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West Papuan political prisoner on hunger strike
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Press Release - July 24, 2007
Filep Karma a West Papuan political prisoner has been on hunger strike in prison in Jayapura. He went on hunger strike after receiving a letter from the authorities saying that he and fellow prisoner Yusak Pakage, would be moved from prison in Jayapura to a prison in Jakarta. His hunger strike imitates other political prisoners such as Gandhi who used it to protest British rule in India, Nelson Mandela who with other prisoners used it to improve prisoners' treatment. In so doing they alerted the world to the injustices being perpetrated in their countries.
Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage received jail terms of 15 and 10 years for simply raising the West Papuan National Flag, The Morning Star at a peaceful celebration in Jayapura on the 1st December 2004. Filep Karma is a 45-year-old civil servant and Yusak Pakage, a 26-year-old student.
The Red Cross has been called and Filep Karma is at present in hospital in Jayapura.
This is not the first time that Filep Karma has gone on hunger strike. Human Rights watch in its report 'Protest and Punishment: political prisoners in Papua stated that: "While in pre-trial detention, Karma went on hunger-strike and took a vow of silence. He symbolized this by tying a white cloth around his mouth. When questioned by reporters as to why he was undertaking the hunger strike and vow of silence, Karma replied (in writing) that it was form of protest against the fact that he was being held as a political prisoner"
AWPA is concerned for the safety of both men if they are moved to Jakarta away from their family and friends.
AWPA believes there is a systematic campaign by the military and police to intimidate any individual or organisation whom they (the military and police) deem to be separatists. The removal of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage from West Papua should be seen in the light of removing two West Papuans who are a rallying point for those fighting injustice in West Papua.
Joe Collins of AWPA said "that not only should the authorities allow Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage to remain in West Papua but they should be immediately released with all other West Papuan political prisoners as a sign of good faith to the West Papuan people and as a way of easing tension in the territory".
For more information contact: Joe Collins Mob. 04077 857 97
Background
Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage Prisoners of conscience Amnesty International http://www.amnestyusa.org/Prisoners_of_Conscience/Filep_Karma_and_Yusak_Pakage/page.do?id=1101238&n1=3&n2=34&n3=53
Protest and Punishment: Political Prisoners in Papua Human rights Watch. Report http://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/papua0207/
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