ST205GT4
8th April 2008, 04:22
Ambon, April 6: Ambon district court judges have sentenced separatist Johan Teterisa to life in jail after they found him guilty of treason last Thursday, reports The Jakarta Post.
At least 19 traditional dancers, who were also found guilty, were sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in jail.
The sentence is the maximum penalty Indonesia’s Criminal Code allows for treason.
Johan Teterisa had been deemed the organiser of the unfurling of the illegal flag of the South Moluccas Republic during a traditional dance to welcome President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the eastern province last year.
The flag represents a mostly protestant secessionist movement
The incident embarrassed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was presiding National Family Day in the provincial capital in June last year.
The newspaper quotes Ambon court
spokesman Amin Syafrudin as the source of its report.
The Indonesian news agency Antara says John Teterisa cried when the sentence was announced.
The judges said the primary-school teacher from Aboru, central Moluccas, who had previously been found guilty of a similar offence had “embarrassed the people of Indonesia in the eyes of the world,” and had showed no remorse.
The Jakarta Post quoted former National Human Rights Commission secretary general Asmara Nababan as saying the judges had failed to consider that the actions of Johan Teterisa were non-violent.
“The judges should have deemed his action more as a political aspiration than a life-threatening act," Asmara said. "He only waved an RMS, or South Moluccas Republic flag, and did not carry a weapon.
“The life sentence is too much. The government should have been more open-minded in settling the case. We already have too many political prisoners.”
Former deputy attorney general Antonius Sujata said: “The treason charge and the life sentence were emotional, political and nonsense.
“The man only waved a flag and did not try to harm the President.”
The counter-revolutionary so-called South Moluccas Republic dates to the 1950s.
European influence in the South Moluccas Maluku erupted in Muslim-Christian violence in the 16th century and provided many soldiers for the Dutch colonial army.
The separatists were supported by anti-Soekarnoists in Europe, mostly the Netherlands, the United States and Australia.
The South Moluccas was wracked by violence between Muslims and Christians between 1999 and 2002.
Have a bit of trouble understanding the Indonesians.
1. Wave flag and embarrass President - Life Imprison.
2. Murder 200+ people with a bomb - 2 years and then you're out spreading your philosophy of violence in complete freedom?
OK.....
At least 19 traditional dancers, who were also found guilty, were sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in jail.
The sentence is the maximum penalty Indonesia’s Criminal Code allows for treason.
Johan Teterisa had been deemed the organiser of the unfurling of the illegal flag of the South Moluccas Republic during a traditional dance to welcome President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the eastern province last year.
The flag represents a mostly protestant secessionist movement
The incident embarrassed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was presiding National Family Day in the provincial capital in June last year.
The newspaper quotes Ambon court
spokesman Amin Syafrudin as the source of its report.
The Indonesian news agency Antara says John Teterisa cried when the sentence was announced.
The judges said the primary-school teacher from Aboru, central Moluccas, who had previously been found guilty of a similar offence had “embarrassed the people of Indonesia in the eyes of the world,” and had showed no remorse.
The Jakarta Post quoted former National Human Rights Commission secretary general Asmara Nababan as saying the judges had failed to consider that the actions of Johan Teterisa were non-violent.
“The judges should have deemed his action more as a political aspiration than a life-threatening act," Asmara said. "He only waved an RMS, or South Moluccas Republic flag, and did not carry a weapon.
“The life sentence is too much. The government should have been more open-minded in settling the case. We already have too many political prisoners.”
Former deputy attorney general Antonius Sujata said: “The treason charge and the life sentence were emotional, political and nonsense.
“The man only waved a flag and did not try to harm the President.”
The counter-revolutionary so-called South Moluccas Republic dates to the 1950s.
European influence in the South Moluccas Maluku erupted in Muslim-Christian violence in the 16th century and provided many soldiers for the Dutch colonial army.
The separatists were supported by anti-Soekarnoists in Europe, mostly the Netherlands, the United States and Australia.
The South Moluccas was wracked by violence between Muslims and Christians between 1999 and 2002.
Have a bit of trouble understanding the Indonesians.
1. Wave flag and embarrass President - Life Imprison.
2. Murder 200+ people with a bomb - 2 years and then you're out spreading your philosophy of violence in complete freedom?
OK.....