Subversion charges likely after flag-raising ceremony

Monday, 21st July 2008. 4:05pmBy: Nick Mackenzie.Reports from Fakfakstate that six West Papuans involved in a flag raising ceremony, with the banned Morning Star flag, early last Saturday morning, will be charged under the Indonesian Criminal code for crime of 'subversion'.
These reports follow earlier information that 35 local West Papuan, including ex-political prisoners, were involved in a flag raising ceremony outside the “Act of Free Choice” building (Fakfak Archives office) on 4.30 am Saturday morning July 19, 2008.Local Human Rights workers reported that Indonesian Police in Fakfak arrested 46 local West Papuan people, which included some people not involved in the ceremony.Human Rights workers report that the Indonesian Police appear to have had prior knowledge of the ceremony and attacked the demonstrators beating them, kicking them with boots and torturing the demonstrators. The men in the group were then stripped to their underwear before being taken to the Police compound. Two women were included in those arrested.The names of those now charged with Subversion ‘Makar’ under section 110 of Criminal Code and detained by Indonesian Police are: Simon Tuturop, 58, Tadeus Weripang, 52, Viktor Tuturop, 42, Tomas Nimbitkendik, 19, Benedidiktus Turuop, 35 and Teles Piahar, 20.Three men, Walter Wareopor, 60, Daniel Nimbitkendik, 14, and Simon Hindom, 50, who had bush knives/machetes in their possession were charged under Emergency Regulation Section 12.It was reported that the other 37 detainees would be sent home after meeting with and being briefed by the Fakfak Regent, Dr Wahidin Puarada.The ex-political prisoners, Simon Tuturop and Tadeus Weripang, involved in the protest had been previously arrested, in July 1982 in the capital Jayapura, for involvement in an event which declared West Papua independent.It is understood that the Police have charged the six detainees under Indonesian Criminal code relating to subversion and overthrowing the Government. Reports from Fakfak confer with the Jakarta Post (July 20, 2008) which suggests that group is charged ‘under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, the detainees can be charged for plotting a coup. The charge carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.”Paula Makabory representing Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights said: “The detainees should be released as it is not credible for the Indonesian Police to charge these people on that basis of ‘subversion’. Performing a flag raising ceremony and protesting against Indonesian authority is not an act which could overthrow the Government. The demonstration was peaceful and such political expression should be a democratic right in West Papua and Indonesia.“Public remembrance of the past injustice from the Soeharto period and the ongoing repression of Human Rights, including the Right to ‘self-determination’, is what Indonesia Government agencies seek to subvert by arresting these people. This demonstration is only a threat to the status quo in West Papua because it shows the world the kind of Indonesian domination which West Papuans face. ”“To arrest and detain this group, charged under the subversion parts of the criminal code, are draconian. This symbolic protest in itself is clearly not going to overthrow the State of Indonesia.“This whole flag raising issue must be an embarrassment to the Indonesian Government,” Paula Makabory went on to say.

Indonesia arrests six for treason over Papuan flag

21, 2008
JAYAPURA, (Indonesia) - INDONESIAN police have arrested six people on charges of treason after a group of Papuans hoisted an separatist flag in West Papua province at the weekend, a police official said on Monday.
The group raised the outlawed Morning Star flag, the symbol of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM), early on Saturday in Fakfak, West Papua province, 300 km from the provincial capital Manokwari.
After questioning 49 people, six suspects were arrested on charges of treason, while three others were arrested for possessing machetes, Mr Agus Riyanto, a Papua police spokesman said.
Treason can carry a maximum sentence of life.
The suspects included former political detainees previously arrested for hoisting the separatist flag in 1982, Mr Riyanto added.
The police also confiscated a 2 metre-wide flag, several documents in Papuan and knives from the group.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has promised to end decades of conflict in Papua and speed up development but critics say rights abuses continue and little has been achieved under the 2001 special autonomy agreement for Papua.
Independence activists in Papua have waged a campaign for nearly 40 years to break away from Indonesia, while a low-level armed rebellion has also simmered for decades.
Indonesia has denied any systematic violations in Papua, although human rights groups have alleged that security services in the area have routinely abused their powers. -- REUTERS

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Asia/STIStory_259931.html