Twenty years sought for GAM leader

The prosecution requested on Thursday a 20-year sentence for a Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist leader charged with masterminding the bomb blasts last May at the Medan mayor's office and a gas pipeline in Belawan, North Sumatra. No casualties were recorded in the blasts. The prosecution told the Medan District Court that the defendant, Manaf Abdi, alias Abu Hendon, 61, a resident of West Langsa, North Aceh district, was most responsible for the bombings. The trial has been adjourned for a week, when the defense plea will be heard. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Hour24-Wamena-arsenal-theft Two more Papuans get 20 years for arsenal theft JP/1/WAMENA

Two more Papuans get 20 years for arsenal theft

The Wamena District Court sentenced on Thursday two more civilians to 20 years in prison each for their roles in breaking into a military arsenal in Wamena last year and stealing rifles and ammunition.

The two, among the seven defendants in the case, were identified as Michael Haselo and Apot Nagolik.

They were the last two defendants to be sentenced in the case. Two other defendants were also sentenced to 20 years in prison each, while the remaining three were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The arsenal theft occurred on April 4 last year. The perpetrators, believed to be members of rebel Free Papua Movement (OPM), made off with 27 rifles and thousands of bullets from the arsenal, belonging to the Indonesian Military (TNI). -- JP