Papua council leaders to go on trial soon

Papua council leaders to go on trial soon

JAKARTA (JP): Papua Presidium Council (PDP) chief Theys Hiyo
Eluay and six other PDP leaders will soon be tried for alleged
separatist activities, Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen.
Sylvanus Yulian Wenas said on Tuesday.

"We will continue the legal process against these people.
Theys' dossier has been submitted to the district court. We're
just awaiting for a hearing schedule," Wenas said in Jayapura
after leading the commemoration of the 55th Anniversary of the
National Police Mobile Brigade.

Law professor Loebby Loqman of the University of Indonesia is
expected to be an expert witness at the trial, which could take
place in Jayapura between December and January, he said.

"It's up to the court to decide the schedule since December is
full with the Christmas and Idul Fitri celebrations.

"The security forces, however, are ready to secure the trial,"
Wenas said.

Besides Theys, the other PDP members being charged are Thaha
Al Hamid, Agus Alua, Herman Awom, Don A.L. Flassy, John Mambor
and Mrs. Beatriks Koibur.

The chief of the Irian Jaya Police's operational and control
command, Sr. Supt. Kusnadi, said Theys was being charged under
Article 106 of the Criminal Code on crimes against the state. The
article carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

"He is also being charged under other articles related to
separatist activities, for such actions as hoisting the Morning
Star separatist flag.

"We also have sufficient evidence of his (Theys) involvement
in the second Papuan Congress (from May 29 to June 3), which
vowed to declare Irian Jaya's independence on Dec. 1 this year,"
the officer said.

In an attempt to maintain order and uphold the law ahead of
the planned commemoration of Papua Independence on Dec. 1, the
police launched a three-month operation to quell separatist
activities. The Tuntas Operation began on Nov. 10 and will
continue until February next year, he said.

"We will use all approaches in stages, starting from
persuasive measures moving to repressive measures," Kusnadi said,
adding that there was the possibility special operations would be
staged to disperse separatist camps.

"I believe people are tired of violence. Therefore, we really
hope that the problems can be resolved without bloodshed."

He also said the situation in Abepura market in Jayapura,
which saw clashes between South Sulawesi migrants from Bugis and
Makassar and locals on Monday, had returned to normal on Tuesday.

"Only three people were injured in the incident, not 16 as the
local media reported. However, we do not tolerate such brawls as
it can lead to larger unrest," Kusnadi said, adding that disputes
between migrants and locals had become common in the area.

"The migrants are usually vendors who work hard to earn their
money, while some locals tend to extort money from them. In the
Abepura case, the migrants fought back," he explained. (edt)