TNI rebuffs intervention in Theys murder probe

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.