ee also:
SBY
Implicated in Cover Up of Ambush Murder of U.S. Citizens
(July 1, 2009)
New Study Links Indonesian Politician to
2002 Murder of U.S. Schoolteachers
Contact:
S. Eben Kirksey, Ph.D., University of California,
skirksey@ucsc.edu,
+1.831.600.5937
Andreas Harsono, Pantau Foundation,
aharsono@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
officials -- including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
former Attorney General John Ashcroft, and FBI Director
Robert Mueller -- have 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."
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| Antonius Wamang. |
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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 here:
PDF
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The Age (Melbourne)
Indonesia linked to teacher deaths
Tom Hyland
August 17, 2008
NEW evidence has emerged linking the Indonesian military to
the 2002 murder of two American teachers and an Indonesian
colleague in a remote region of Papua, according to research
by a US academic and an Indonesian investigative journalist.
"Credible sources link Indonesian intelligence agents to the
planning of this attack," said Eben Kirksey, an
anthropologist at the University of California, who co-wrote
a new report on the killing with journalist Andreas Harsono.
Teachers Ricky Spier, Ted Burgon and Bambang Riwanto were
shot dead and five others wounded in an ambush near the
giant Freeport gold and copper mine on August 31, 2002.
Pro-independence guerillas were blamed, but human rights
groups have long accused the Indonesian military of
involvement in the attack.
The new allegations will be published in a report in a
British academic journal tomorrow, drawing on what the
authors say are more than 2000 pages of Indonesian court
documents, recently declassified US State Department cables,
and more than 50 interviews.
Dr Kirksey said senior US officials, including Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice, had helped cover up evidence of
military involvement, while the FBI had failed to bring the
case to a definitive resolution.
The US was keen to have the case resolved so it could resume
defence co-operation with the Indonesian armed forces as
part of the war on terrorism.
A possible motive for military involvement
in the attack was to convince the Freeport mine's owners of
the need to continue to pay for security. Seven men were
sentenced over the killings, including alleged ringleader
Antonius Wamang, a guerilla fighter in Papua's independence
movement, who received a life term.
Military involvement was not seriously considered at the
trial, which was a sham, said Mr Harsono, the journalist.
The researchers quote "reliable sources" saying Agus
Anggaibak, a 27-year old member of the regional parliament,
helped plan the ambush and facilitated contacts between the
shooters and military agents.
In an interview with the authors, Mr Anggaibak admitted to
links with Indonesia's intelligence agency, BIN, but denied
any involvement in the attack. He also admitted to meeting
Mr Wamang.
The report will appear in the journal South East Asia
Research.
