26 Jul 2006

Indonesian court jails 11 over Jayapura protest

1:46 pm on 26 July 2006

An Indonesian court has jailed 11 people for taking part in violent protests against a US-run mine in Papua province which left six people dead.

Hundreds of protesters clashed with security officers near Papua's capital Jayapura in March over the mine run by US company, Freeport-McMoran.

One was sentenced to six years in jail while 10 others were given five years in prison each.

The six-year sentence was given to Nelson Rumbiak, who was also accused of stealing a teargas cannister from a policeman during the melee.

Judge Morris Ginting said the defendants were accused of violently resisting the orders of security personnel.

Judge Ginting added that the defendants' lawyers would appeal the ruling.