Prosecutor wants one-year prison sentence for Eurico<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors asked the court on Thursday to
\nsentence East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres to one year
\nin prison for instigating violence.<\/p>\n
Chief prosecutor Hamka Minhadj told the North Jakarta District
\nCourt on Thursday that Eurico was guilty of provoking an assault
\non authorities during a Sept. 24 incident in Atambua, East Nusa
\nTenggara.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said Eurico urged his supporters to take back
\nweapons that they had handed over to the police during a ceremony
\nattended by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Hamka said by his actions, Eurico violated Article 160 of the
\nCriminal Code. The article carries a maximum punishment of life
\nin prison.<\/p>\n
Eurico has been detained since last October. Because the time
\na defendant is detained during trial counts toward any prison
\nsentence he subsequently receives, if the court sentences Eurico
\nto one year in prison he could be released in October this year.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old father of three is also a suspect in human
\nrights abuses in East Timor following the 1999 direct ballot in
\nthe territory.<\/p>\n
Eurico has maintained that his activities as a militia leader
\nwere in defense of Indonesian unity.<\/p>\n
After hearing the prosecution's sentence demand, Eurico said
\nit was the highest honor ever shown him and all militia members.<\/p>\n
\"This is what I get for making sacrifices for the nation and
\nthe East Timorese. I was forced to save the country from the
\ninternational embargo that would have been imposed if we did not
\nhand over our weapons,\" he told the court.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Suwardi adjourned the trial until April 3, at
\nwhich time the court will hear from the defense. (bby)<\/p>",
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