Niko Sasomar and Sileman Teno from Sarmi and Isak Demetouw (alias Alex Makabori) and Daniel Norotouw from Jayapura were arrested on 3 March 2013 by four members of an army task force. On 1 March 2013, the four men headed to Sarmi from Jayapura. According to their version of events, given in an interview with a local activist, they intended to carry out a socialisation for residents in Sarmi, aimed at raising awareness regarding political developments in Papua and violations that have occurred due to the ongoing conflict. A local source has reported that this event took place on 2 March, from 19.00 to 20.30 local time, during which the four men received information that the Indonesian military were aware of their whereabouts and activity.
According to newspaper reports, the task force state that they received information from a resident in Nengke village in Sarmi district about four armed TPN/OPM members which led to the arrest of the four men. The suspects say that on 3 March the army task force pursued them in Yanma village, where they were allegedly arrested without a search warrant and handled in a brutal manner. Newspapers reporting the military version of events stated that on arrest the men were carrying TPN/OPM documents dated 26 February 2013, a TPN/OPM member card, an M9 bayonet, Morning Star symbols, a photo of Niko Sasomar carrying an M16, a backpack containing IDR 20 million, three mobile phones and two bottles of medicine. However the suspects state that while they were indeed carrying a machete, a kitchen knife and some money, other alleged items including the bottles of medicine, weapons and TPN/OPM documents were planted by the military and police authorities in order to charge them.
During interrogation, the four men allegedly faced intimidation and death threats from military and police officials and were denied access to lawyers. They were charged with possession of weapons and conspiracy to commit violence under Article 110 of the Criminal Code and Article 2 of the Emergency Law 12/1951. They were detained for 21 days in Sarmi police station, after which an extension of detainment until 3 May was issued. On 28 April they were transferred to the Regional Papua police station for further detention. On 3 May, their case was referred to the Public Prosecutor and they were then transferred to Abepura prison while awaiting their trial.
A report by KontraS Papua in August 2013 stated that hearings had been repeatedly postponed in July and August, due to the Public Prosecutor being unable to present witnesses. In mid-August cross-examinations were carried out, however witnesses reportedly gave contradictory testimonies.
In September 2013 human rights lawyers reported that the Prosecutor called for a four year prison sentence for Isak Demetouw, Niko Sasomar and Sileman Teno and a one year sentence for Daniel Norotouw.
On 7 November 2013, Niko Sasomar, Isak Demetouw and Sileman Teno received a prison sentences of two years and two months, while Daniel Norotouw received a one-year prison sentence. On 1 February 2014, Daniel Norotouw, was released after the completion of his one year prison sentence. On 1 February 2014, Daniel Norotouw, was released after the completion of his one year prison sentence. In April 2015, Sasomar, Demetouw and Teno were released following the end of their prison sentences.
Sources
Report by KontraS Papua entitled “Laporan Tapol Agustus 2013.”
Salam Papua, “Empat Anggota TPN/OPM Di Sarmi Ditangkap TNI,” 7 March 2013, http://salampapua.com/berita/lintas-papua/item/924-empat-anggota-tpn-opm-di-sarmi-ditangkap-tni
Report received by a local activist entitled “Tuduhan Makar Oleh Pemerintah Indonesia Terhadap Pejuang Bangsa Papua Alex Makabori, Daniel Petrus Nerotou, Soleman Teno dan Nicodemus Sosomar.”
Last updated: 10 October 2013 Niko Sasomar dan Sileman Teno dari Sarmi dan Isak Demetouw (alias Alex Makabori) dan Daniel Norotouw dari Jayapura, ditangkap pada 3 Maret 2013 oleh empat orang anggota militer. Pada tanggal 1 Maret 2013, keempat orang menuju ke Sarmi dari Jayapura. Dalam sebuah wawancara dengan seorang aktivis setempat, menurut versi kejadian mereka, mereka berniat untuk melaksanakan sosialiasi bagi warga di Sarmi, dengan tujuaan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran tenteng perkembangan politik di Papua dan pelanggaran yang terjadi akibat konflik yang sedang berlangsung. Seorang sumber setempat telah melaporkan bahwa acara ini berlangsung pada 2 Maret, dari 19.00 – 20.30 masa lokal, selama mana mereka menerima informasi bahwa militer Indonesia memiliki pengetahuan atas keberadaan dan aktivitas mereka.
Menurut laporan surat kabar, satuan tugas mengatakan bahwa mereka menerima informasi dari seorang punduduk di kampung Nengke di Kabupaten Sarmi tentang empat anggota TPN/OPM bersenjata yang menyebabkan penangkapan keempat orang itu. Para tersangka mengatakan bahwa pada 3 Maret satuan tugas militer mengejar mereka di kampung Yanma, di mana mereka diduga ditangkap tanpa surat penangkapan dan ditangani dengan cara yang brutal.
Surat kabar yang melaporan versi kejadian menurut militer mengatakan bahwa pada saat penangkapan, keempat orang itu membawa dokumen TPN/OPM tertanggal 26 Februari 2013, kartu anggota TPN/OPM, sebuah bayonet M9, simbol Bintang Kejora, sebuah foto Niko Sasomar dengan sebuah M16, ransel mengandung Rp 20 juta, tiga ponsel dan dua botol obat. Namun para tersangka mengatakan bahwa sementara mereka memang membawa parang, pisau dapur dan sejumlah uang, barang-barang lainnya ditanam oleh penguasa militer dan polisi supaya dapat menjatuh dakwaan ke atas mereka.
Selama interogasi, keempat orang diduga menghadapi intimidasi dan ancaman kematian dari pejabat militer dan polisi dan tidak diberi akses ke pengacara. Mereka didakwa dengan kepemilikian senjata dan melakukan permufakatan jahat berdasarkan Pasal 110 KUHP dan Pasal 2 UU Darurat No 12/1951. Mereka ditahan selama 21 hari di Polres Sarmi, setelah itu perpanjangan penahanan sampai 3 Mei dikeluarkan. Pada 28 April mereka dipindahkan ke Polda Papua untuk penahanan lebih lanjut. Pada tanggal 3 Mei, kasus mereka dirujuk ke Jaksa Penuntut Umum dan mereka kemudian dipindahkan ke LP Abepura sambil menunggu persidangan.
Sebuah laporan oleh KontraS Papua pada Agustus 2013 menyatakan bahwa persidangan telah berulang kali ditunda pada bulan Juli dan Agustus, karena Jaksa Penuntut Umum todak dapat menghadirkan saksi. Pada pertengahan Agustus pemeriksaan saksi dilakukan, namun saksi dilaporkan memberikan kesaksian yang kontradiktoris.
Pada bulan September 2013, pengacara HAM melaporkan bahwa Jaksa telah menyampaikan tuntutan hukuman empat tahun penjara untuk Isak Demetouw, Niko Sasomar dan Sileman Teno dan hukuman satu tahun penjara untuk Daniel Norotouw.
Sumber
Laporan oleh KontraS Papua berjudul “Laporan Tapol Agustus 2013.”
Salam Papua, “Empat Anggota TPN/OPM Di Sarmi Ditangkap TNI,” 7 Maret 2013, http://salampapua.com/berita/lintas-papua/item/924-empat-anggota-tpn-opm-di-sarmi-ditangkap-tni
Laporan diterima dari aktivis setempat berjudul “Tuduhan Makar Oleh Pemerintah Indonesia Terhadap Pejuang Bangsa Papua Alex Makabori, Daniel Petrus Nerotou, Soleman Teno dan Nicodemus Sosomar.”