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Members of US Congress call for action on long detained prisoners of conscience in Indonesia
Media Release - June 18, 2015
Washington, D.C.: Today, six members of the US House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry raising the continued detention of peaceful activists in Indonesia.
The initiative was led by Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Chairs, Congressmen Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA) and James P. McGovern (D-MA). Congressmen Trent Franks (R-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), and Juan Vargas (D-CA), all members the Commission's Executive Committee, also joined the letter. The letter notes with significant concern the imprisonment of Mr. Filep Karma, a peaceful Papuan activist who has been detained since 2004 on treason charges for organizing a protest and raising the banned Papuan Morning Star flag. In May 2011, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for Mr. Karma's release, opining that Mr. Karma's trial fell far below international standards and that his imprisonment resulted from the peaceful exercise of his fundamental rights – including the right to freedom of expression.
In the letter, below, the Commission members note that, "the imprisonment of peaceful activists on treason charges is an unfortunate echo of Indonesia's pre-democratic past. President Widodo now has the power to move his country firmly into the community of stable, rights respecting democracies. We are encouraged by his public commitment to hear the grievances of Papuans and open the region to international journalists and observers." The letter called for the immediate amnesty of all political prisoners, including Mr. Karma, and called for the immediate rehabilitation of all Indonesians imprisoned for peacefully exercising fundamental civil and political rights.
Mr. Karma, 55, is a prominent Papuan political activist and former Indonesian civil servant. He is married and has two daughters. He is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for raising a banned flag at a political rally celebrating the anniversary of the 1961 Papuan declaration of independence from Dutch rule. He is presently detained in a prison in Abepura in Papua and has suffered from ill health. He has been denied crucial medical attention, including necessary prostate surgery for nearly a year.
Maran Turner, Executive Director of Freedom Now, applauds this initiative by members of the Lantos Commission. "We welcome President Widodo's previous promises to address lingering human rights violations in the region and this important affirmation by members of the Commission that such abuses must be remedied. Until Mr. Karma is released, the international community will continue to press the Government of Indonesia to do the right thing."
One Hundred and Fourteenth Congress - Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
June 18, 2015
Dear Secretary Kerry,
We write to you in advance of the upcoming visit to the United States by newly elected Indonesian President Joko Widodo. While President Obama has rightly hailed Indonesia's democratic transition, as evidenced by last year's election, we remain deeply concerned about ongoing human rights challenges. We therefore urge you to strongly communicate the need for continued progress on the human rights situation in Indonesia by raising specific violations and working with the new government to fulfill all of its obligations under international law.
Of particular concern is the imprisonment of peaceful activists who exercise the basic right to freedom of expression and assembly. We have continued to receive reports that large numbers of Papuan activists, over 60 as of last February, remain in prison on treason charges as a result of attending rallies or raising the separatist flag in support of Papuan self-determination. While the future of Indonesia's many regions must be decided by the people of Indonesia, the right to peaceful expression and assembly must also be protected.
The case of Papuan activist Filep Karma, for example, has been repeatedly raised by the international community. Mr. Karma is a prominent political activist and former civil servant who has been detained since 2004 in response to his activism – and despite the fact that he has explicitly denounced the use of violence. The Indonesian government sentenced Mr. Karma to fifteen years in prison on treason charges for organizing a protest on December 1, 2004, that included the raising of the Papuan Morning Star flag during a demonstration celebrating the region's independence from Dutch rule in 1961. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for his immediate release, citing a trial that fell far below international standards of due process and the fact that his imprisonment resulted from the peaceful exercise of internationally protected rights. Mr. Karma's case was also highlighted in a letter from a bipartisan group of 26 members of Congress on August 22, 2011.
As was noted in the letter of August 22, 2011, the imprisonment of peaceful activists on treason charges is an unfortunate echo of Indonesia's pre-democratic past. President Widodo now has the power to move his country firmly into the community of stable, rights-respecting democracies. We are encouraged by his public commitment to hear the grievances of Papuans and open the region to international journalists and observers. We also welcome the commitment by President Obama to assist Indonesia in implementing President Widodo's reform agenda.
A first step in such reforms must include President Widodo issuing amnesty to political prisoners, including Mr. Karma, and immediately rehabilitating all Indonesians imprisoned for peacefully exercising fundamental civil and political rights. During his visit to Papua last May 9, President Widodo released five Papuan prisoners, but their release was based on clemency, which requires an admission of guilt from the prisoner. President Widodo should release all political prisoners with an immediate presidential amnesty, rather than demanding that they admit guilt for convictions that violated their basic human rights. President Widodo should also ensure that future prosecutions of persons under his country's jurisdiction protect individuals' fundamental rights of due process.
Sincerely,
Joseph R. Pitts
James P. McGovern
Trent Franks Keith Ellison
Randy Hultgren
Juan Vargas
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