| Home | Bookmark | Tell | Active petitions in over 75 countries | Follow GoPetition |
West-Papua: Release of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage
This petition was published by Amnesty International on Jan 13, 2010
To:
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of the Republik of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta 10 110
Indonesia
Your Excellency,
we are deeply concerned about Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, who were arrested in 2004 for their participation in a peaceful flag-raising ceremony in Papua province. Filep Karma is serving a 15-year sentence and Yusak Pakage is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of treason. Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
On 1 December 2004, some 200 people took part in a peaceful ceremony outside Abepura, during which the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, was raised in commemoration of the declaration of Papuan independence in 1962. When the flag was raised, police advanced on the crowd, firing shots and beating people with batons. Police arrested Filep Karma and reportedly beat and stomped on him during transport to the police station. A group of about 20 people were later arrested at the police station while protesting Filep Karma’s arrest. This group was subsequently released, except for Yusak Pakage, who remained in detention. In May 2005, the two men were convicted in connection with the flag-raising event and sentenced to long prison terms.
We urge you to release Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage and to make a public commitment that there will be no further arrests of individuals purely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, opinion, belief or association. Specifically, we ask you to ensure that laws concerning "rebellion" (Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code) are not used against people who have engaged only in peaceful activities. While I do not seek to advocate a particular position on the political status of Papua, I believe the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate referenda, independence or other political solutions. These rights must be upheld.
Sincerely,
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of the Republik of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta 10 110
Indonesia
Your Excellency,
we are deeply concerned about Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, who were arrested in 2004 for their participation in a peaceful flag-raising ceremony in Papua province. Filep Karma is serving a 15-year sentence and Yusak Pakage is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of treason. Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
On 1 December 2004, some 200 people took part in a peaceful ceremony outside Abepura, during which the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, was raised in commemoration of the declaration of Papuan independence in 1962. When the flag was raised, police advanced on the crowd, firing shots and beating people with batons. Police arrested Filep Karma and reportedly beat and stomped on him during transport to the police station. A group of about 20 people were later arrested at the police station while protesting Filep Karma’s arrest. This group was subsequently released, except for Yusak Pakage, who remained in detention. In May 2005, the two men were convicted in connection with the flag-raising event and sentenced to long prison terms.
We urge you to release Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage and to make a public commitment that there will be no further arrests of individuals purely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, opinion, belief or association. Specifically, we ask you to ensure that laws concerning "rebellion" (Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code) are not used against people who have engaged only in peaceful activities. While I do not seek to advocate a particular position on the political status of Papua, I believe the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate referenda, independence or other political solutions. These rights must be upheld.
Sincerely,
Complete the fields below and click 'Sign'. Optional fields may be completed or left blank.
* - required fields
 |
GoPetition respects your privacy. Click here for more information. |