Senior officers may be involved in Theys' murder

Senior officers may be involved in Theys' murder

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Investigation into the killing of Papuan pro-independence leader
Theys Hiyo Eluay last year points at the possible involvement of
high ranking officers, National Military Police Chief Maj. Gen.
Sulaiman A.B. said on Monday.

"It is not an ordinary murder. We can see that Theys was not
an ordinary person ... he was the local Papuan leader, so I
believe political motives were behind the killing," Sulaiman said
on the sidelines of the National Resilience Institute
(Lemhannas)' 37th anniversary celebration here on Monday.

He, however, refused to confirm or deny rumors that Theys'
killing involved intelligence operatives from a neighboring
country.

"You can make your own conclusion," Sulaiman said when pressed
by journalists to comment on whether or not an international
conspiracy was behind the killing.

Theys, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), was
found dead inside his Kijang van on Nov. 11, 2001, in Koya
Tengah, a few hours after he attended a function at the local
headquarters of Army's Special Force (Kopassus).

Aristoteles Masoka, who drove Theys to the ceremony and is
believed to have been a key witness in the murder, is still
missing.

After conducting a series of investigations, Military Police
detained nine Kopassus members, including middle ranking military
officers Lt. Col. Hartomo and Maj. Doni Hutabarat, as well as
Capt. Rianaldo and six other lower ranking military officers.

They have been named as suspects in the murder case and were
initially charged with violating Article 338 of the Criminal
Code.

Another Kopassus member Sergeant Yani, who once tried to kill
key witness Yaret Imowi, is currently being detained at the
Jayapura Military Police Command.

As political motives may be behind the killing, "these
Kopassus officers will probably be charged with other
violations", Sulaiman said without elaborating.

Sulaiman brushed aside allegations that the insubordination
charge against the Kopassus members was 'part of the scenario',
by saying that "the ongoing investigation had not ended, and it
is still open for more suspects."

Facing increasing pressure at home and from the international
community, the central government set up a national commission of
inquiry to investigate the murder. The commission had recommended
that the Military Police carry out further investigation of the
suspects believed to be responsible for the killing.