TNI rebuffs intervention in Theys murder probe

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has objected to the government's intervention in its investigation into the murder of Papuan leader Dortheys Hiyo Eluay.

National Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B. said on Thursday the inquiry carried out in connection with the crime had identified three officers as suspects.

Unlike the TNI's internal investigation, the government- sanctioned National Inquiry Commission (KPN) has named six suspects, including the three middle-ranking officers.

Sulaiman said it was not necessary for the military police to use the KPN reports as a reference.

"The KPN and the TNI investigation team have different jobs. We (the TNI) held an investigation for the sake of the legal process, while the KPN was only assigned to examine the case. There's no regulation saying that we have to refer to the outcome of KPN's investigation," Sulaiman said.

He was speaking to reporters after a one-hour meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the latter's office.

KPN announced on Monday that six military officers from the Tribuana XI Army's Special Force (Kopassus) Task Force, on loan to the Trikora Military Command in Papua, had allegedly been involved in the murder of Theys on Nov. 11 last year.

The announcement came after the KPN reported to President Megawati Soekarnoputri the results of its investigation.

Theys, chairman of the Papua Presidium Council, was found dead after attending the National Heroes' commemoration day at the Kopassus compound in the Papua capital, Jayapura.

Three Kopassus officers, identified only as Lt. Col. HM, Maj. DH, and Capt. R are being held by the Military Police. They will be charged with the killing under Article 338 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment.

Kopassus chief Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaini has dismissed demands from the lawyers of the suspects for their clients' suspension of detention. Amirul, instead, supported a 30-day extension of it.

Asked why the investigation had taken so long, Sulaiman said the military investigators had faced a problem regarding the protection of witnesses.

"Two key military witnesses of the Trikora Military Command have refused to fulfill our summons, out of fear for their own safety." he said.

Sulaiman, however, was quick to add that he had not received any indication as to whether the superiors of the two witnesses had prevented them from giving their testimony.