Papuans want Theys trial moved to Jayapura

Papuans want Theys trial moved to Jayapura

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Papuans demanded on Monday that the venue of the murder trial for
local separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay be moved from the East
Java capital of Surabaya to their province in order for justice
to take place.

"The case of Theys Eluay's murder that was perpetrated in
Jayapura should be tried in Papua, so that the local people can
directly monitor the trial," spokesman for former Papuan
political prisoners Saul J. Bomay told the Antara news agency.

He argued that it would only be natural under the legal
procedures to hold the trial in Jayapura, the capital of Papua,
where the crime was committed on Nov. 11, 2001.

Military court martial hearings in Surabaya opened for the
Theys' case last Friday with seven members of the Army's Special
Force (Kopassus), including Papua Kopassus commander Lt. Col.
Hartomo, Capt. Rionardo, Chief Sgt. Asrial and Chief Pvt. Achmad
Zulfahmi, being charged with the murder.

Three other Kopassus defendants -- Maj. Donny Hutabarat, First
Lt. Agus Suprianto, First Sgt. Lorensius -- also face the same
charges.

Bomay said the court martial has failed to provide a sense of
justice for most Papuans since it was being held outside
Jayapura.

Under the Criminal Code Procedures (Kuhap), a crime must be
tried in the town where it takes place, unless a security danger
there forces authorities to move it to another town.

Security in Jayapura has never been mentioned as a reason, by
the military, for its decision to try the Theys murder case in
Surabaya.

Bomay further said what Papuans wanted to know who the
mastermind was in the murder of Theys, a popular leader of the
separatist Papua Presidium Council (PDP) until he was murdered.

The legal authorities must be able to transparently divulge
the motives behind the kidnapping and murder of the Papuan
separatist leader, he added.

He called for severe punishment for those found guilty of
killing Theys and urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
government to quickly resolve the case.

Theys was last seen on Nov. 10, 2001, when he attended the
commemoration of National Heroes' Day at the Kopassus
headquarters in Jayapura. He was then kidnapped and found dead
one day later.

According to the investigation documents, which the court
heard during Friday's session, presented by military prosecutor
Maj. Haryanto, Theys attended a dinner party held by Kopassus
commander Hartomo on Nov. 10, 2001, as part of the commemoration
of the National Heroes' Day.

The seven defendants are facing up to 15 years in jail if
found guilty. Their court martial will resume on Friday.

Kopassus' involvement in the killing of Theys comes at a time
when its image has already sunken to a very low point.

Rights activists have blamed the special unit for a series of
human rights abuses in conflict areas like Aceh and Maluku, and
possibly the Freeport mine ambush in Papua.

Kopassus was also behind a series of kidnappings of activists
opposing former Soeharto dictator during the reform movement that
led to his ouster in 1998.