Troops implicated in Papua arms theft
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has found strong indications of the involvement of its own members in a recent burglary at the Wamena military district's arsenal that left three dead, including two Army soldiers.
"Based on preliminary investigations, there are strong indications that certain "insiders" were involved in the raid. They are assigned to the district command but we still have to question them further to determine and identify all those involved," TNI chief for general affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago said after attending the 57th anniversary celebration of the Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma airbase on Wednesday.
Djamari said the TNI headquarters had sent two companies of soldiers to Papua to join the manhunt and to assist in the investigation process conducted by the Trikora Military Command, which oversees Papua.
At least 13 M-16 rifles, 13 SP-1 rifles, and three PM rifles, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition were stolen after a group of people initially believed to be members of Free Papua Movement (OPM) broke into the Army arsenal in Wamena, Papua last Friday.
Two Army soldiers -- First Lt. A. Napitupulu and First Sgt. Ruben Lena and one civilian, suspected to be a rebel, identified as Islae Murib, were killed in the ensuing shootout.
TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said earlier that the electricity was cut during the burglary, while the soldiers assigned to guard the arsenal were not around when the incident took place. Sjafrie said the burglary was spotted by patrol soldiers who accidentally were passing the location.
Following the incident, the TNI headquarters sent 144 combat soldiers from the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) to the province to hunt for those responsible.
A month earlier, the elite force's task force in provincial capital Jayapura was dissolved following mounting criticism over its involvement in the killing of former Papua independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay in 2001. Six Kopassus members are now being court-martialled in Surabaya, East Java for their role in the killing.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu had instructed a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of the military district's personnel in the arms theft. He also ordered the military in Papua to quell the secessionist movement.
Separately, Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal said on Wednesday that the joint military team had apprehended one suspected OPM member named Carius Murib in Napua village, Jayawijaya regency.
"We actually arrested Carius, a civilian who joined the OPM group under the leadership of Yustinus Tabuni on Sunday. This group raided the district's arsenal. He (Carius) confessed that during the raid, they stole seven rifles, three of which were out of order," Nurdin was quoted by Antara as saying on Wednesday.
The joint military team had also seized rifles from Carius, Nurdin added.
"The investigation is underway. Currently, the joint team is questioning several witnesses who are suspected of involvement in the raid, but they've not yet reached a conclusion. But we are continuing to search for other OPM members in remote jungles," Nurdin said.