1) Detainment of four Papuan students for alleged treason extended

2) Defense Ministry upholds training for Islam Defenders Front

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/01/11/detainment-of-four-papuan-students-for-alleged-treason-extended.html

1) Detainment of four Papuan students for alleged treason extended

Lita Aruperes The Jakarta Post

Manado | Wed, January 11, 2017 | 11:10 am

Dozens of students, who staged a rally at a dormitory for Papuan students on Jl. Kampus in Manado, North Sulawesi, were brought to North Sulawesi Police headquarters to be questioned on May 31. (JP/Lita Aruperes)

The detention of four students from Papua who have been accused of treason by Manado Police, has been extended to Feb. 17 or 40 days since their arrest.

Manado Police crime unit head Comr. Edwin Humokor said Tuesday the case dossiers had been submitted to the prosecutor’s office. “Their detention has been extended to simplify the investigation process,” Edwin said.

He said the suspects violated article 106 of the Criminal Code on treason, which carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and 20 years as a minimum.

The four are: William Wim, Emanuel Ukago, Panus Hesegem and Indonesian Consulate of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) head Hizkia Meage.

Lawyer Hendra Baramuli said he would file a pretrial motion to free the four.

He said the four had only expressed their opinions and should not have been charged with treason.

The four were arrested along with 81 other students in two locations in December last year. The others were released.

The KNPB has been campaigning for self-determination in Papua and West Papua provinces, where collectively the two internationally have been referred to as West Papua to distinguish the region from Papua New Guinea. (evi)

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/01/11/defense-ministry-upholds-training-for-islam-defenders-front.html

2) Defense Ministry upholds training for Islam Defenders Front

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/01/11/defense-ministry-upholds-training-for-islam-defenders-front.html

Margareth S. Aritonang The Jakarta Post

Jakarta | Wed, January 11, 2017 | 07:09 am

God's soldiers — Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members express their anger at a recent protest. (Tempo/-)

Contrary to the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Defense Ministry has defended Bela Negara (State Defense) training for members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Tuesday that the military style training was for all citizens regardless of their backgrounds, including FPI members, but should be done properly. 

"As long as we teach [the participants] good things, why not? All people of the country must defend the state. And so must the FPI," Ryamizard said.

(Read also: State defense training for FPI not allowed: TNI)

TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Wuryanto previously said the military institution had banned FPI members from undertaking the training after photos of a session in Lebak, Banten, were uploaded to the FPI's Instagram account @dpp_fpi. 

The TNI later removed Lebak military commander Lt. Col. Czi Ubaidillah from his post for holding the training. Wuryanto gave his assurances that regional commanders throughout the country were prohibited from providing training to the FPI although the military has yet to issue an official letter to confirm such instructions. The FPI has posted more photos of similar trainings held by the military for its members in Madura, East Java. 

Ryamizard said his office would conduct its own investigation into the incident in Lebak over a violation of proper procedures that led the public to question the Bela Negara program. (dmr)

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