Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The 2002 killings of an Indonesian and two American teachers in Papua province was caused by local separatist soldiers firing on civilians by mistake, National Police chief Gen. Sutanto said here Monday.
He made the statement after accompanying American Patsy Spier, the widow of victim Rickey Lynn Spier, in a Monday meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace.
After questioning 12 suspects arrested last week in connection with the attack, Sutanto said there was no evidence the Indonesian Military (TNI) had been involved, despite the claims of activists here and abroad.
That speculation focused on an earlier claim by a key suspect that a group of men wearing military uniforms was seen at the scene. Human rights groups have blamed security forces for the killings, saying a dispute between Timika-based US mining company PT Freeport Indonesia and the military led to the shooting.
With the release of four of the 12 Papuans, Sutanto said the police were now looking for another four men and their leader, Free Papua Movement (OPM) fugitive Kelly Kwalik. Sutanto said the group was believed to be still in the remote Timika area where the attack took place, in the vicinity of PT Freeport's gold mine.
"They were ordered by OPM rebels to cause disruptions to military personnel, police and state infrastructure there," Sutanto said.
Sutanto said at the time of the attack, the suspects planned to open fire on a convoy of vehicles transporting TNI soldiers. "(But) they weren't ready to fire when the vehicle that carried the soldiers passed by. They then attacked the following vehicle, which turned out to be carrying the teachers, after they mistook them for soldiers," Sutanto said.
Albert Rumbekwan, a lawyer for the suspects, said the eight men were definitely OPM members. "They had been ordered by OPM leader Kelly Kwalik to attack TNI members near the location," he said.
"They were not prepared to shoot when the first car passed by, so they shot at the following vehicle." Albert said he believed the shootings were meant to frighten the TNI. In cooperation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the police arrested 12 Papuans last week, including Anthonius Wamang, who was indicted by a US grand jury in 2004 for the murder. Four were later released.
Sutanto said the other evidence the police had included OPM documents ordering the attack, testimonies from Indonesian and American witnesses, the statements of suspects, and laboratory tests on bullets.
The suspects will be tried at the Central Jakarta District Court for ownership of illegal arms and actions resulting in death.
Sutanto said police would now prosecute the high-profile case without the involvement of external parties, including the FBI. "That's how the Indonesian legal system works," he said.
A survivor of the attack, Patsy Spier, who has returned to Indonesia at the request of the police, said she wanted the FBI to be included in further interviews.
"Such a process should include our FBI investigators... as the international community would be assured that a transparent and credible trial will bring those responsible to justice in a manner consistent with international standards," she said.
In the 2002 Bali bombings, Indonesian and Australian police cooperated all the way to the trial of the bombers.
Presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said President Susilo, who first met Spier in Washington last May, expected to see a speedy and transparent legal process.