JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com — Six out of nine people arrested by the police during the anti-racist action that led to chaos in the courtyard of the Deiyai Regent’s Office on August 28, 2019, will be released next week, according to the decision of the judges at Nabire District Court on Thursday. (3/19/2020).
Chief Judge of Nabire State Court, Erenst Jannes Ulaen in the verdict sentenced Melianus Mote, Alex Pakage, Simon Petrus Ukago, Stefanus Goo, Andreas Douw, and Yuven Pekei to six months and 20 days in prison with reduced prison terms. The defendants were charged with criminal Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law number 12 of 1951 and Article 212 of the Criminal Code.
This verdict is much lighter than the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) who requested a one-year sentence of detention minus the sentence of detention.
The Chief Justice of the state court of Nabire Erenst Jannes Ulaen in the ruling verdict sentenced Melianus Mote, Alex Pakage, Simon Petrus Ukago, Stefanus Goo, Andreas Douw, and Yuven Pekei prison six months 20 days with a reduced period of detention. The defendant were charged with criminal Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No. 12/1951 and article 212 of the Criminal Law Code
KUHP).
This ruling is much lighter than the prosecution of the Prosecutor (JPU) requesting a one-year confinement minus the detention period.
Responding to the decision, Emanuel Gobay, the legal advisor of the defendant who is a member of the Papua Law and Human Rights Enforcement Coalition (Koalisi Penegak Hukum dan Hak Asazi Manusia Papua ) admitted that he was a slight disappointed because the basic legal considerations of the judges agreed with the Prosecutor’s (JPU) argument in his demands.
Eman explained that the disappointment was based on the facts of the trial which proved that not all elements in the Article charged were fulfilled. One of them, the possession of arrows as a symbol of Papuan culture.
“Papuan men owning and carrying arrows are not compulsory, they don’t even need to get permission from the authorities. That was in effect long before Emergency Law No. 12/1951 until now,” he said when contacted by suarapapua.com via cell phone on Thursday (3/19/2020).
Besides that, Eman said, there was no evidence that the trial showed six of his clients as perpetrators of violence or threats of violence against officers. On the contrary, he said, precisely these six people were victims of violence by the security forces, both persecuted and shot.
“The six anti-racist activists must be acquitted of all Prosecutors’ demands,” he said.
Eman mentions the fact that his client was a victim of persecution and abuse of firearms by the Security Forces. Therefore, the local government, especially the representatives of the people of Deiyai Regency, are advised to take legal steps to prosecute officials who have allegedly violated the law with the Deiyai community, especially the six people.
“There is no discrimination in law enforcement. Because it is strange, when the six activists were arrested and processed as perpetrators of violence against officers, while the perpetrators of violence against activists were not even processed, “he said.
Separately, Petrus Badokapa, the temporary Chairman of the DPRD Deiyai Regency, explained, out of the nine Deiyai anti-racist activists who were arrested and detained, three people (Steven Pigai, Mikael Bukega, and Yos Iyai) were released last week.
“Six more people will be released next week, on Wednesday, March 25, 2020,” said Badokapa.
He is grateful for everything has been and will be released next week.
“We are very grateful and give thanks to the Lord, also to all those who have supported the trial process for four month trial process since November 2019,” he said.
The verdict was held after the previous Tuesday (17/3/2020) of the court with the pledoi to claim the JPU. Present gave information in the hearing relieves witnesses: Yos Iyai, Peter Badokapa, and Alfred Pakage, a former member of the District DPRD Deiyai.
The reading of the verdict was held after the previous Tuesday (17/3/2020) session with the agenda of the submission of a defense (pledoi) against the Prosecutor’s demands. Present at the hearing gave witness testimony to the defense: Yos Iyai, Petrus Badokapa, and Alfred Pakage, former members of the Deiyai district DPRD.
The verdict was held after the previous Tuesday (17/3/2020) of the court with the pledoi to claim the JPU. The witnesses who gave information in the hearing relieves is Yos Iyai, Peter Badokapa, and Alfred Pakage, a former member of the District DPRD Deiyai.
Writer : Yance Agapa
Editor : Markus You
Translator : Imelda Kopeuw
