Jayapura – The trial of five Indonesian soldiers from an infantry battalion stationed in the Nabire Regency, West Papua, for allegedly "committing acts of violence" against civilians will continue this morning.
But the five are not on trial for the torture of Papuans in the Puncak Jaya region of the western-central highlands of West Papua in May that was exposed in a graphic 10-minute video posted on You Tube last month as earlier reported.
The interrogation revealed in the cell-phone video shown at the tribunal hearing that began Friday was shot when soldiers kicked Papuans during an interrogation on March 17, in an effort to locate supposedly hidden weapons.
The prosecution indictment says: "The defendants have defied their superior's order as the Indonesian military has never ordered soldiers to commit acts of violence against civilians."
Witness First Private Isak reportedly told the tribunal that three soldiers beat and kicked local people after 30 men and women had been gathered in Gurage village, the Tingginambut district.
The Tingginambut District is still a Military Operational Region because it is reportedly the base of the armed separatist group the Free Papua Movement.
Spokesman for the Cendrawasih Military Command, Jayapura, Lieutenant Colonel Susilo erroneously announced Thursday that five of the servicemen allegedly featured in the You Tube video would be tried the next day.
Papua Customary Councillor Markus Haluk described the tribunal a "farce". It was intended to distract the public as well as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who visited Indonesia earlier this week, and United States President Barack Obama, who scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tomorrow, from more serious atrocities, he said.
Papuans had witnesses many perpetrators of murder and violence and murder escape lightly. "There has never been justice for Papuans," he said.
The Indonesian government labeled all Papuans "separatists," giving the military and police carte blanche to torture Papuans. The label "separatists" justified violence against all Papuans.
It is not known when the trial of the men in the You Tube video will begin.