Seven months sought for soldiers

Seven months sought for soldiers

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Military prosecutors demanded on Thursday only seven months in
prison for seven of nine soldiers being tried in connection with
the April burglary of munitions in Papua province, in which three
people, including two Army soldiers, were killed.

They admitted the seven could face between two and four years
in prison, but prosecutors sought a lesser jail term for the
defendants.

"Based on the testimonies of witnesses, they only neglected
their duties. It (the sentencing demand) should be a lesson for
Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers to carry out their duties as
ordered," prosecutor Lt. Col. M. Sucahyo said.

The seven defendants were First Sgt. Itom Kogoya, First Sgt.
Yuarima Mabel, Second Corp. Irfan Djuhari, Sgt. Maj. Karel Itlay,
Chief Corp. Paus Kogoya, First Sgt. Philemon Pameka and First
Pvt. Eduardus Kiwirok.

At least 13 M-16 rifles, 13 SP-1 rifles and three PM rifles,
along with thousands of rounds of ammunition, were stolen after a
group of people initially believed to be Papuan rebels broke into
the Wamena Army arsenal at 2 a.m. on April 4.

Most of the stolen arms were recovered several days after the
incident.

The nine defendants are being tried at the Jayapura military
tribunal in the troubled province of Papua.

Two other defendants -- First Lt. Pilius Wenda and First. Sgt.
Serianus Jikwa -- will have their sentencing demands read out on
Monday during their hearing

Sucahyo told the opening trial of the defendants on Sept. 15
that Pilius, 38, is charged with aiding and abetting in the theft
by providing arms or weapons to the armed separatist group, Free
Papua Movement (OPM), which was blamed for the crime.

Pilius, who served as the Kurima subdistrict military chief,
had violated Law No. 12/1951, Article 148 of the Criminal Code,
which carries a maximum death penalty, the prosecutor said.

Similarly, Serianus is charged with treason over the arms
theft.

Thursday's trial, presided over by Lt. Col. A.R. Tampubolon,
was adjourned until Friday to hear the defense plea from lawyers
for the seven defendants.

Eight civilians have also been charged at the Wamena District
Court for their alleged role in the theft.

Two Army soldiers -- First Lt. A. Napitupulu and First Sgt.
Ruben Lena -- and one civilian, suspected of being a rebel, Islae
Murib, were killed in the ensuing shootout.

The military had said that the electricity was cut during the
April burglary, while the soldiers assigned to guard the arsenal
were absent from its immediate vicinity when the incident took
place.

The theft was reportedly spotted by patrolling soldiers, who
just happened to be passing the location.

Following the incident, the TNI Headquarters sent 144 combat
soldiers from the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) to Papua to
hunt down those responsible.

Earlier in March, the Kopassus task force in Jayapura was
dissolved following mounting criticism over its involvement in
the killing of former Papuan independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay
in 2001.