INDONESIA: Papuan separatist gets life sentence for murder of Americans and Indonesian

A Papuan separatist received a life sentence on Tuesday (November 7) for the murder of two Americans and an Indonesian four years ago near a massive U.S.-operated mining complex, a case which strained Washington-Jakarta relations. Separatist Antonius Wamang and six other defendants had been on trial since July over charges that carried a maximum penalty of death. The defendants, who consistently protested against the legitimacy of the trial, had walked out of the courtroom before Andriani Nurdin, head of a three-judge panel, read the verdict on Wamang. "The court sentences the defendant to life in prison" said presiding judge, Andriani. Earlier, scores of supporters in the packed courtroom sang Papuan songs and shouted slogans against the Indonesian government before they were silenced by police. Among other chants, they yelled "SBY, puppet of America" --referring to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono --and "free the seven Papuans". Teachers from a school for children of U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. staff were among the victims in the attack and the incident sparked suspicions of involvement by the Indonesian military. Initial tension over the matter cooled after Indonesia allowed U.S. investigators into Papua and suspects were arrested and charged.

ITN Source | November 7, 2006

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