Riots Follow Slaying of Separatist Leader
Riots erupted after an independence movement leader was kidnapped and killed in Irian Jaya.
Villagers found the body of Theys Eluay, 64, in his wrecked car in a ravine 18 miles east of the provincial capital, Jayapura.
Police said he appeared to have been strangled. There were no clear suspects, they said.
Eluay’s widow, Yaneke, blamed the Indonesian military. Police said Eluay was killed after dining with local army commanders Saturday night.
Hundreds of independence supporters set fires and threw rocks at police. No injuries were reported.
Irian Jaya, a former Dutch colony, was annexed by Indonesia in 1969.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
