Papuan separatists on trial for treason

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Two Papua opposition leaders went on trial separately on Wednesday at the Jayapura District Court for treason.

Prosecutor Maskel Rambolangi said defendant Yusak Pakage, 26, led a ceremony to commemorate the self-declared Papua independence day on Dec. 1 last year.

The defendant has been charged with treason, which carries a maximum sentence of death.

The prosecutor said Yusak also led a meeting on Nov. 28 that discussed preparations for the flag-raising ceremony.

He said the meeting at the Cenderawasih University Museum was attended by some 20 people.

The flag-raising ceremony was illegal because it supported the establishment of an independent Papua state, separate from Indonesia, said the prosecutor.

In leading the ceremony, Yusak damaged the sovereignty of Indonesia, according to the prosecutor.

The ceremony, which was held at the Trikora field in Jayapura, was attended by hundreds of people, who scuffled with police officers.

Yusak was not represented by lawyers at the hearing. However, the judges allowed the trial to proceed after the defendant agreed to hear the charges against him.

The trial of Filep Karma, 45, who was also arrested following the flag-raising ceremony, was adjourned until next week after Filep refused to attend the hearing without legal representation.

Yusak and Filep were the only suspects arrested following the ceremony.

Separatists have regularly commemorated Papua independence day since president Soeharto stepped down from office in 1998. However, since 2001 the government has been cracking down on expressions of independence in Papua.