Troops implicated in Papua arms theft

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.