Policemen reexamined in fatal case

Policemen reexamined in fatal case

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The National Commission on Human
Rights (Komnas Ham) has reexamined 24 policemen of various ranks
from private to general over last December's bloody incident in
Abepura, Irian Jaya, in which two policemen were killed.

Albert Rumbikwan, member of the Irian Jaya Komnas Ham, told
reporters here on Friday that the reexamination had to be
conducted after the result of the first questioning was rejected
by the Attorney General's office due to its incompleteness.

"The new result will be sent to the Attorney General's office
in Jakarta on August 14," Albert said.

In the reexamination which began on Thursday, Irian Jaya
Komnas Ham questioned Irian Jaya Police deputy chief Brig. Gen.
Darmo Moerhadi, Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Daud
Sihombing and Abepura Police chief Adj. Comr. Alex Korwa as
witnesses.

The Attorney General's Office is expected to identify the
suspects after studying the result of the second questioning.

Violence broke out in Abepura on Dec. 7, 2000, when over 100
armed rioters attacked the Abepura Police station before dawn,
claiming three victims, including two policemen and injuring four
officers.

The attackers, armed with handmade rifles, spears, swords and
machetes, ransacked shops, homes and restaurants on their way to
the police station.

Irian Jaya Police suspected that the Free Papua Organization
(OPM) militia and another rebel group called the Penis Sheath
(Koteka) task force were behind the violence.

Albert Rumbikwan expressed his optimism that the Attorney
General's Office would bring the Abepura case to the human rights
court, to be the first human rights violation case tried in
Indonesia. (35/sdt)