25 Sep 2002

Fresh call for independent probe into Papua killing

10:39 am on 25 September 2002

There has been a call for Indonesia's rights commission to set up a team to probe last year's murder of Papuan independence leader, Theys Eluay.

The head of Papua's provincial parliament, John Ibo, says if an independent team from the National Commission on Human Rights was set up it would demonstrate Jakarta's intention to uphold justice.

Instead of forming a team from the human rights commission, Jakarta established the National Investigation Commission of which Mr Ibo was a member.

In May, Mr Ibo said three members of the Kopassus special force were helped by soldiers paid by their superiors to execute Chief Eluay.

The national military police chief said last week that seven Kopassus soldiers would soon face a court martial for their alleged role.

Previously he had said nine soldiers would stand trial in July.