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JAKARTA, Dec 8 (Reuters) – An Indonesian court docket on Thursday acquitted a retired military officer within the deadly capturing of 4 youngsters in Papua in 2014, crushing hopes the army can be held accountable for alleged abuses within the nation’s restive easternmost area.
Held in an occasionally used human rights court docket, the seven-week trial noticed public prosecutors deliver prices of “crimes towards humanity” towards retired military main Isak Sattu for his alleged function in ordering the deadly capturing.
Presiding choose Sutisna Sawati on Thursday mentioned the defendant had been discovered not responsible, and was cleared of all prices.
The case pertains to an incident within the Papuan district of Paniai in 2014 when safety forces allegedly opened fireplace on a crowd of lots of of residents who had gathered to protest towards the beating a baby, killing 4 and injuring 17.
Yones Douw, a lawyer and consultant for the households of the victims, mentioned the trial was solely held to “create an excellent picture for Indonesia”.
“Because the starting of the trial we rejected it as a result of there was just one suspect and we simply knew he can be freed,” he mentioned.
Prosecutors, who alleged that Isak had failed in his command duty by not stopping his troops, had referred to as for the him to be jailed for 10 years.
Isak’s lawyer, Syahrir Cakkari, mentioned he was cleared of all prices as a result of he was not liable for the actions of the army personnel concerned within the incident.
Battle between indigenous Papuans and the nation’s safety forces often flares up within the distant and resource-rich province, the place a long-running battle for independence has been waged because the area was introduced underneath Indonesian management following a controversial 1969 vote that was overseen by the United Nations.
President Joko Widodo has paid explicit consideration to attempting to enhance improvement and social welfare in Papua, and had promised to make sure justice for the victims of the Paniai incident.
Reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta and Kate Lamb in Sydney; Writing by Kate Lamb; Enhancing by Kanupriya Kapoor
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.
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