Police smash up Theys memorial, tension increases

Police smash up Theys memorial, tension increases

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post , Jayapura, Papua

Defying protests from local Papuans, the Papuan Police demolished
on Thursday a large billboard erected next to a monument
commemorating the death of Papua Presidium Council (PDP) chairman
Theys Hiyo Eluay in the Entrop area, South Jayapura.

The demolition, which came only two days after hundreds of PDP
members and local Papuans commemorated the death of Theys, went
off peacefully as the police had earlier informed the Sentani
Tribal Council.

The demolition could further fuel tension in Papua as it took
place two weeks before the unofficial Papua Independence Day on
Dec. 1.

According to Jayapura Police deputy chief Comr. Mathius
Fachiri, the demolition was based on strong grounds. "We made an
agreement with the Sentani Tribal Council that the billboard
could be taken down two years after the death of Theys," said
Fachiri.

The chief of the Sentani Tribal Council, Enos E. Deda and
Comr. Fachiri were among the local figures who witnessed the
demolition.

Mathius said that the billboard had to be demolished on the
fear that it could incite hatred and "mistaken perceptions" among
local Papuans.

During the event, police personnel were seen sawing the wooden
pillars supporting the 3 meters by 2 meters wooden billboard.

Mathius also pointed out that the text printed on the board
was provocative. The text read "We thank God for the sacrifice by
Theys and other Papuans who became the victims of human rights
violations in the fight to establish the truth and to raise the
pride and dignity of Papuans in a new, peaceful Papua."

Theys was murdered by soldiers from the elite Army 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 two years ago.

The remains of Theys were found a day later in the place where
the monument was later erected, but Aristoteles, his driver, is
still missing.

The seven Kopassus soldiers were tried and convicted but all
received light sentences of between only 24 and 42 months in
jail.

Enos Deda explained that the locals had no hidden agenda in
erecting the billboard, which was aimed merely at commemorating
the death of Theys. "In our history, there has never been a noted
local figure who was murdered. It only happened to Theys. Thus,
his death has to be commemorated," he said.

Enos accepted the demolition, considering that there was
already an agreement between the locals and the police.

However, he warned that the monument, which commemorated the
death of Theys, must not be demolished. "The monument must remain
as it is historical evidence that Theys was murdered," he said.