Megawati Govt. in the dock over rebel leader's killing

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, NOV. 12. The murder of Theys Eluay (64), top leader of the ``Free Papua'' movement on the week-end, has dealt a heavy blow to the Megawati Sukarnoputri Government in Indonesia.

According to reports from Jayapura, provincial capital of Irian Jaya (also called West Papua), Eluay's body was found inside his car at Koya, 50 km from Jayapura.

Eluay, president of the Papuan Presidium Council, had dinner with a military commander from Kopassus, the Indonesian name for the military's special forces. He was on his way back home when he was kidnapped.

Eluay's wife received a telephone call from his driver who said that the separatist leader had been kidnapped. There is no information about the whereabouts of the driver.

In the meantime, the New York-based Human Rights Watch has termed Eluay's murder as a ``well-planned assassination''. The group said in a statement, ``We are calling on President Megawati to immediately establish a competent and impartial commission of inquiry into Eluay's murder, preferably with international participation.''

For his part, the Speaker of Indonesia's lower House of Parliament, Mr. Akbar Tandjung, has said that the murder of Eluay was ``political''. (Mr. Akbar is currently under investigation in a corruption case by the Megawati Government).

On Sunday, there was some scattered violence on the outskirts of Jayapura, but the situation is believed to be quiet today. Reports said Eluay's funeral in his home town of Sentani is being planned for Dec. 1.

Eluay was facing charges of treason and had been jail for a considerable length of time.

Irian Jaya, incorporated into Indonesia in 1963, is the country's richest province in terms of mineral resources but the income levels of the Papuan people are the lowest. West Papua, as it is called by the locals, has the world's largest gold and copper mine - Freeport Indonesia.

Eluay, who had opponents within his own movement, rejected a special autonomy legislation enacted by the Indonesian Parliament last month. The law proposes to re-name Irian Jaya as ``West Papua'' and will allow the province to retain 70 to 80 per cent of taxes generated from the region - up from the present 10 per cent.

The slain leader, however, had rejected the special autonomy law. He had argued that only full independence would satisfy the people of West Papua.

``One thing is sure: we will fight to our death for independence,'' he was quoted as saying earlier. ``Our hair is different, our skin is different, we are not Indonesian people.''

While the world is busy with ``bigger things'' like the American war against terrorism in Afghanistan, the murder of Eluay may not get as much international attention as it deserves.

However, the action is bound to put pressure on the Megawati Government for a proper inquiry into the murder and the speedy arrest of those responsible for the killing.

A lot will depend on the response of the Indonesian Government. If the President acts quickly, then she may still retain her credibility. Otherwise, matters in West Papua can only get worse.

Any inquiry must necessarily probe whether any military or security personnel had a hand in the killing of Eluay.

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Section  : International
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