The attack in Timika in August 2002 not only wounded Patsy Spiers, it also killed Rick Spiers, her beloved husband of 20 years. But the former teacher who taught at the American school in Tembagapura, West Papua, does not want to dwell on tragedy. Instead, she is actively lobbying the US Senate and House of Representatives to pressure the Indonesian government to arrest her husband's killer.

Because Indonesia was seen to be insufficiently serious in solving the attack within the Freeport mining area, the US Department of Defense revoked the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program intended for the TNI (Indonesian Military). That ban has recently been lifted, although the investigation into the Timika case is not complete.

How does Patsy feel about the latest development? Tempo reporter Andari Karina Anom interviewed her last week. Excerpts:

What is your reaction to the resumption of the IMET program by the US government even though the Timika case has not been solved yet?

The Administration has always maintained they want normalized relations with the TNI. It's the US Congress that put restrictions on the full-funded IMET program for the TNI.

Has the US government tried to approach you on this?

I have always known that the Administration wanted the normalization of military ties, so they never had to approach me. I looked upon the IMET ban as an encouragement to the Indonesian authorities to cooperate with our US investigators on the terrorist attack that killed and wounded both Indonesians and Americans in West Papua.

Reportedly, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sent an envoy to meet you.

I have met personally with Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the new Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick, the former Attorney General Ashcroft, FBI Director Mueller, General Made Pastika, General Da'i Bachtiar and the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States. All of those officials have listened to what I had to say, and many asked a lot of questions about the ambush.

What was discussed at those meetings?

I wanted them to know what my agenda was: to have a thorough investigation to find out who ordered and who carried out the ambush. I believe that if the Indonesian authorities and our US authorities work together we will be able to find and bring to justice, in a manner consistent with international standards, those responsible.

Did they offer you compensation so that you would withdraw your demand for the TNI to conduct a proper investigation?

No, I have never been offered compensation or anything. No one has ever suggested that I withdraw.

Do you still regularly meet with the victims or their families?

Before the ambush I was friends with all the teachers. I am in regular contact with all the survivors, and I am in weekly e-mail contact with them. We correspond about our lives.

Do you still have contact with Indonesian NGOs in Papua?

I am in contact with NGOs in West Papua and all over the world. If we all work together by sharing information, I believe we will find those responsible and bring them to justice. I ask all the organization that I am in contact with to communicate any information they may have to the FBI.

What is the latest progress on the FBI's Timika investigation?

The Timika case is ongoing, there is one indictment, but it should not be forgotten that the FBI and the Indonesian Police are pursuing other participants who were involved in that ambush. We need to apprehend the one man indicted, Anthonius Wamang. He needs to be brought into safe custody so that we can begin to know why the ambush occurred and who ordered it.

Has the FBI told you the real result of its investigation?

The FBI has told me that the investigation is not finished. The FBI were able to gather enough evidence to issue one indictment, now I am hoping that the Indonesian authorities will issue an indictment for Wamang's arrest and apprehend him. Solving this case is in both Indonesia's and America's interest.