor since Tuesday.

The protesters also expressed strong objections to the autonomy law, which is expected to be formally handed over to Papuan elders by President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she visits the province later this month, and the planned deployment of additional troops in Irian Jaya.

The demonstration at the tightly-guarded gubernatorial office was the second in three days after last Tuesday when hundreds of students held a rally at the office, demanding a meeting with Irian Jaya Governor Jaap Salossa.

On Thursday, Jaap bowed to their demands for talks. He was accompanied by Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon, Irian Jaya Police chief Made Pastika and head of Irian Jaya High Court Togar Hutabarat as well as other senior government officials.

"Traitor, traitor," shouted the protesters when Jaap told the crowd that Irian Jaya should accept the wide-ranging autonomy status as the best solution to develop the troubled province.

During the meeting protesters urged the government to organize national and international dialogs to review the province's political status.

According to the protesters, the future of Irian Jaya should be determined through a referendum, as was done in East Timor where people are asked to choose between accepting the proposed autonomy within the unitary state of Indonesia or breaking away from Indonesia.

Under the autonomy law, which was endorsed by the House of Representatives in October, Irian Jaya would be renamed Papua and would be allowed to have its own flag and anthem and would receive a greater share of the revenue from its rich natural resources.

Governor Jaap said that the autonomy law was drafted by Papuans themselves including the rector of Cendrawasih University Musfakrik, lecturers and religious leaders in Irian Jaya.

"It is our responsibility to improve the welfare of Papuans and we are determined to work for the betterment of the Papuan people," Jaap told the protesters.

Trikora military chief Mahidin, for his part, denied allegations that more troops would be deployed in the country's easternmost province.

"I know nothing about the report. It's only the work of the media. There is no such a plan," he said.

Pro-independence protests have risen since the murder of independence leader Theys, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (DPP) in November. He was found dead in his car on Nov. 11 after attending a military function in Jayapura. Autopsy reports show that he died from suffocation.

In Jakarta, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said on Thursday that it would recommend that the government set up an independent team to probe Theys' death, its secretary- general Asmara Nababan said.

The commission, after a five-day fact-finding mission in Irian Jaya earlier this month, said on Wednesday that there was a need for an independent inquiry into the incident, which is believed to have been politically motivated.