Court asked to free 'Theys four' of charges<\/p>\n
R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
A legislator has called on Jayapura District Court to free the
\nPapua Presidium Council's functionaries from subversion charges,
\nas what they have fought for has been accommodated in the newly
\nendorsed law on special autonomy for Papua.<\/p>\n
\"I call on the panel of justices to drop the subversion
\ncharges and free the four suspects because they, along with the
\nPapuan people, have been accommodated by the special autonomy
\nlaw,\" John Ibo, chairman of the Irian Jaya provincial legislative
\ncouncil said in his testimony to the court here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Theys Hiu Eluay, PDP chairman, Thaha Al-Hamid, PDP secretary-
\ngeneral, Don A. Flassy, chairman of the Independent Youth
\nOrganization, and Rev. Hermon Awom were charged with subversion
\nfor organizing the 2000 proindependence congress of Papuan people
\nin Jayapura where they demanded a self-determination referendum,
\na change of the province's name and the right to display the
\nprovince's flag and symbol. They were also accused of inciting
\nlocal people to use violence in their struggle.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who contributed Rp 1
\nbillion to the congress failed to testify for the four suspects,
\nwhile Muridan S. Widjojo, a sociologist from the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences (LIPI), was barred from giving expert
\ntestimony to the court as he was not a law expert.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of Muridan as an expert witness in the court is
\nnot acceptable because he is not a law expert,\" Sigid, a
\nprosecutor, said in the court session.<\/p>\n
Ibo added that the real suspects were not the four but all the
\nPapuan people because what they had been fighting for was the
\npeople's political aspirations, which had been adopted by the
\ncentral government.<\/p>\n
\"To be consistent with the government's decision to endorse
\nthe bill on special autonomy, this case should be dropped and the
\nfour should be freed of charges,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges chaired by Sinaga declined to take Ibo's
\ntestimony into consideration and adjourned the court session to
\nNov. 11, 2001.<\/p>\n
Muridan expressed deep disappointment with the court's
\nrejection of him, saying he was an expert and familiar with the
\nPapuan people, as he had conducted much research in the province.<\/p>\n
\"I came here at the invitation of Theys' lawyers to testify
\nbefore the court,\" he said, adding he was confused by the court's
\nrejection because he had done the same thing at the South Jakarta
\ndistrict court in a similar case and there had been no problem.<\/p>\n
Muridan said the court's rejection actually reflected the
\ngovernment's unfair treatment of the Papuan people.<\/p>\n
\"The court's rejection will generate hatred among the Papuan
\npeople against the government,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/court-asked-to-free-theys-four-of-charges-1447893297",
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