'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.