Jayapura – In the ongoing trial of five men charged with rebellion, the defence lawyers at a hearing in Jayapura on 28 September, called for the men's release.

In an earlier session, the prosecutor had asked the court to sentence the accused to two years. The five men are: Agus Waipon, Salmon Daka,SE, Maurids Wouw, Yehuda Wandi and Yosep Wow Imfum.

The two members of the defence team said in a 20-page statement, that the accused had told the court that documents presented in court had never previously been seen by them.

The defence lawyers also stated that the prosecution had failed to prove that the accused had committed acts of rebellion. It was clear from the evidence that the meetings and other activities undertaken by the accused, during which a referendum had been discussed, had been done in response to developments within society, and moreover such activities were guaranteed under the Indonesian Constitution which guarantees the right of assembly and the right of expression.

The defence team therefore said that these activities could not be described as being acts of rebellion as alleged in the charges made in court. The defence team therefore asked the court to acquit the five defendants of all charges, to release them and rehabilitate their good names.