Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – Seven Papuans arrested over the 2002 killings of two Americans and their Indonesian colleague in Papua declined to enter a plea of not guilty Tuesday, saying they were victims of a political deal between Jakarta and Washington.
"We agree to go on with the trial as long as it is not based on the interests of Indonesia and the US," defendant Ishaq Onawame told presiding judge Andriani Nurdin from the visitor's seats. "We are innocent. It is the state's fault," he added.
Andriani said she accepted the decision made by the defendants and announced that the verdict would be read out on Nov. 7.
Prosecutors had earlier demanded the Central Jakarta District Court sentence alleged ringleader Antonius Wamang to 20 years in prison for leading an attack on a convoy carrying PT Freeport Indonesia employees near the company's gold mine in Timika in 2002.
Americans Ricky Lynn Spier, 44, and Edwin Leon Burgen, 71, and Indonesian FX Bambang Riwanto died in the attack.
Prosecutors sought 15 years' jail for Agustinus Anggaibak and Yulianus Deikme for taking part in the shooting and eight years' jail for Ishak Onawame, Esau Onawame, Hardi Sugumol and Yairus Kiwak for assisting Antonius Wamang with logistics.
The seven Papuans have been boycotting the trial since they were indicted, insisting they be tried in Papua. They came to the courtroom but refused to be seated in defendants' seats.
They also asked the court to send Hardi Tsugumol, who has been ill, to Papua for traditional treatment. Hardi has already missed several trials. The prosecutors said they had tried to take Hardi to the police hospital but he had refused to go.
Defense team lawyer Johnson Panjaitan said the trial was "a disgrace" and "degraded the dignity" of the Indonesian judiciary. He said he had not prepared any defense as he no longer had any hope the trial would be fair.
"I know that my client will be punished," he said. "This trial is a hoax." He said he had prepared documents to appeal next week's verdict.
Papuan protesters attending the court erupted after judge Andriani left the court room, yelling "the Indonesian court is rotten" and "the law in this country is dead".
They accused the Indonesian military of being responsible for the attack and demanded that the government stop PT Freeport Indonesia's operations in Papua. The military have denied any involvement in the attack.
Johnson said he believed the trial was part of the Indonesian government's efforts to restore military cooperation with the United States, which was damaged by the deaths of the two American nationals.
Patsy Spier, the widow of Ricky Lynn Spier, calmly took notes throughout the proceedings. She said she was determined to stay in Jakarta for the length of the trial.