[?]Arge Of Sedition

It's Another "First"

[?]Ng Official On

prosecution that, as far as is vn, is without precedent in the iry of Papua and New Guinea, is attended by unusual circum ces, commenced in Madang on tmber 19.

!Lan Leonard Cooper, Aged

24, a graduate of Sydney Uni versity, who had been employed ;he Administration as a Native )perative Society official for two three years, is charged with :ion. >oper, at the end of his first i of service in New Guinea, t on leave in May, 1960, and rned to duty at Madang on Sep- Der 9. It was stated in evidence during his leave he visited a ber of countries in South East , including Indonesia, Malaya, apore and Japan. is alleged that immediately ' his return from leave Cooper a series of talks with Madang /es —most of them apparently ve clerks connected with the ang native co-operative society d that he then made a number itatements which subsequently taken as the basis of a charge laking seditious utterances, le statements said to have been e by Cooper were reported at by natives to high Adminis on officials in Madang. Action taken promptly. Cooper was re d of duty on September 16; he ; South within a few days; and Commonwealth Security Police e an investigation.

Arrest in Sydney ie investigation apparently took 'al weeks. In the meantime, >er got a job as a clerk in a ley factory, and went to reside yrmont Bridge Road, Camper i. There he was interviewed in November by the Deputy missioner of Commonwealth ;e, Mr. J. M. Davis, ie latter stated in evidence that ler described most of the state ts made by the natives (the i of the charge) as false and inary. ?anwhile, all the known circum :es surrounding Cooper’s brief arance in Madang (September 1 were examined in a Territory t; and a warrant for the arrest !ooper on a charge of making ious utterances then was issued he Commonwealth Police, and ication made for his extradition Sydney to Port Moresby. This granted by a Sydney Court, oper was sent on immediately fadang where, on December 5, ppeared in the District Court

before Magistrate P. Mallon. He sought an adjournment to allow him to engage counsel, and applied for bail. Bail was refused, but the hear ing was adjourned until December 19, when Cooper was defended by Mr. J. H. Staunton, a Sydney barrister.

Proceedings in Madang

The prosecution’s chief witnesses were natives—connections or em ployees of the Madang Native Co operative Association.

The prosecution was conducted for the Crown by Messrs. J. Greville Smith and P. J. Clay.

The first witness was Sarowa, a former chairman of the Madang Co-operative Society. He was followed by Kamod Tamen, a Co operative clerk, and Mark Mark, chairman of the Co-operative As sociation. There were three other native witnesses; and two members of the Commonwealth Police des cribed interviews with Cooper.

Taking of the evidence of the natives, and their cross-examination by Mr. Staunton, occupied the better part of three days.

The hearing took place in a very modest court-room, constructed of

native materials, on the edge of the lagoon at the rear of the Madang Police Station. Reuter says: “Three unpainted wooden benches, a few chairs and two small tables provided the court room’s only

iture. There is no public ry”. uter also says: “Cooper, slightly and fair-headed, appeared in t dressed in dark grey >ers and white shirt, with es rolled up. He wore no tie no coat. He appeared quite ase”. The blonde defendant ared very youthful. He is 24.

Evidence by Natives

e evidence of the native wit is can easily be summarised, onsisted of their version of ments made to them in a series parently casual talks extending three or four days, e natives said that the talks them were sought by Cooper; eas Cooper, in statements i to the Commonwealth Police, that the talks with him, about ravels in Asian countries, were it by the natives. 3 Magistrate, on December 21, nded Cooper for trial by the tory Supreme Court. Bail was ed. 3 matter came before Chief :e Mann in Port Moresby on nber 23. He fixed the trial for ary 23, and refused bail; but >ld counsel he would consider , the matter of bail if some ible scheme was devised ?by Cooper could go to Aus , and the Court would be sure he would return for his trial.

Staunton later said he could st no suitable bail plan; but pplied for the trial to be :ht forward. j natives testified that Cooper to them in Pidgin. He invited to come together, to hear his about his travels. He went ;at under a tree, near the Co tive office. Co-operative rmel joined him there, •per spoke of people who had own leaders, and of young s being sent to other countries educated: and when they re d they would help the natives, natives would do their own and there would be oppor es for all. •per spoke of how a native would round up the white ation. Cooper had described the natives would rise on a a,te and, after seizing firearms iquor, would send the whites to Australia and destroy the ng airstrip. The natives then L have a government of their and, if Australia wanted to them, Russia and China I come to their aid. Cooper said Australia would be if Russia and China threats. d witnesses agreed that Cooper told the meetings that the 3S were not to harm European rs in any rebellion. One wit

ness said Cooper stated at one of the meetings that he had visited Russia and China.

At one stage Cooper, with the Court’s permission, himself cross examined Mark Mark. He asked Mark Mark if he (Cooper) did not say that if Papua and New Guinea were self-governing, Russia would aid their development by sending technicians and experts—but he did not say that Russia would come in and rule the Territory.

Mark Mark disagreed. He claimed that Cooper said “Russia would look after us’’.

Pending any rearrangement of bail by the Supreme Court, Cooper remains in police custody in Port Moresby.