'Political motive' behind Theys' murder
'Political motive' behind Theys' murder
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
House of Representatives (DPR) leaders said on Monday the killing
of chairman of pro-independence Papuan Presidium Council (PDP)
Theys Hiyo Eluay was politically motivated, but they refused to
speculate on who was behind it.
"I am sure that a political motive is behind the murder as he
(Theys) was a figure who struggled for certain political
ambitions," House Speaker Akbar Tandjung told reporters in the
legislative building here.
Akbar refused to speculate on who the masterminds were in the
murder, but urged the police to immediately embark upon a
thorough investigation in the case and take appropriate action
against those found guilty.
He said such an investigation was needed to appease the public
about who is guilty so that the incident would not hamper the
effort to solve problems in the province hit by a separatist
movement.
House Deputy Speaker Tosari Widjaja also expressed his belief
that Theys' murder was politically motivated. But he hoped that
the incident would not affect the effort of all parties to
implement the newly-endorsed special autonomy law for Papua,
which Theys vehemently opposed.
"It is understandable that the people in Papua are very upset
about the incident, but we do not know who is responsible for his
death. We hope that they will entrust the case to the police,"
Tosari told The Jakarta Post.
He also said an immediate and thorough investigation would
help ease the people's anger.
Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil also refused to speculate
on who was responsible for Theys' murder, stressing that the
government was now waiting for a result of the police
investigation.
Tosari said the central government should also show its
commitment to implement the Papuan Special Autonomy Law which is
expected to boost development in the region.
The law will, among other things, more equitably distribute
the proceeds from natural resources to Papua. The law also allows
Papuans to hoist their own flag and sing their own national
anthem.
Tosari also hoped that public figures and non-governmental
organizations in the province would not provoke the people to
resort to violence as it would only prolong the people's misery.
Meanwhile, former minister of sports and youth affairs Hayono
Isman said on Monday night that the murder of Theys reflected a
"portrait of sadism" that would tarnish the process of democracy
being struggled for by the nation.
Hayono, who is the chairman of the PPK Kosgoro social
organization, also expressed his fears that the incident would
disrupt the central government's efforts to forge cooperation and
reconciliation with and among Papuan communities, many of whom
were still skeptical about the special autonomy granted to the
province.
He urged the police to thoroughly investigate the murder and
bring the perpetrators to justice.
Hayono called on the Papuan people to remain calm and urged
them not to be provoked into committing violent acts that would
have a negative effect on their own cause.
The Kosgoro family extended their deep condolences to Theys's
extended family, he said as quoted by Antara.
In the meantime, the central board of the Indonesian Muslim
Students' Association (PB-PMII) condemned the kidnapping and
murder of Theys, describing them as brutal acts.
The association's chairman, Nusron Wahid, said in a press
release on Monday that the police should work hard to solve the
crime. "The incident puts the dignity of the police on the line,"
he said.