F

ive treason suspects have been release from police custody at the recognizance of their families and vowed that they would not flee or tamper with evidence and would remain cooperative during legal proceedings.

'€œTheir detention was postponed on May 2, after their families gave their word,'€ said Papua Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Rudolf Patrick in Jayapura on Tuesday.

'€œAlthough they have been released at their families'€™ recognizance, the legal process will not stop,'€ said Rudolf.

The suspects'€™ lawyer, Olga Hamadi, said his party had requested that their detention be suspended from April 21 on the grounds they were elderly and that their families had vouched that they would not abscond or tamper with evidence.

The suspects were arrested at the Theys Hiyo Eluay meeting hall in Sentani on April 14, after they arrived from Jakarta where they met Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on April 10. All their expenses, including accommodation and transportation, were covered by the ministry.

The five have been identified only by the initials EA, who is the head of the West Papua Republic Federal Police (NFRPB); MJS, the commander of the Papua task force in the Sentani region and secretary of the Papuan Independence Committee (KIP); DF, KIP spokesperson; LM, KIP chairman; and OB, NFRPB spokesperson.

The group'€™s lawyers were adamant that they were only discussing and expressing their opinions on Papua at the meeting hall and were not involved in any movement that had subversive elements.