Theys murder trial may be delayed

Theys murder trial may be delayed

JAKARTA: The trial of nine members of the Army's Special Force
(Kopassus) charged with killing Papuan leader Theys Hiyo Eluay
may be delayed.

National military police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B. said on
Wednesday that his team had yet to complete the investigation.

Earlier, Sulaiman said that his team would hand over the
dossiers to the military tribunal this month.

"We have to conduct a thorough investigation of the case. We
will probably have to delay the handover of dossiers to the
military prosecutors," Sulaiman said after attending a ceremony
marking a transfer of the command baton from Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu to his successor Lt. Gen. Bibit Waluyo.

Sulaiman refused to reply when asked whether the military team
had encountered difficulties in collecting evidence, as well as
summoning witnesses.

Theys was found dead on Nov. 11, 2001, a few hours after he
had attended the National Heroes' Day commemoration at the
Jayapura headquarters of Kopassus.

Currently, nine Kopassus members, including Lt. Col. Hartomo,
Maj. Doni Hutabarat and Capt. Rianaldo, are in military police
detention. --JP