Atttachment C.

REGION: West Papuan independence leader reported fled to PNG

Tuesday: June 19, 2001
Jakarta (PINA Nius Online, 19 June 2001)

A West Papuan pro-independence leader on trial in the
Indonesian-ruled territory is reported to have fled across the border to neighbouring Papua New Guinea.

The Jakarta Post newspaper named him as Don Flassy and said it came as a panel of judges overruled a defence statement in a revolt case involving another pro-independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay.

Defence lawyers had told the court that last year's Papua
Congress, which concluded by demanding that Jakarta recognize West Papua's sovereignty, could not be considered subversive.

"We told the court that the congress results were not just the aspirations of the five defendants but of the entire Papuan community," the lawyers were quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post.

But the Jakarta Post said the judges rejected Theys' defence statement, saying it is against the existing Criminal Code.

The trial was adjourned for two weeks for the prosecutors to present witnesses, including legal expert Loebby Loqman.

The combined cases of the three other pro-independence leaders, Reverend Herman Awom, Thaha Al Hamid and John Mambor, were postponed as they are all currently receiving medical treatment in hospital.

The five are accused of violating Article 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of five years in jail.

During the Papua Congress, the Papua Presidium called on the Indonesian government to recognize a 1961 declaration of independence by the people of the former Dutch colony.

Demands for independence have been mounting in the territory, which the Indonesians now call their province of Irian Jaya.

Human rights activists say thousands of people have died in years of fighting between Indonesian security forces and West Papuans seeking independence.

The province was officially taken over by the Indonesians
following a controversial referendum after the departure of the Dutch who had ruled the resource-rich territory.

The West Papuans call the referendum a sham and said only a small and intimidated number of people were allowed to take part.
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© 2002 The Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece