Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – National Commission on Human Rights chair Ifdal Khasim is urging the Papuan Police to stop accusing protesters in Papua of treason because the law ensures freedom of expression.

"The current use of articles on treason to confront the political dynamics in Papua is unprofessional because protests are still within the limits of differences of opinion, so the police should avoid using those articles. People's rights should not be restricted for expressing their opinion," Ifdal said in Jayapura at a lecture to Indonesian Military (TNI) officers at the Cenderawasih Military Command on Tuesday.

Ifdal said that police in Papua should avoid applying articles of treason when confronting activists because gradually a number of Papuans involved in political cases would be incarcerated.

"These conditions are not favorable because there should be no political prisoners in a democratic government. Especially when their numbers are large, then it must be questioned," he said.

Ifdal said police should provide room for people to express their opinions. "Law enforcers should maintain political dynamism when facing demonstrations in Papua, for example by giving the chance for them to express their opinions, but [the police] should not charge them with subversion," he said.

Two Papuan activists, Melky Sehu Blesman Bleskadit and Reverend Daniel Yanu, are currently facing trial at Manokwari District Court in West Papua for treason. They were arrested on Dec. 14 of last year for carrying the Bintang 14 separatist flag during a rally.

In an e-mail to The Jakarta Post, their lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy said the treason charges against his clients were being used to suppress the pro-democracy and political reform movements in Papua.

"The articles should not be used to stifle efforts in expressing people's aspirations, especially in demanding justice over their own land. I think the authorities should not have immediately interpreted what Bleskadit, Yenu and their colleagues did on Dec. 14 as an act of treason or separatism," he said.

He said the term treason should be used to refer to articles in the Criminal Code such as whether elements of violence or the use of arms was present.

"But, can expressing an aspiration, carrying and flying a separatist flag or singing a patriotic anthem immediately be branded and justified as treason or separatism?" Ifdal asked.

"It's time to revise the treason articles, so they will no longer be used by the government, through law enforcers, to continue suppressing democratic action in Papua on the grounds of opposition to a legitimate government," he said.