RI, U.S. to cooperate in Timika probe

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has pledged cooperation with the United States in investigating the ambush in Timika, Papua, last year, which killed one Indonesian and two American teachers.

Spokesman for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday that all the technical problems that had confronted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the past would be resolved by the two sides as soon as possible.

"These technical problems encountered by Washington's investigating team are being addressed; it is not like there is no solution to these problems," Marty said.

Marty refrained for revealing what the technical problems might be, but the FBI investigating team had complained that its agents were not given free access to sources at the scene when it came to Indonesia last year.

They were required to interview witnesses in the presence of the Indonesian authorities and were not allowed to bring forensic evidence back to the U.S. for analysis.

The investigation into the ambush continues to overshadow bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United States. Just recently, the U.S. Senate moved to prevent the disbursement of some US$600,000 in military training funds for Indonesia.

The fatal attack occurred when an unidentified armed group opened fire on a convoy of cars carrying the American and Indonesian teachers near the giant PT Freeport Indonesia mine.

The Indonesian military (TNI), which is in charge of security around the mine, immediately tried to pin the blame on the Free Papua Movement (OPM), a poorly organized and armed separatist group, but a preliminary investigation conducted by local police suggested that the military were involved in the fatal shooting.

The TNI, however, has vehemently denied the allegations.

Marty said the government fully acknowledged the U.S.'s concerns over the case as it involved the lives of its citizens, and promised to forge good cooperation with Washington in resolving the issue.

"This is an ongoing process and the relevant departments are currently working out these technical problems," Marty said.

Washington has repeatedly expressed concern over the handling of the Timika ambush as so far none of the perpetrators have been apprehended.

Monday's edition of the Asian Wall Street Journal (WSJ) carried a report stating that the U.S. Senate planned to discuss a possible move to prevent the release of US$600,000 in military training funds for Indonesia until those responsible for the Timika ambush were brought to justice.

The plan, however, has been opposed by the Bush administration, which has been urging the Senate to provide more assistance to help the Indonesian Military (TNI) fight terrorism.