"They are refusing to attend the trial on the grounds that they want to be tried in Timika, the site of the incident," said their lawyer, Johnson Panjaitan, on Thursday. He said he had received an invitation from the court to attend Tuesday's trial along with a copy of the indictment. "But I didn't attend the court proceedings as per my clients' request," he said.
In cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the police arrested 12 Papuans, including Anthonius Wamang, who was indicted by a U.S. grand jury in 2004 for the killings. Five were later released.
The seven suspects, including Wamang, have officially been named suspects. They were flown to Jakarta and were set to stand trial Tuesday for the ownership of illegal arms and actions resulting in death.
Johnson said he found the relocation of the trial from Timika District Court to Jakarta unreasonable.
He said the transfer was made following an order from the Supreme Court chief justice in February 2006.
"The Supreme Court has no right to move the trial, it's the justice minister who has the authority to do so based on a proposal from the Supreme Court chief as stipulated in the Criminal Code," he asserted.
Johnson said he had not seen any instruction from the justice minister to move the trial venue.
"So there's no reason for holding the trial in Jakarta," he said, adding that the move would not guarantee justice for the Papuans.
He said the trial was moved to Jakarta due to security concerns, especially the security of 12 American witnesses.
"I've coordinated with community and religious leaders to help ensure security if the trial is conducted in Timika," he said.
Meanwhile, director of the Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy for West Papua (Els-Ham), Alloysius Renwarin, said the Amungme tribe, led by Papuan feminist Yosepha Alomang who is also an Amungme tribal leader, had asked the Timika District Court to let the seven suspects be tried in Timika.
National Police chief Gen. Sutanto said previously the 2002 killing of an Indonesian and two American teachers in Papua were caused by local separatist soldiers firing at civilians by mistake, saying there was no evidence the Indonesian Military (TNI) had been involved, despite the claims of activists here and abroad.
The incident led to strained ties between Indonesia and the United States, with the U.S. Congress cutting off assistance to the TNI in 2003 amid suspicions of the involvement of some of its members.
The January arrests came after Washington restored military ties in November 2005 as a reward for Indonesia's assistance in the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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