Wainggai's relatives insist on autopsy

Wainggai's relatives insist on autopsy

JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of Thomas Wapay Wainggai, an Irian Jayan separatist leader who died in Cipinang penitentiary on Tuesday, insisted yesterday on an autopsy witnessed by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC).

Yusal Samuel Wonatorey said the ICRC office in Jakarta has agreed to the request and the autopsy would be performed today at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

The body of 59-year-old Wainggai, who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for proclaiming a West Papuan State in 1988, was still at the hospital's morgue yesterday.

Wainggai's son, Salomon, said on Wednesday an autopsy was vital to establish the cause of his father's death.

The authorities have not yet pronounced the cause of his death because of delays in the autopsy.

Head of the Cipinang penitentiary, Mintardjo, said Wainggai died as he was being taken to the Police Hospital in Kramat Jati on Tuesday night after he fell unconscious.

He had been vomiting and complaining all night but refused to be taken to the hospital, insisting on seeing only an ICRC doctor, Mintardjo said.

Wainggai was arrested when he led about 60 Irianese to proclaim the establishment of the West Papua state at Mandala football stadium in Jayapura in December 1988. He was convicted the following year and later transferred to Cipinang prison.

He had impressive academic credentials, obtaining a master degree in law from Okayama University, Japan, in 1969 and a doctoral degree on public administration from Florida State University in 1985.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna questioned the relatives' insistence on ICRC doctors witnessing the autopsy. "I wonder why they don't trust our doctors," he asked. (imn/bsr/04)