Free West Papua Political Prisoners

I do really appreciate your campaign to release political prisoners in Papua. Please send my regard to ETAN comrades. One day I believe I will be free. Visiting ETAN comrades will be my priority. -- Filep Karma

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Support Audryne Karma's appeal: Sign the petition here

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono:
Free West Papua Political Prisoners - A Plea from the Daughter of Filep Karma

Petition to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Papua Political Prisioner Filep Karma with his daughter Audryne "Tomorrow Father will go to raise a flag and will make a brief speech in Abepura Trikora square. Both of you take care. If I am arrested by the police do not worry, do not visit Father at the police station. Just stay home and go to school as usual. The Lord Jesus protects us all."

Those were my father’s last words before he was arrested.

My name is Audryne Karma, the older daughter of Filep Karma, a Papuan political prisoner. My father is an alumnus of Universitas Sebelas Maret in Solo. He married mama, a Malay-Javanese in 1986. They have two children, me and, my younger sister Andrefina Karma.

There are more than 70 political prisoners in Papua. Like my father, they voice their political aspirations peacefully, without violence. I implore President SBY to instruct the government to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in Papua.

In 1998 my father started advocating for the independence of West Papua from Indonesia through peaceful means. On 2 July, he led the pro-independence West Papua and raised the Morning Star flag in our original region, Biak, Papua. For three days the flag was displayed and Father made speeches. On July 6, the Indonesian military attacked the peaceful protesters. More than 100 protesters were killed, and several are still missing. My father was shot in both legs when he was praying at the scene. Indonesian authorities failed to conduct an in-depth investigation and have yet to acknowledge the “Biak Massacre” 15 years ago. My father was sentenced by the Indonesian court to 6 years in prison. However, two years later he was released when Gus Dur became president in 2000.

On December 1, 2004, my father and some friends gathered peacefully to commemorate the promised of independence for Papua, and the Morning Star was raised again. The police responded by beating and shooting the people who came. Approximately four people were injured, including my father. For this case, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of "treason."

My father’s case received widespread attention from Indonesian and international human rights organizations. He is considered a prisoner of conscience because of his human rights activism on behalf of Papuans, who continue to experience discrimination, racism and persecution.

In September 2011, a UN delegation, the “Working Group on Arbitrary Detention,” investigated my father’s case and declared that he did not get a fair trial and that my father is a political prisoner. They urged the Indonesian government to immediately and unconditionally release my father. However, the government denied the existence of political prisoners in Indonesia until to date. My father’s case was further discussed in the Universal Periodic Review session of the United Nations in Geneva, in May 2012. Dozens of countries recommended release of political prisoners in Indonesia. Once again, the Indonesian government rejected the recommendation of the UN and denied the existence of political prisoners.

During his years in the Abepura prison in Jayapura West Papua, my father has several times suffered severe health problems, ranging from his weight dropping from 60 kilograms to 49 kilograms (132 pounds to108 pounds) due to poor sanitation and malnutrition in the prisons. He had severe prostate pain and chronic inflammation of the colon. We did not have much money for his medical expenses. The Indonesian government was not even willing to cover the cost of travel to a hospital and of the needed treatment. Nevertheless, many individuals and international organizations who sympathize with my father gave support to cover the costs if the Indonesian authorities allowed travel and treatment.

As the daughter of Filep Karma, I am saddened and disappointed at the government for the severe punishment imposed on my father. Our family suffers psychological pain caused by his imprisonment. To date there are more than 70 political prisoners in Papua. Like my father, they voice their political aspirations peacefully, without violence. As an Indonesian citizen, who is legally free to voice opinions, I implore President SBY to instruct the government to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in Papua.

Sign the petition here

The original Bahasa Indonesia version of the petition is here

Additional Background

For information about Filep Karma and other West Papuan political prisoners see Papuans Behind Bars

TAPOL/ETAN/WPAT et al: Urgent Appeal: freedom of expression in Papua (May 23, 2013)

Pacific teach-in sends message of support to West Papuan political prisoners (June 2013)

ETAN writes on health care for Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma (April 22, 2012)

26 Members of the House of Representatives Write Indonesia President to Call for Release of Papuan Prisoner Filep Karma (August 19, 2011)

Read the monthly West Papua Report

East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), Human Rights & Justice page

US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 - Indonesia

ETAN/WPAT: Comments on the U.S. Department of State's Annual Country Report on Human Rights for 2012 Concerning Indonesia/West Papua (May 2013)

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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: Free West Papua Political Prisoners - A Plea from the Daughter of Filep Karma

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono:
Free West Papua Political Prisoners - A Plea from the Daughter of Filep Karma