TNI team in Papua to probe shooting

TNI team in Papua to probe shooting

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

An Indonesian Military (TNI) investigative team has arrived in
Papua to probe the shooting deaths of two Americans and an
Indonesian near the giant Freeport mine last August.

The six-member team, led by Col. Bambang Suyono, includes Col.
Bambang Suyono, Col. Sularso, Col. Edy Muryanto, Lt. Col. E.P.
Situmorang and Maj. Kukuh.

Bambang refused to explain the purpose of the team's mission
in Timika but Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Raziman
Tarigan confirmed it would investigate allegations of TNI
involvement in the killings.

Raziman, who led the police investigation, said it was better
for the military to investigate the case as police did not have
the authority to interrogate army personnel who admitted to
killing a Papuan shortly after the murders.

Forensic examinations have shown that the Papuan, said by the
TNI to be a separatist rebel, had been killed at least six hours
before the shootings.

The man's identity is still officially unknown. The military
have speculated he was Eli Murib or Eliken Kwalik, both members
of the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

A group of unidentified gunmen ambushed a convoy of Freeport
Indonesia employees on their way to Tembagapura on August 31.

The dead were identified as U.S. nationals Ted Burcon and
Rickey Spear, and Indonesian Bambang Riwanto. Nine of a further
12 people injured were foreigners, seven of them Americans.

The army claimed OPM gunmen ambushed the convoy of cars
halfway between Timika and the U.S.-operated Freeport copper and
gold mine in Tembagapura. The mine is one of the largest in the
world.

Police investigators have concluded the Papuan was not
involved in the killing because of the autopsy results, which
also revealed the man had a serious medical condition affecting
his ability to walk long distances, such as to the ambush site.

Ten members of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad)
have been questioned in relation to the murders.

"The TNI inquiry team should crosscheck the police results
with the ten witnesses' explanations to prove that the Papuan
suspect was not behind the attack," Raziman said.

Local non-governmental organizations have accused the
servicemen of being behind the attack as it was unlikely rebels
would enter the area as it was tightly guarded by Kostrad.

Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon, chief of the Trikora Military
Command overseeing security in the province, has denied the
accusations, saying it would sue the Papuan branch of the
Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM Papua).

"The accusation is groundless and we are preparing a lawsuit
against ELSAM," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Mahidin also made a similar statement when proindependence
Papuan Presidium Chairman Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluay was found
dead in Koya Tengah outside the city on Nov. 11, 2001.

However, nine members of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus)
are to be tried at the military tribunal over their alleged
involvement in the murder.