JAKARTA (February 3, 2000 - Indonesian Observer/Kabar Irian)---The trial of Free Papua Movement (OPM) leader Theys Eluay, charged with sedition, kicked off this week in Irian Jaya, a defense lawyer said yesterday.
Theys is facing a possible 15 years in jail for illegally raising the separatist OPM Morning Star flag in July 1998.
One of his defense lawyers, Semi Latunusa, was quoted by AP as saying the trial started on Tuesday in the territory’s provincial capital Jayapura.
Irian Jaya province, which occupies the western half of New Guinea Island, is also known as West Papua. President Abdurrahman Wahid recently said the province could be renamed Papua.
Theys is one of three separatists facing prosecution for the flag raising. The trial of the other two started last month.
Former president Suharto outlawed the OPM and directed security forces to prosecute anyone who raises its flag.
The new reformist government has released a number of...