New Study Links Indonesian Politician to 2002 Murder of U.S.
Schoolteachers
|
John M Miller
|
Aug 17, 2008 05:28 PDT
|
New Study Links Indonesian Politician to 2002 Murder of U.S.
Schoolteachers
S. Eben Kirksey, Ph.D., University of California
skir-@ucsc.edu
+1.831.600.5937
Andreas Harsono, Pantau Foundation
ahar-@cbn.net.id
+62.815.950.9000
August 17, 2008 - Fresh evidence links Indonesia’s military to the
2002 murder of two American school teachers in the remote Papua
province. An article in the latest issue of South East Asia
Research, a peer-reviewed journal published by SOAS in London, is an
account of this murder mystery that is still the subject of an open FBI
investigation.
“Credible sources link Indonesian intelligence agents to the planning of
this attack,” said co-author Eben Kirksey, an American
anthropologist. “But, Senior Bush Administration
officialsincluding Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Attorney
General John Ashcroft, and FBI Director Robert Muellerhave covered up
evidence of Indonesian military involvement in the murder of U.S.
civilians,” continued Dr. Kirksey. “The FBI has failed to bring
this case to a definitive resolution.”
FBI agents apprehended a group of Papuan villagers in 2006 and delivered
them to Indonesian authorities. Indonesian courts sentenced seven
of these men, including alleged ringleader Antonius Wamang, a guerilla
fighter in Papua’s independence movement, to jail time for participating
in the attack. But, Indonesian military involvement was not
seriously considered at the trial. “The Indonesian trial was a
sham,” says co-author Andreas Harsono, an Indonesian investigative
journalist. “Why did America trust this important case to a court
system known for widespread corruption?”
Who Set Up the Murder?
Agus Anggaibak, a 27-year old member of the regional parliament,
helped plan the ambush, according to reliable sources. He also
reportedly facilitated contacts between the shooters and active duty
military agents. In an interview with report authors, Anggaibak
admitted to having ties with Indonesia’s intelligence agency, BIN, but
denied any involvement in the attack. But, he also admitted to
meeting with Antonius Wamang, the convicted ringleader. “Credible
journalists have long reported that the highest levels of the Indonesian
military had foreknowledge of this murder,” said Dr. Kirksey. “We
have identified the probable field agent who carried out the plan.”
Evidence of Indonesian Military Shooters
Indonesian soldiers fired their weapons at the scene of the ambush,
according to ballistics reports. School teachers who survived the
ambush saw uniformed men speed away from the crime scene in the moments
after their colleagues were murdered.
The article, titled “Criminal Collaborations: Antonius Wamang and the
Indonesian Military in Timika”, draws on over 2,000 pages of
Indonesian-language courtroom documents, recently declassified U.S. State
Department cables, and over 50 interviews. The full article is
available through university libraries and can be purchased on-line:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ip/sear
-30-
|
|
 |
|
