The lawyer representing seven Papuans on trial over the 2002 killings of two Americans in Indonesia's Papua province says the trial should not be held in Jakarta.
Two American teachers and an Indonesian colleague were shot in August 2002 near the Freeport McMoran gold and copper mine in Timika.
Initial hearings for the trial have taken place in Jakarta this week, but at the request of his clients, lawyer Johnson Panjaitan, wasn't present.
Mr Panjaitan says the Police, Prosecutor and Supreme Court have all pushed for the trial to be held in Jakarta.
But he says people in Timika are in support of the suspects in demanding that the case be heard in Timika where the attack took place.
"Because that is the law. The law in Indonesia is the authority of this case is the court in Timika. But the Supreme Court can move this case if the security in Timika is not good. But now, in Timika, it's a good situation - not dangerous."
Johnson Panjaitan says only one of his clients, Anthonius Wamang, was involved in the shootings.
