The trial of a Polish man facing a range of charges over his alleged links to the West Papuan independence fighters begins today.
Jakub Skrzypski was detained in the Highlands town of Wamena in August on suspicion of arranging an arms deal with the West Papua Liberation Army.
Jakub Skrzypski, a 39-year Polish citizen visiting Papua as a tourist, was arrested in Wamena in late August on suspicion of being a journalist. Photo: Facebook
He and three local people have been charged with a range of crimes under Indonesia's criminal code, including a plot to overthrow the government.
Mr Skrzypski, whose trial is being held in Wamena, faces a 15-year prison sentence if convicted.
After his arrest, police said they had seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a phone and documents which included information about weapons and ammunition required by the Liberation Army.
The Liberation Army claimed responsibility for a massacre of Indonesian road workers earlier this month in Papua's Highlands.
At least sixteen employees of a state-owned company were killed, prompting deployment of extra Indonesian troops to the area.
It was the latest in a series of attacks by the Liberation Army which declared war against the Indonesian state in January.
Four Japanese jailed for immigration breaches in Papua
Four Japanese men have been jailed for violations of Indonesian immigration rules in Papua.
The men, all aged in their 50s, have been in custody since June when they were arrested in a massive raid of some companies in Papua province's Nabire Regency.
According to Japan Today, they've each been sentenced to five and a half months jail time for immigration violations and have been ordered to pay a fine of almost $US700.
The men were working for Jakarta-based gold mining company PT Nur Alam International, which claims to have a licence to mine for gold in Papua.
A judicial panel at the Nabire District Court found the defendants guilty of violating the country's immigration law by misusing their limited stay permits and tourist visas for working.
