I haven't lost hope that the independent investigation team can come up with the truth

Commission Secretary-General Asmara Nababan

Family and supporters of Mr Eluay have accused the military of carrying out the killing, but senior officers have denied the allegations.

The commission's secretary-general, Asmara Nababan, said the decision followed a five-day fact-finding mission to the restive province earlier this month.

The 64-year-old pro-independence leader was found dead in his car on 11 November, the day after dining with the head of the army's special forces.

Although Mr Nababan expressed the hope that the probe would be impartial, Indonesian law stipulates that military police have to be involved in any investigation of the military.

Military involvement

"There is an indication of involvement of military personnel [in Mr Eluay's death]," Mr Nababan told the BBC.

Theys Eluay was on trial for treason

He said the commission would suggest that the investigation be carried out by non-governmental organisations, the police, the military, the military police, as well as local leaders.

Asked if military involvement in the probe would make it impossible for justice to be done, he replied it was "hard to say".

"But I haven't lost hope that the independent investigation team can come up with the truth," he said.

Mr Eluay's death caused an outpouring of grief in the province and thousands of mourners attended his funeral last month.

Mr Eluay's driver, Aristoteles Masoka, who is still missing, told Mr Eluay's family in a brief mobile telephone call that they had been abducted by a group of non-Irianese.

Autonomy rejected

Mr Eluay had previously rejected moves by President Megawati Sukarnoputri to grant the province a degree of autonomy.

The government has ruled out full independence for the province, which lies on the western half of New Guinea island, but it hopes more autonomy will end nearly 40 years of separatist fighting there.

Mr Eluay and four members of the Papua Presidium, the pro-independence umbrella group which he headed, had been on trial, charged with treason for trying to set up an independent state of West Papua.