John Rumbiak is West Papua's most prominent human rights investigator. He led a 2-year investigation of the Freeport killings, in close cooperation with the FBI. Rumbiak now lives in exile after reports emerged of death threats being made against him by the Indonesian military. Yesterday, Rumbiak made contact with the accused man, Anthon Wamang, who is still in hiding in West Papua.
Mark Davis: John Rumbiak thanks for joining us. Anthon Wamang is now in hiding. Have you spoken with him?
John Rumbiak, human rights investigator: Yes, I just did. In fact, last night I talked to him and also the Amungme leaders in West Papua. And he was testifying, telling the truth, that he admitted that he himself and about 14 other members of his group involved in the ambush, taking place on 31 August 2002.
Mark Davis: Papuan members?
John Rumbiak: Papuan members. And he said that he did not follow the order of Kelly Kwalik, who was ordering a peaceful demonstration.
Mark Davis: Kwalik is the OPM commander?
John Rumbiak: The OPM commander, yes.
Mark Davis: Is Anthon Wamang a member of the OPM?
John Rumbiak: Yes, indeed, but he said that he has a very good relationship with the military, especially involving in the sandalwood business, as well as gold panning, and he travelled to Jakarta and also to Surabaya and that's how he got the ammunition.
Mark Davis: This is the key point at the moment. People have been accusing the Indonesian military of being involved in this incident. This is a fresh revelation. There were absolutely no Indonesian soldiers directly involved in the killing, but there is some suspicion about his connections with the military. Is that the position?
John Rumbiak: Well, the police preliminary investigation back in 2002 that basically concluded that there is a strong suspicion about the involvement of the Indonesian military. But also in our investigation for almost two years, Anthon himself never told us the truth. And he gave us two stories, the first one that he said that he and his people involved – that was in February 2003 – and then months later when we went back and talked to him again he changed his mind.
Mark Davis: So you've been aware of him and his involvement for some time. Did you pass that information to the FBI?
John Rumbiak: That's right. I met with the FBI in December 2003, in New York City, and I shared the information – basically the two reports that he told us, you know, two different versions. Based on that, then the FBI went to Timika and we organised the trip and meeting with Anthon and even meeting with Kelly Kwalik, the OPM leader.
Mark Davis: And they went to the forest?
John Rumbiak: They went to the forest, of course. So they confirmed and they talked to Kelly Kwalik and Kelly Kwalik said it was a mistake, he didn't order Anthon and his people to kill the Americans. Anthon, according to him that he was going after the Indonesian military. And I ask him why and he said, "Well, because there has been so much injustices" - to his people, you know, Freeport exploiting their sacred mountains and polluting the rivers and stuff, and he said, "Well, they have been marginalised in their own land." So he just got upset. He thought that it was the military on that day...
Mark Davis: Coming up the mountain?
John Rumbiak: ... coming up the mountain. So that's why he asked his people to begin to fire.
Mark Davis: Well, in your conversations directly with him and in the statement he's about to release, has he discussed any contacts with the Indonesian military in this attack – I mean, regarding weapons or money or ammunition that were provided to him?
John Rumbiak: He didn't specify it at all. All he said was that he got a good relationship with them and that he got the ammunition from them.
Mark Davis: He said he got the ammunition from the army?
John Rumbiak: Through the sandalwood and gold panning business.
Mark Davis: He's been in business with them?
John Rumbiak: Right.
Mark Davis: So he has a close relationship as far as you can tell?
John Rumbiak: Right.
Mark Davis: Well, you've called on him to surrender. We don't know if that's going to occur. But if he doesn't surrender, what are the consequences?
John Rumbiak: Well, the consequences for me reading the notion of the statement of the US Attorney-General, John Ashcroft, on 24 June, they are pretty much directed to the terrorist, terrorism, that's my great concern, because this statement of the US Government really level up the desire and intention of the Indonesian military to go after the innocent West Papuan people.
Mark Davis: The Indonesians have never shown any reluctance to kill people on that mountain before?
John Rumbiak: No, for 43 years – you know, 100,000 West Papuan people have been killed. And there is no intervention from the international community to stop this from continuing. And for me, if the international community and especially the US Government, the way they see this incident – not looking to the injustices and the ongoing human rights violations the West Papuan people have suffered so much for the last 43 years, then there's a great concern the Indonesian Government will go after these innocent people in West Papua.
Mark Davis: Is Anthon in a position to talk frankly about his relationship with the military? In your conversations with him, was there any sense that he was being intimidated or that he was in fear of his life or the life of his family?
John Rumbiak: I think right now, especially after he did this ambush, he's in a situation that he's really scared and there is no guarantee for his security and that's why when I talked to him last night, he said that "I will definitely surrender but I'm concerned about my safety, especially with the longstanding experience with the brutality of the Indonesian police and the military, so I want the international community, especially the Americans, to make sure that I'm safe." And I think, in my view, that when the trial is taking place that's the time for him to tell the truth, whether any people behind him conducting the ambush.
Mark Davis: John Rumbiak, thanks for your time.
John Rumbiak: Thank you.