Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The remaining seven defendants being tried for their involvement in a deadly clash with police on March 16 in Abepura, Papua, refused to appear in court Wednesday after one of them was beaten up by a police officer Monday.
The trial at Jayapura District Court, presided over by judge Moris Ginting, was opened by examining witnesses from the defendants' side but the prosecutor could not present the defendants themselves.
"The trial started but was then postponed until Sept. 1 since the prosecutor could not present the defendants," Moris told The Jakarta Post.
On Monday, when escorting defendants after a trial at Jayapura District Court, Brig. Novrel beat up Nelson Rumbiak in front of Abepura Penitentiary. The hospital examination showed Nelson suffered head and chest injuries, probably from being hit with a blunt object.
When Nelson, who acted as a witness in Monday's trial, was beaten up, some of the other defendants were watching from a car. Nelson was earlier sentenced to four years' jail for taking a tear gas canister from a police officer.
Following the incident, convicts at Abepura Penitentiary pelted with stones the Jayapura Prosecutor's office bus, which was picking up defendants in the Abepura case for the trial Wednesday.
The defendants' lawyer, Aloysius Renwarin, told the Post Monday the seven defendants would not appear in court until their demands had been met.
They are demanding a public apology from Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tommy Jacobus and the head of the Jayapura district office Djabaik Haro and an official letter guaranteeing their safety.
Aloysius said Novrel had turned himself in to Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Max Donal Aer and was subsequently under arrest.
Public prosecutor Yulius D. Teuf, Jayapura Police's chief of operations, Adj. Comr. Yunus, and Abepura warden Johan Yarangga have all been involved in negotiations with representative of the defendants Eko Berotabui. The negotiations lasted until 3:30 p.m. but still they refused to appear in court.
The idea of deploying members of the police's Mobile Brigade to the penitentiary was floated but eventually rejected.
"There are many reasons for not forcing the defendants to appear in court, one of which is to avoid a clash between the officers and convicts. That's why we are trying to negotiate," Julius said.
The seven defendants, including Steven Wandik, 23, are awaiting verdicts on charges they were responsible for the murder of an Air Force soldier during the clash. So far, 16 people have been convicted over the Abepura clash, which took place in front of Cendrawasih University during a protest against giant mining company PT Freeport Indonesia. Each of them was sentenced to between five and 15 years' jail.
Four police officers and a member of the Air Force died when they were attacked by protesters, who were demanding the government close down the Freeport mine because of environmental concerns and the mine's failure to improve the welfare of Papuans.