Papuan separatist gets 10 years

Papuan separatist gets 10 years

Nethy Dharma Somba and M. Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post/Jayapura/Ambon

The Jayapura District Court in Papua province sentenced
separatist leader Yance Hembring, 50, to 10 years in prison for
treason.

The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, was heavier than the
five years demanded by prosecutors.

Yance said he would consider appealing against the ruling.

Court president FX Soegiharto said on Wednesday that the panel
of judges gave Yance a stiff sentence because he had been proven
guilty of instigating a rebellion against the state.

The defendant also voiced no remorse for his actions, he
added.

Soegiharto said he hoped the long sentence would deter others
from participating in separatist movements.

Yance was arrested after taking part in several meetings in
November last year and in January 2004 in Nimbokrang, Jayapura
regency, to discuss Papua's independence.

The meetings specifically discussed the method to be used to
secede from the Republic of Indonesia.

Yance and his colleagues demanded an international referendum
to determine the future of Papua.

Yance also set up a secretariat for the Free Papua Movement
(OPM) in Nimbokrang to accommodate the aspirations of Papuans and
to facilitate secession from Indonesia.

Yance's trial began on March 25, with the court hearing
testimonies from eight witnesses. Prosecutors presented material
evidence at the first hearing, such as the Morning Star
separatist flag, a computer, the OPM office sign, a rubber stamp
and related documents.

Yance was arrested by Jayapura Police last January in
Nimbokrang while chairing a meeting of 50 people at the OPM
secretariat.

Yance claimed that he was elected an OPM leader in 1999 by
Papuans at a refugee camp in Papua New Guinea.

Also on Wednesday, the Ambon District Court tried 15 members
of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) for participating in a
separatist movement in Maluku province.

Prosecutors laid charges against them after the defendants
joined in a flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate the 54th
anniversary of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) on April 25.

The event triggered three days of renewed violence in the
provincial capital of Ambon, killing at least 41 people. Some of
the dead victims were shot by unidentified gunmen.

The 15 defendants tried in the first trial were Michael
Pattisinay, Jhon Markus, Reymond Tuapattinaya, Elisa Wattimena,
Frans Sinmiasa, Elisa Saiya, Matheos Sinay, Fredy Van Herlin,
Dominggus Patiiha, Donny Irapanussa, Nicson Tobias, Samuel Frans
Ur, Fredy Akihary, Markus Tuasela and Johan B Kailuhu.

They also have been charged with treason.

Wednesday's hearing, which drew many visitors, proceeded
peacefully amid tight security.