On 13 December, Edison Werimon was arrested when a West Melanesian 14-star flag and allegedly treasonous documents were found in his home in Sarmi. Soleman Fonataba was arrested four days later on 17 December 2013. The two men are accused of conspiracy to commit treason under Articles 106, 110, 53 and 55 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.
The prosecution letter (surat dakwaan) for the two men stated that upon finding a West Melanesian 14-star flag hung on the wall of Edison Werimon’s front room, Sarmi police arrested him and searched his home. Police reportedly found documents that detailed a meeting on 2 November 2013 hosted at Werimon’s home which intended to form a pro-Melanesian body called the ‘Republic Regional Melanesian Sarmi Senate,’ with Soleman Fonataba as their leader. Police then searched Fonataba’s home without a search warrant and reportedly found four West Melanesian 14-star flags and other pro-Melanesian documents.
Human rights lawyers condemned the police searches as unprocedural and thuggish. Gustaf Kawer, one of the lawyers for the two men, reported to local Papuan newspaper Jubi that fully armed police had entered Werimon’s home by force and threatened his son at gunpoint, forcing him to lay on his stomach during the search. When Werimon’s wife questioned police, they reportedly said that they did not have a reason for the search. Police confiscated a small suitcase, three machetes and a few small axes. They also seized her childrens’ diploma certificates and money totalling IDR 1,600,000 (around USD 140), but these were later returned.
On 22 April, Edison Werimon and Soleman Fonetaba were each sentenced to one-and-a-half-years’ city arrest minus time already spent in detention after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit treason. City arrest forbids them from leaving Sarmi regency. As they have already been under city arrest since 23 July 2014, their sentences would end on 23 January 2016. The two men have since submitted an appeal on their sentences to the Sarmi High Court.
Sources
Email correspondence with human rights lawyers, January – March 2014
“Gustaf Kawer: Kasus Sarmi, Polisi Jangan Seperti Preman,” 20 March 2014, http://tabloidjubi.com/2014/03/20/gustaf-kawer-kasus-sarmi-polisi-jangan-seperti-preman/ Pada 13 Desember, Edison Werimon ditangkap ketika bendera 14 Bintang Melanesia Barat serta dokumen-dokumen yang dipercayai mengandungi bahan pengkhianatan ditemui di rumahnya di Sarmi. Pada tanggal 17 Desember 2013, Soleman Fonataba ditangkap empat hari kemudian. Keduanya dituduh konspirasi untuk melakukan makar di bawah Pasal 106, 110, 53 dan 55 KUHP Indonesia.
Surat dakwaan kedua pria tersebut menyatakan bahwa setelah menemukan 14 Bintang Melanesia Barat tergantung di dinding ruang depan Edison Werimon, polisi Sarmi menangkap dan menggeledah rumahnya. Polisi dilaporkan menemukan dokumen- dokumen terinci mengandungi pertemuan pada 2 November 2013 yang diadakan di rumah Werimon itu yang bertujuan untuk membentuk badan pro-Melanesia ‘Republik Regional Melanesian Sarmi Senat,’ dengan Soleman Fonataba sebagai pemimpin nya. Polisi kemudian menggeledah rumah Fonataba tanpa surat warrant dan dilaporkan menemukan empat bendera 14 Bintang Melanesia Barat dan dokumen pro-Melanesia lainnya.
Pengacara HAM mengutuk tindakan polisi kerena tidak mengikuti prosedur dan bertindak premanisme. Gustaf Kawer, salah satu pengacara bagi kedua dalam tahanan tersebut, dilaporkan di koran lokal Papua, Jubi, bahwa polisi bersenjata lengkap memasuki rumah Werimon secara paksa dan mengancam anaknya di bawah todongan senjata di mana ia dipaksa berbaring di perutnya selama rumahnya digeledah. Ketika istri Werimon menyoal polisi, mereka dilaporkan mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak ada alasan untuk menggeledah rumahnya. Polisi menyita sebuah koper kecil, tiga parang dan kapak kecil. Mereka juga menyita sertifikat diploma anak-anak-nya dan uang sejumlah Rp 1.600.000 (sekitar USD 140), yang kemudiannya dikembalikan.
Sumber
Email dari pengacara HAM, Januari – Maret 2014
“Gustaf Kawer: Kasus Sarmi, Polisi Jangan Seperti Preman,” 20 March 2014, http://tabloidjubi.com/2014/03/20/gustaf-kawer-kasus-sarmi-polisi-jangan-seperti-preman/