The Indonesian military has indicated for the first time that it was involved in the murder of Papuan pro-independence leader, Theys Eluay 14 months ago. Lieutenant Colonel Hartomo of Indonesia's notorious Kopassus special force has told a court martial hearing in Surabaya that one of his soldiers was involved in assaulting the chief prior to his death after he refused to drop plans to seek Papuan independence from Indonesia. The military originally denied involvement in his death but following a police investigation seven officers and soldiers have been charged over the killing.

Presenter/Interviewer: Linda Lopresti

Speakers: Aristides Katoppo, Indonesian journalist and commentator

Katoppo: This is something new but I think they have been arrested for quite some while now. So I think the policy was to really find out who was responsible.

Lopresti: The seven military officials and soldiers accused of the crime are now facing a court martial with very long jail terms attached if they're found guilty. Do you think the punishment will stop there or do you think there'll be a broader reaction from the Indonesian government?

Katoppo: At the moment the new policy is indeed that if they're trespassing or breach of law or extra-judicial killings by even military personnel, it should be prosecuted. And in fact one of the first times when so many officers in the one unit have all been prosecuted, although it seems now of course the lowest-ranking private is going to take the rap.

Lopresti: That is the one that was named by Lieutenant Colonel Hartomo?

Katoppo: Yes.

Lopresti: But what about the mastermind of this crime?

Katoppo: Well that is of course there is a lot of speculation, one aspect of is in fact that this was done by members of a Kopassus unit in the special forces and I think in the past there have been questions of exactly what line of command brought, whether it goes through the regional command. But you know in fact the one thing being sorted out is you know the practices of the past in which there was also a line of command through the intelligence connection.

Lopresti: Do you think the Indonesian public will be surprised to hear that their Kopassus special forces were involved in assassinating Theys Eluay, a moderate Papuan leader?

Katoppo: I don't think they will be surprised. I think some tongues will be wagging about the real officer who gave the order will be punished. In this case of course formerly all those who have been prosecuted are in fact pointing to the unit and considering the command structure they are indeed the ones who are responsible. But there's a lot of speculation based on past experiences that well you know what I mean, the order was certainly not given through army headquarters, nor by the Kopassus headquarters, nor by the armed forces chain of command. So that is why these are you know mistakes from the past, which have to be straightened out.