The Jakarta Post, August 12, 2004
Papuan separatist gets 10 years
Nethy Dharma Somba and M. Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post/Jayapura/Ambon
The Jayapura District Court in Papua province sentenced separatist leader Yance
Hembring, 50, to 10 years in prison for treason.
The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, was heavier than the five years demanded
by prosecutors.
Yance said he would consider appealing against the ruling.
Court president FX Soegiharto said on Wednesday that the panel of judges gave
Yance a stiff sentence because he had been proven guilty of instigating a rebellion
against the state.
The defendant also voiced no remorse for his actions, he added.
Soegiharto said he hoped the long sentence would deter others from participating in
separatist movements.
Yance was arrested after taking part in several meetings in November last year and in
January 2004 in Nimbokrang, Jayapura regency, to discuss Papua's independence.
The meetings specifically discussed the method to be used to secede from the
Republic of Indonesia.
Yance and his colleagues demanded an international referendum to determine the
future of Papua.
Yance also set up a secretariat for the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Nimbokrang
to accommodate the aspirations of Papuans and to facilitate secession from
Indonesia.
Yance's trial began on March 25, with the court hearing testimonies from eight
witnesses. Prosecutors presented material evidence at the first hearing, such as the
Morning Star separatist flag, a computer, the OPM office sign, a rubber stamp and
related documents.
Yance was arrested by Jayapura Police last January in Nimbokrang while chairing a
meeting of 50 people at the OPM secretariat.
Yance claimed that he was elected an OPM leader in 1999 by Papuans at a refugee
camp in Papua New Guinea.
Also on Wednesday, the Ambon District Court tried 15 members of the Maluku
Sovereignty Front (FKM) for participating in a separatist movement in Maluku
province.
Prosecutors laid charges against them after the defendants joined in a flag-hoisting
ceremony to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the South Maluku Republic (RMS)
on April 25.
The event triggered three days of renewed violence in the provincial capital of Ambon,
killing at least 41 people. Some of the dead victims were shot by unidentified gunmen.
The 15 defendants tried in the first trial were Michael Pattisinay, Jhon Markus,
Reymond Tuapattinaya, Elisa Wattimena, Frans Sinmiasa, Elisa Saiya, Matheos
Sinay, Fredy Van Herlin, Dominggus Patiiha, Donny Irapanussa, Nicson Tobias,
Samuel Frans Ur, Fredy Akihary, Markus Tuasela and Johan B Kailuhu.
They also have been charged with treason.
Wednesday's hearing, which drew many visitors, proceeded peacefully amid tight
security.
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