Rights body questions Theys murder

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