Papuan separatists on trial for treason<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
Two Papua opposition leaders went on trial separately on
\nWednesday at the Jayapura District Court for treason.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Maskel Rambolangi said defendant Yusak Pakage, 26,
\nled a ceremony to commemorate the self-declared Papua
\nindependence day on Dec. 1 last year.<\/p>\n
The defendant has been charged with treason, which carries a
\nmaximum sentence of death.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said Yusak also led a meeting on Nov. 28 that
\ndiscussed preparations for the flag-raising ceremony.<\/p>\n
He said the meeting at the Cenderawasih University Museum was
\nattended by some 20 people.<\/p>\n
The flag-raising ceremony was illegal because it supported the
\nestablishment of an independent Papua state, separate from
\nIndonesia, said the prosecutor.<\/p>\n
In leading the ceremony, Yusak damaged the sovereignty of
\nIndonesia, according to the prosecutor.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, which was held at the Trikora field in Jayapura,
\nwas attended by hundreds of people, who scuffled with police
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
Yusak was not represented by lawyers at the hearing. However,
\nthe judges allowed the trial to proceed after the defendant
\nagreed to hear the charges against him.<\/p>\n
The trial of Filep Karma, 45, who was also arrested following
\nthe flag-raising ceremony, was adjourned until next week after
\nFilep refused to attend the hearing without legal representation.<\/p>\n
Yusak and Filep were the only suspects arrested following the
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
Separatists have regularly commemorated Papua independence day
\nsince president Soeharto stepped down from office in 1998.
\nHowever, since 2001 the government has been cracking down on
\nexpressions of independence in Papua.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuan-separatists-on-trial-for-treason-1447893297",
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