18 September 2020

In June, three environmental defenders from the remote island of Nende celebrated their acquittal from arson charges, along with the many supporters who had attended their trial. But the later convictions of two co-defendants mean their fights for justice are far from over.

[..]

However, the magistrate’s decision in July to uphold the charges against the two remaining defendants Jerry Meioko and Clement Tauto dashed hopes for an outright victory and highlights the risks for those who stand in the way of the logging companies.

Tauto became the only defendant to be convicted of arson, while Meioko was convicted on charges of larceny and unlawful damage. This is despite the prosecution having accused the co-defendants of destroying the machines as a joint enterprise and the conspiracy charges against Nina having been dropped, lawyer Ramo pointed out.

[...]

The differences in the verdicts appear to come down to what happened when they were first taken into police custody in Lata.

Sources said Tauto had confessed to participating in the burning of the machinery in his statement to the police, which was allegedly given under duress.

“All the prosecution relied upon was their admission statements [which were taken by the police after they had been arrested as evidence against them], but these statements were not obtained voluntarily,” Ramo said.

Sources said it is common knowledge that logging companies often bribe the police to act in their favor when disputes arise, sometimes falsifying evidence to wrongly charge their opponents, as well as coercing those arrested into making admission statements.

[...]