Tribal leaders demand UN probe into Theys' murder

Tribal leaders demand UN probe into Theys' murder

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Papuan tribal leaders rejected what they called an unsatisfactory
investigation into the murder of proindependence Papuan leader
Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluway, and called for the United Nations
to set up an independent team to conduct an objective and
thorough inquiry into the case.

Secretary-general of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) Tom
Beanal told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that more than 1,000
tribal leaders who attended the four-day PDP meeting in Biak
agreed to reject the military's investigation into the case due
to its disappointing results.

"The trial of the elite personnel who killed Theys was not
fair because it was conducted by the military itself and,
therefore, the defendants were given light sentences," he said.

Beanal also said that the investigation into the murder was
not carried out thoroughly because Aristoteles Masoka who drove
for Theys when they were abducted was still missing.

"The military should bring back Masoka to his home or let us
know his whereabouts if he is still alive, or let us know the
place where his remains are buried if he has been killed," he
said.

Seven personnel of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) who
were found guilty of murdering Theys were given light sentences
as no military officials were asked to take responsibility for
issuing an order for his assassination.

All the seven Kopassus soldiers were convicted and sent to
prison but received extremely light sentences, however, of
between 24 and 42 months in prison.

Theys, a Papuan tribal leader who spoke for the province's
independence during the 32-year New Order era, was murdered by a
number of soldiers from the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in
the Entrop area, after attending a Heroes' Day celebration at
Kopassus headquarters in the Hamadi area on Nov. 10, 2001. Theys'
body was found a day later in Entrop near the border of Papua New
Guinea, but Aristoteles, his driver, is still missing and
believed dead.

Beanal underlined that according to participants of the
meeting that ended early on Friday, Theys' case was still not
over and, therefore, PDP would send a letter to UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan to reopen the case.

He regretted that Jakarta and the Indonesian Military (TNI)
had shown no commitment to try human rights abuse cases, saying
this had sown hatred among the Papuan people and had obstructed
the region's integration into Indonesia.

Beanal said further that the meeting also recommended the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights send a special rapporteur to
inquire into the arbitrary arrest last month of Rev. Obed Komba,
a Protestant minister in Lembah Baliem, Wamena, and 13 other
civilians.

"They have been arrested in Abepura after the police failed to
bring them to Jakarta. The confusing thing is that the police
could not explain the reason for their arrest and we have
received reports from the field that the arrests had been
conducted systematically," he said, adding that the Indonesian
government should release the detainees, pending a thorough and
independent investigation into the case.

Beanal also said that the tribal leaders also expressed their
great concern over the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in the province,
saying it was a serious threat to Papuan tribes' existence.

He called on all components in society, including the
government, NGOs and churches, to show their commitment to
fighting the disease, or at least slowing its spread.