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West Papuan activist receives repeated death threats
Amnesty International Urgent Action - October 28, 2009
Yoab Syatfle, a political activist in West Papua, has received repeated death threats. The threats, sent via SMS to his mobile phone, are apparently related to his peaceful political activities. On 26 October, Yoab Syatfle received six anonymous SMS messages threatening that he would be abducted and killed if he left his house.
One of them warned: "you are one of the people we are looking for, we remember you, if you leave your house yard one more time, you will be killed".
Those who sent the SMS messages apparently believe that Yoab Syatfle is organizing a demonstration which is due to take place on 29 October in Sorong, West Papua Province. The demonstration, organized by a coalition of groups in Papua will call for an internationally mediated solution in West Papua. Yoab Syatfle denies that he has the power to cancel the demonstration.
It appears that Yoab Syatfle has been targeted because he is a prominent peaceful political activist in Papua. He is the Sorong Secretary of the Papua Traditional Council (Dewan Adat Papua) which represents Indigenous communities in Papua. He is also Secretary of the Papua National Consensus Team, a non-violent group campaigning for a peaceful internationally mediated solution to the political problems in Papua.
The right to free expression, opinion and assembly is guaranteed under the Indonesian Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party. However, members of human rights organizations in Papua have been harassed and intimidated because of their work, and many peaceful pro-independence political activists have been arrested and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
Please write immediately urging the authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of Yoab Syatfle; calling for an immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the threats he has received, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice; urging the authorities to ensure that the right to freedom of expression and assembly is upheld in Papua, and that local and international journalists, humanitarian workers and human rights defenders have full, unimpeded and unhindered access to the people of the province; calling on the authorities to ensure that all members of the police and military are made aware of the legitimate role of human rights defenders and their responsibility to protect them, as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Please send appeals before 9 December 2009 to:
National Head of Police (Kapolri)_
General Bambang Hendarso
Danuri
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Jakarta
Selatan, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 7202142
Regional Police Chief (Kapolda)
Inspektur Jenderal Bagus
Ekodanto
Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia
Fax: +62 967 533763
And copies to:
Chairperson National Human
Rights Commission (Komnas HAM)
Ifdhal Kasim Jl Latuharhary
No4 Menteng Jakarta Pusat
10310 Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 39 25 227
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia accredited to your country.
See also:
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West Papua Links Statements/press releases on West Papua News services on Indonesia Indonesia News Digest Reports & articles on Indonesia ASIET Publications & videos on Indonesia Statements & press releases on Indonesia Indonesia links