The Jakarta Post - June 8, 2002

Mega has no answer on Theys' murder 

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Papua

Representatives of the Papuan special committee tasked to investigate the death of independence leader Theys Hilo Eluay met with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday to inquire about the result of the national independent committee's investigation.

The group was, however, told that further investigation was still under way and no result could be disclosed. 

"The government would continue to investigate the matter and it would not conceal any facts behind Theys' murder," head of the committee Agustin Iwangin Tanamal quoted President Megawati as saying. 

Theys, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), was found dead on Nov. 10, 2001, hours after he was abducted on his way home from the Army's Special Force's compound in Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya province, where he attended a National Hero's Day celebration. 

Bowing to public pressure, the government established a national investigation commission in February to look into Theys' murder, but the team's investigation result has not been made public. 

On Friday morning, Theys' grave was mysteriously set ablaze, while police in Papua said they were still in the process of investigating the matter. 

"We are still investigating the incident," said Jayapura police spokesman Comr. Yosep Siswanto. 

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is considering establishing an inquiry team to probe Theys' death on suspicion that a state institution was involved in the murder and that political friction was revolving heavily around the case. 

The decision on the establishment of an inquiry team will be taken in a plenary meeting on June 13. 

The rights commission is also seeking the President's attention in the case and is studying the result of the military police's investigation to assess whether or not there was a crime against humanity committed in the case. 

Meanwhile, Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ratyono rejected on Friday any suggestion that non-Papuan troops be withdrawn from Papua, saying that there was no region in the country that was not being guarded by security personnel. 

"A separatist movement does exist in Papua. They are armed and fighting against our legitimate government," Ratyono said. 

"The province is also close to Australia and Papua New Guinea, which, it is believed, often infiltrate the province and conduct their intelligence activities there. So why would we withdraw our troops from that province?" Ratyono asked The Jakarta Post at his office on Friday. 

He further said that any intelligence operation launched by the military should not automatically be seen as a human rights violation, considering that, "it was done for the sake of our national interest." 

Asked if the murder of Theys had something to do with military operations, Ratyono said: "It's difficult to go into details over that issue, but he was a separatist leader, wasn't he?" 

Many believe that the military was behind the killing. 

The TNI and Army headquarters also formed investigation teams, and based on the result of their investigations, the National Military Police have detained three Kopassus officers as suspects --they are Lt. Col. Hartomo, Maj. Doni Hutabarat and Capt. Rianaldo, along with six low ranking 
military officers.