Human rights agencies appalled, accused plead not guilty
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Pacific Scoop, Jan. 31, 2012) – An Indonesian court has indicted five Papuan activists for treason for raising an outlawed Papuan flag and declaring the region independent, reports Agence France-Presse.
The men, who led a peaceful pro-independence Papuan People’s Congress celebration attended by 5,000 indigenous Papuans on October 19, face life in prison if found guilty.
"The defendants jointly tried to commit treason with the intention of allowing the country or part of the country to fall into the hands of the enemy," Judge Jack L. Oktovianus at the Jayapura district court said.
"They acted together to declare Papua an independent region, which constitutes an act of treason."
The five activists– Forkorus Yaboisembut, Edison Waromi, August Makbrowen Senay, Dominikus Sorabut, and Selpius Bobii – were charged with treason under article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal...