TIMIKA DEFENDANTS STILL REFUSE TO APPEAR

UNCLAS JAKARTA 008687 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FBI PLS PASS CTD/GAO - UC MONTOOTH SECSTATE FOR EAP/MTS AND DS/DSS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/EAP/ITA, AND CA/OCS/ACS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC CASC KJUS PHUM ID SUBJECT: TIMIKA DEFENDANTS STILL REFUSE TO APPEAR REF: A. JAKARTA 8383 (OPENING OF TIMIKA TRIAL DEFERRED) ¶B. JAKARTA 8114 (TRIAL OF TIMIKA SUSPECTS) ¶1. (SBU) The trial of Anthonious Wamang, Agustinus Anggaibak and five other co-conspirators in the 2002 murders of two Amcits in Timika, Papua was delayed again when the defendants failed to appear for the second straight week (ref A). Defense lawyers from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) continue to insist that the trial should be held in Timika. As expected, Chief Judge Nurdin ordered that the suspects be compelled to appear at the next session, scheduled for July 18, and we expect that the Supreme Court's decision to change the venue of the trial from Papua to Jakarta will stand. Journalists from both Indonesia and Australia attended the session, but unlike the first session no protesters were present. ¶2. (SBU) Separately, we met with Patsy Spiers' privately contracted attorney, Luhut M. P. Pangaribuan on July 10. A former President of PBHI, Pangaribuan stated that he personally knows both the defense team and Chief Judge Nurdin, whom he considers to be very capable. He also stated that the defense was not aware of his role as Ms. Spiers' private attorney. We emphasized our desire to keep in regular contact with them in order to ensure that Ms. Spiers has the full support she needs. An attorney from Pangaribuan's office attended the July 11 session. PASCOE