Sentani sheds tears as people bury Theys

R.K. Nugroho The Jakarta Post Sentani

Intense grief gripped Sentani, Irian Jaya, on Saturday morning as more than 10,000 mourners attended the burial of pro-independence Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay, 63.

The Ondofolo tribal chief turned freedom fighter was buried in his home village here, about 45 kilometers from Irian Jaya's capital Jayapura, in a ceremony befitting a people's hero. Sentani transformed into a sea of people.

Indonesia's easternmost province has been in mourning for a week after Theys was found dead in his car on Nov. 11, after allegedly being kidnapped on Nov. 10 evening. Prior to his death, Theys had attended a dinner party at the Kopassus (Army's Special Force) headquarters in Hamadi, Jayapura.

Police are still investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding Theys' death. Doctors have established that he died from a lack of oxygen but have ruled out strangulation. Further investigations and medical examinations are being conducted.

The procession, which was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. (8 a.m. in Jakarta), was delayed as hundreds of Theys' supporters from remote areas of Irian Jaya demanded that Theys be buried only after the cause of his death became clear.

Priest Herman Awom, however, managed to pacify the supporters.

The one-kilometer procession from Theys' home to his burial site, a soccer field turned cemetery for Papuan proindependence heroes, took about 40 minutes.

PDP representatives from Australia and Papua New Guinea were present, as were Torajan, Ambonese and Batak migrants.

Irian Jaya, formerly West Guinea and then West Irian, became a part of Indonesia in 1963. A UN-supervised referendum on independence was defeated in 1969, with most Papuan leaders disputing the result. Previously, the resource-rich province was under Dutch colonial rule.

Residents lining the Sentani streets removed their hats and lowered their umbrellas as Theys' coffin, draped in the Morning Star Papuan flag, passed by. Many cried, others became hysterical.

Dozens of wreaths sent by local government officials and businessmen added color to an otherwise melancholy scene. The largest was sent by former president Abdurrahman Wahid.

Theys' widow, Yaneke Ohee Eluay, his seven sons and other close relatives circled the coffin seven times before the burial.

Mourners arrived from all over Irian Jaya including Jayapura, Abepura and Waena, as well as from far-flung villages such as Demta and Defabri. Some wore traditional dress.

Among the mourners were Irian Jaya Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Rasiman Tarigan, Irian Jaya military territorial affairs assistant Lt. Col. Woru Obaja, Jayapura Regent Habel Suwae, Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico Barnabas Suebu and Indonesian Ambassador to Italy and the Vatican Freddy Numberi. Both ambassadors are native Papuans.