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West Papua-Theys Eulay kidnapped and murdered

@lex | 11.11.2001 21:26

Earlier this morning, West Papuan independence leader Theys Eulay was reported to have been abducted. He has now been found dead. Indonesia appears to be using the cover of a "war against terror" to do what it has always wanted: crush the 40 year old West Papuan independence movement.

Earlier this morning, West Papuan independence leader Theys Eulay was reported to have been abducted. He has now been found dead. Indonesia appears to be using the cover of a "war against terror" to do what it has always wanted: crush the 40 year old West Papuan independence movement.

[this story updates  http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=87055]

JAKARTA (JP): Papuan separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eulay was found dead in his
abandoned car near the Papua New Guinea border on Sunday, less than 24 hours
after his reported abduction, Antara reported.

Theys, who was undergoing a trial for his separatist campaign in a court in
Jayapura, was found inside his Kijang car on the road near the border town
of Skouw, an Antara reporter said.

Marks of wounds were found around his wrists and there was dry blood on his
body, the reporter said, adding that police and investigators were already
on the
scene.

Some of the car windows were shattered and the car appeared to have hit a
tree and stopped 50 meter short of a ravine.

Theys, the chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council, had been on trial along
with three other presidium members, on charges of subversion.

They were accused of fanning separatist sentiments when they organized a
massive congress in April last year (sic, May-June) in which they demanded
a referendum for self determination for the people in Irian Jaya, or Papua
as the territory is now unofficially called.

Although on trial, the four were not under police arrest. The court trial
had been scheduled to resume on Monday.

The House of Representatives in Jakarta last month passed a new law granting
sweeping autonomy for Papua. But many separatist leaders said the law was
not enough and they insisted on independence from Jakarta.

Theys was traveling from Jayapura, capital of the province, to Sentani some
45 km when he was abducted by a group of unidentified men on Saturday night.
His driver, who was dumped by the kidnapers, reported the abduction to his
wife, who in turn notified the police.

According to TAPOL [ http://www.gn.apc.org/tapol/] "This criminal act,
which is likely to have profound political repercussions in Papua,
appears to have been deliberately perpetrated in order to plunge Papua
into a state of confusion and unrest. The international community should
take action to impress upon the Indonesian government to need for an
immediate investigation into the premeditated kidnap and murder of Papua's
foremost pro-independent figure".

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1649000/1649927.stm

 http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=87269&group=webcast

www.topica.com/lists/westpapua/

@lex
- Homepage: www.eco-action.org/opm