The Jakarta Post, December 12, 2003
FBI questions witnesses in Timika slayings
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A team of United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have arrived in
the Papuan town of Timika and questioned a number of witnesses in connection with
an ambush in which three employees of an American company were killed in August
2001.
National Police detective chief Com. Gen. Erwin Mappaseng said on Thursday the FBI
team had also examined the bullets used to shoot the victims.
"A four-strong FBI team arrived in Indonesia on Sunday and left for Papua on Monday,
accompanied by the National Police team led by Brig. Gen. Indarto. In their latest
report police said the American investigators had questioned several witnesses
related to the case," said Erwin.
He said that a team in Papua led by Papua Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Tommy
Yacobus would assist the FBI team in providing access to question the witnesses.
"The FBI team has to ask permission and assistance from the Indonesian Police to
question witnesses. It is officer Tommy's team who knows the witnesses and the
situation there better," said Erwin.
Unidentified gunmen fired at two buses carrying Freeport employees from the
Tembagapura International School on Aug. 31 last year. Two American school
teachers and one Indonesian were killed and 12 others were wounded.
Human rights groups, including the Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy for
West Papua (Els-Ham), have demanded that an independent team be established to
investigate the attack as speculations surfaced that military personnel might have
been involved in the incident.
The alleged involvement of military soldiers emerged after Papuan Police and Els-Ham
listened to the testimony of Decky Murif, who is believed to be a separatist member.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has denied the allegation several times, saying that it
doesn't fit the facts found by the TNI investigating team.
Erwin said he would be open to the possibility of the FBI team questioning military
personnel if necessary.
"We will let them question every individual they wish to in order to solve the case as
quickly as possible," said Erwin.
The FBI sent special agents Edward Montoth and Robert Deardorss and an interpreter
earlier this year after the U.S. government expressed disappointment with the
conflicting conclusions of the police and military investigations in January.
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