Jail sought for Papua murder of Americans,Indonesian

JAKARTA, Oct 14 (Reuters) Indonesian prosecutors demanded jail terms for seven men for the 2002 murder of two Americans and an Indonesian in Papua province near a mine run by a unit of U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper&Gold Inc.

Ties between Indonesia and the United States were strained by the incident and only improved after they agreed to collaborate in solving the case, which had initially sparked suspicions the Indonesian military was involved.

Prosecutors wanted the court to punish leading defendant Antonius Wamang with a 20-year jail term for manslaughter and premeditated murder including recruiting men for the ambush of cars carring the victims.

''He has been proved of firing at the cars with an M-16 rifle...

killing three people at the scene,'' prosecutor Anita Asterida told the court yesterday.

Prosecutors have said in earlier sessions that Wamang thought white cars passing through the mining area carried troops and decided to open fire. In fact, the two vehicles were transporting Americans and Indonesians who worked for a Freeport-run school.

Four people were injured.

In a subsequent session, the prosecution demanded Agustinus Anggaibak and Yulianus Deikme, two men who allegedly helped Wamang prepare the ambush, get 15 years in jail.

The prosecutors also asked the court to hand eight-year jail terms to four other defendants for giving assistance to the attacking band.

Under Indonesian law, a prosecution sentencing demand serves as a strong recommendation for the court, but judges have the right to ignore the advice when considering their verdict.

Prosecutors have said Wamang and other gunmen were near Freeport's Grasberg mine in late August 2002, under orders from Papuan separatist commander Kelly Kwalik to attack Indonesian soldiers who were part of the mine's security detail.

The mine has been a lightning rod for controversy.

Critics object to payments for security made to Indonesia's military, while some Papuans complain the company does not do enough to help impoverished locals, and some non-governmental organisations say it harms the environment.

Wamang was indicted by a US federal grand jury in 2004 on two counts of murder over the killings.

REUTERS SRS PM0447