Rights body questions Theys murder

JAYAPURA, Papua: The mysterious death of Papua proindependence activist Papuan Presidium Council chairman, Theys Hiyo Eluay, will be among the issues to be raised by three officials of Amnesty International who arrived in the province's capital on Sunday.

Local human rights activist, Allusius Renwari, said on Saturday the London-based organization's delegation comprised Garry Fox, its director for Asia Pacific, Lucia Withers and Signe Poulsen. They will stay in Indonesia until Feb. 5.

Other than Theys' death, the group will also investigate human rights abuses in Manokwari and Wamena districts, Allusius said.

Papua Police deputy chief, Brig. Gen. Raziman Tarigan, meanwhile said the police would not prevent the activists from conducting their mission as long as they had obtained approval from Jakarta.

The police will not conceal any information about cases related to human rights abuses in the province, Tarigan said.

The government has established an independent team to investigate Theys' murder. The team includes members of non- governmental organizations, the Attorney General's Office and the Indonesian Military.

The Papuan Presidium Council which Theys founded, however, has refused to join the government-funded team.

Theys was found dead inside his car near the border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on Nov. 11 last year. -- Antara