Papuans impatient with slow probe of Theys death

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.