Papuan separatist gets 10 years<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba and M. Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post\/Jayapura\/Ambon<\/p>\n
The Jayapura District Court in Papua province sentenced
\nseparatist leader Yance Hembring, 50, to 10 years in prison for
\ntreason.<\/p>\n
The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, was heavier than the
\nfive years demanded by prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Yance said he would consider appealing against the ruling.<\/p>\n
Court president FX Soegiharto said on Wednesday that the panel
\nof judges gave Yance a stiff sentence because he had been proven
\nguilty of instigating a rebellion against the state.<\/p>\n
The defendant also voiced no remorse for his actions, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Soegiharto said he hoped the long sentence would deter others
\nfrom participating in separatist movements.<\/p>\n
Yance was arrested after taking part in several meetings in
\nNovember last year and in January 2004 in Nimbokrang, Jayapura
\nregency, to discuss Papua's independence.<\/p>\n
The meetings specifically discussed the method to be used to
\nsecede from the Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Yance and his colleagues demanded an international referendum
\nto determine the future of Papua.<\/p>\n
Yance also set up a secretariat for the Free Papua Movement
\n(OPM) in Nimbokrang to accommodate the aspirations of Papuans and
\nto facilitate secession from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Yance's trial began on March 25, with the court hearing
\ntestimonies from eight witnesses. Prosecutors presented material
\nevidence at the first hearing, such as the Morning Star
\nseparatist flag, a computer, the OPM office sign, a rubber stamp
\nand related documents.<\/p>\n
Yance was arrested by Jayapura Police last January in
\nNimbokrang while chairing a meeting of 50 people at the OPM
\nsecretariat.<\/p>\n
Yance claimed that he was elected an OPM leader in 1999 by
\nPapuans at a refugee camp in Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, the Ambon District Court tried 15 members
\nof the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) for participating in a
\nseparatist movement in Maluku province.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors laid charges against them after the defendants
\njoined in a flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate the 54th
\nanniversary of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) on April 25.<\/p>\n
The event triggered three days of renewed violence in the
\nprovincial capital of Ambon, killing at least 41 people. Some of
\nthe dead victims were shot by unidentified gunmen.<\/p>\n
The 15 defendants tried in the first trial were Michael
\nPattisinay, Jhon Markus, Reymond Tuapattinaya, Elisa Wattimena,
\nFrans Sinmiasa, Elisa Saiya, Matheos Sinay, Fredy Van Herlin,
\nDominggus Patiiha, Donny Irapanussa, Nicson Tobias, Samuel Frans
\nUr, Fredy Akihary, Markus Tuasela and Johan B Kailuhu.<\/p>\n
They also have been charged with treason.<\/p>\n
Wednesday's hearing, which drew many visitors, proceeded
\npeacefully amid tight security.<\/p>",
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