Three soldiers named suspects in Theys' murder 

JAKARTA (JP): Three soldiers from the Indonesian Military (TNI) had been detained as suspects in the alleged murder of Papuan rebel leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, Indonesian Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B. said on Monday.

Sulaiman said that the three soldiers from an Indonesian army task force serving under the Trikora Military Command, responsible for Irian Jaya, had been detained since April 10, Antara reported.

Another five civilian witnesses had been brought to Jakarta from Irian Jaya for questioning in relation to the case.

Sulaiman, however, declined to further identify the three military members, saying that "in time, it will all be revealed."

Sulaiman told media on the sidelines of Army Special Forces' 50th anniversary, that the investigation was still ongoing and that all reports of the case had been forwarded to the TNI chiefand Army chief of staff.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S., after officiating over the ceremony, said that the TNI had conducted a series of investigations to uncover some of its members' involvement in the case.

"There is also a possibility that those who are witnesses in the case could become the suspects after a thorough investigation," Widodo said.

Papuan rebel leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, who was once a member of Golkar Party and a provincial legislator, was the chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP).

He was found dead on the outskirts of the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura, hours after he attended a military celebration in commemoration of the National Hero's Day on Nov. 10 last year.

The PDP was supposed to be a council which bridged the aspirations on Papuans and the government on special autonomy, but Theys instead turned it into a pro-independence body and became part of separatist movements in Irian Jaya.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri, a strong nationalist, has flatly rejected demands for independence and is working on a special autonomy package for Irian Jaya, which includes thepeople receiving a larger share of the province's natural resources.

The TNI have also vowed to maintain the country's unity by giving full support to Megawati administration in dealing with separatism issues.

Resource-rich Irian Jaya is home to giant industrial and mining operations such as those run by U.S.-based mining company Freeport McMoran, which have been conducting its activities inthe province for at least 30 years.

United States ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce, in his visit to Irian Jaya on Monday, again highlighted its commitment not to support any separatism activities in Indonesia.

"The U.S. government will not support any separatist activities or movements in Indonesia," Boyce said on Monday.

U.S.-based Exxon Mobil Oil is also operating in the restive Aceh province, which has been torn apart by conflicts between separatist rebels and security authorities. (edt)