Lawyers appeal for fairness in Theys case

Lawyers appeal for fairness in Theys case

SURABAYA, East Java: The team of lawyers for the seven members
of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) accused of killing
proindependence Papua figure Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluway, have
appealed to judges to be fair in imposing punishment on their
clients.

One of the lawyers, Mario Bernardo, said he suspected
political pressure had led to the trial.

"The court should use a legal basis instead of political
considerations in trying this case," he said at a court hearing
here on Thursday.

The defendants, identified as Lt. Col. Hartomo, Capt. Rionard,
First Sgt. Asria, Maj. Doni Hutabarat, First Lt. Agus Supriyanto,
Chief Private Ahmad Zulfahmi and First Lt. Laurensius, have been
tried for their alleged involvement in the killing of Theys in
Papua on Nov. 11, 2001.

"The honorable judges should make a fair, humane and
professional decision. The verdict should not break their
military spirit because they have been fighting for the nation's
unity," said Mario.

The trial was adjourned until April 21 to hear the judges'
verdict. --JP

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Across-Papua-marijuana
Three men nabbed over marijuana
JP/5/

Three men nabbed over marijuana

JAYAPURA, Papua: Police in Jayapura have arrested two Papua
New Guinean citizens and an Indonesian for possessing 331.6 grams
of marijuana.

Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Totok Kasmiarto said here
recently that the three confessed to trafficking the illicit drug
because they desperately needed money.

The two suspects from Papua New Guinea, identified as Lazarus
Hoima, 38, and John Waku, 37, and the third, Bernikus Nuburi,
have been in police custody since March 26. The police said they
would send the suspects' case files to the prosecutor's office in
order to bring them to trial.

The three men were arrested when a plainclothes detective
posing as a buyer said he purchased the marijuana from them in a
hotel in the Hamadi area of the city. -- JP