On Sunday morning, November 11, 2001, a body was found slumped in the back seat of a Kijang van somewhere in Koya Tengah, Jayapura regency, Papua. Moments later, the nation was stunned. The heavily wounded and blackened body was that of Theys Hiyo Eluay, Chairman of the Papuan Council Presidium.

Only a day earlier, Eluay attended the commemoration of Heroes Day at the Tribuana (now Cenderawasih) Army Special Forces (Kopassus) task force st