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.