PAPUA -- INCITEMENT TRIAL INVOLVING ACTIVIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000824 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/ANP, DRL/AWH NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS KDEM ID SUBJECT: PAPUA -- INCITEMENT TRIAL INVOLVING ACTIVIST STALLED REF: A. JAKARTA 718 ¶B. JAKARTA 478 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Based on our soundings, prosecutors have repeatedly failed to make an effective case for incitement against detained Papuan human right activist Sabar Iwanggin. The case continues while he remains under house arrest. Pol/C and POLOFF plan to visit Papua in early May to raise USG concerns regarding this case, among other key matters. END SUMMARY. IWANGGIN CASE STALLED ¶2. (SBU) The case against Papuan human rights activist Sabar Iwanggin is stalled. Prosecutors had charged Iwanggin with incitement for allegedly forwarding text messages that charged President Yudhoyono and other Indonesian officials with an alleged plot to poison Papuans. His trial--which is being held in Jayapura, Papua--began in January (see Ref B). On six occasions over the past two months, the trial was adjourned because prosecutors failed to produce witnesses. ¶3. (C) Authorities have released Iwanggin from prison and he is now under house arrest. There may be more good news in the case soon. Police officials have privately admitted that they do not think they have sufficient evidence to convict Iwanggin, according to Budi Hernawan, director of the Jayapura Diocese Peace and Justice Secretariat, who has assisted with Iwanggin's defense. Contacts involved in the case expect prosecutors to eventually drop the charges but have no certainty as to whether or when that might happen. SHOWING USG CONCERN ¶4. (SBU) Pol/C and POLOFF plan to visit Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, in early May. They will raise USG concerns regarding the Iwanggin case and other issues, including recent cases lodged against individuals who raised the Morning Star Flag, which the GOI considers a symbol of separatism (Ref A.). Other key aspects of the visit will include discussions on progress in the regional autonomy area and planned public outreach events involving Papuan youth. HUME