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Freedom now welcomes call of 26 members of US house for release of renowned human rights advocate Filep Karma
Freedom Now Press Release - August 22, 2011
Mr. Karma's case represents an unfortunate echo of Indonesia's pre-democratic era, when Indonesia regularly imprisoned political activists on unlawful grounds... We urge your government to uphold its commitments to international law and to its own domestic law and immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Karma.Other signatories to the letter included members of the House's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chris Smith (R-NJ), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS); and co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA).
Freedom Now attorney Sachi Jepson stated: "We, along with an international community of supporters, are heartened by the House's efforts to restore justice and health to Mr. Karma. We sincerely hope the Government of Indonesia will bring an end to Mr. Karma's unlawful detention and that he can return to his family at long last."
Mr. Filep Karma, 52, is a prominent Papuan political activist and former Indonesian civil servant who is serving a fifteen-year prison sentence for his peaceful human rights advocacy. He was arrested on December 1, 2004, for organizing and participating in a ceremony at Trikora Field in Abepura, Papua, where hundreds gathered to raise the Papuan Morning Star flag and celebrate the anniversary of the 1961 Papuan declaration of independence from Dutch rule.
Although Mr. Karma has explicitly denounced the use of violence, he was charged with treason and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. His wrongful arrest, detention, and trial violate Indonesian law and Indonesian obligations under international law. Mr. Karma is an inspirational leader of nonviolent human rights advocacy-currently suffering respiratory infections and abdominal pains while being denied medical attention.
Freedom Now welcomes the support of these Representatives and joins them in calling on President Yudhoyono to release Mr. Karma and urging the Indonesian government to comply with its commitments under international law and its own constitution.
For more information contact Fred Fedynyshyn on +1 202-637-6461
Freedom Now
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+1 (202) 223-3733
www.freedom-now.org
Our mission is to free prisoners of conscience through focused legal, political and public relations advocacy efforts.
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