30-month jail term sought for three Papuan rebels<\/p>\n
RK Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
Prosecutors demanded on Monday that three rebel leaders in the
\ntroubled province of Irian Jaya be sentenced to two years and six
\nmonths in prison respectively on subversion charges against the
\nstate over their campaigns for independence.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors at two separate trials argued that secretary-
\ngeneral of the separatist Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) Thaha Al
\nHamid and two other presidium members Rev. Herman Awom and Don Al
\nFlassy were guilty of betraying the country.<\/p>\n
"The defendants clearly have a similar intention to separate
\nIrian Jaya, currently named as Papua, from the unitary state of
\nthe Republic of Indonesia," chief prosecutor Syamsu Alam told the
\ntrial at the Jayapura District Court on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said the treason charges against them were proven when the
\nPresidium organized the first pro-independence congress of local
\npeople in February 2000 as part of the campaign for independence,
\nwhich was followed by a second congress on May 29, 2000.<\/p>\n
During the latest congress, for which the then president
\nAbdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid provided the organizers with Rp 1
\nbillion in an assistance fund, pro-independence supporters
\ndemanded that Indonesia recognize the sovereignty of West Papua
\nthat was declared in 1961.<\/p>\n
The natural resource-rich territory of Irian Jaya was formally
\nrecognized by the United Nations in 1969.<\/p>\n
Syamsu said there were no deeds of the three defendants that
\ncould mitigate the demand for their sentences. "The defendants'
\nactions have even instilled resentment among the local people,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Under the country's prevailing law, treason carries a maximum
\npenalty of 20 years in jail.<\/p>\n
Local legal experts have said the imprisonment demand for such
\nsubversion suspects was too lenient and was "extremely
\nirrational".<\/p>\n
"The prosecutors have made a decision that violates the
\nlogical consequences of Indonesia's existing laws," a local
\nsenior lawyer, who refused to be named, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The trials for the three rebels were opened in December 2000.
\nA similar case against PDP leader Theys Hiyo Eluay was dropped
\nafter he was found dead in Irian Jaya last year.<\/p>\n
The court has also suspended the trial of another presidium
\nmember Jhon Mambor because he is seriously ill.<\/p>\n
Monday's trial, presided over by judge Edward Sinaga, was
\nadjourned until Feb. 4 to hear defense pleas from the lawyers of
\nthe three defendants.<\/p>\n
Two activists from Amnesty International -- Lucia Wither and
\nSigne Poulsine, who arrived in Jayapura last week -- witnessed
\nMonday's trial.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/30-month-jail-term-sought-for-three-papuan-rebels-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}