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.