also US Congress no influence to RI in taking action against OPM; US must respect RI over Papua: minister

08/13/08 05:49

RI rejects US congressmen`s request on two OPM sympathizers

Jakarta,(ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will not meet the request of a group of United States Congressmen to release two convicted sympathizers of the outlawed separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM), a spokesman said.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said here on Tuesday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would not reply to the request made in a letter signed by 40 US Congressmen.

"The president will not reply to the letter but the Foreign Affairs Ministry will do so through the Indonesian ambassador in Washington D.C.," Dino said.

According to the presidential spokesman, the US Congressmen lacked balanced information about Indonesia and had been influenced by anti-Indonesian groups in the US capital.

In their letter sent to President Yudhoyono late last month, the US legislators asked for the "immediate and unconditional" release of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage who were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years imprisonment respectively in May 2005 for hoisting the "Bintang Kejora" (Morning Star) flag of OPM in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004.

"We frequently receive letters from the US Congress which acts as if it had the absolute authority to comment on issues in other countries," Dino said.

He said no country in the world was supporting the separatist movement in Papua, while all UN members recognize the Unitary State of the Indonesian Republic (NKRI) including Papua as part of the NKRI.

"Thus, politically we are in a strong position and therefore there is no need to be overly concerned about the letter," Dion said.

The 40 US Congressmen in the letter urged President Yudhoyono to take action to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Karma and Pakage.

"We, the undersigned, members of the U.S. Congress, respectfully call to your attention the cases of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage who, in May 2005, were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the legitimate and peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004," the US Congressmen said in their joint letter.(*)

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08/13/08 04:50

US must respect RI over Papua: minister

Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has once again asked the George Bush administration to respect the efforts made by Jakarta to handle all issues in Papua province.

"We have always been trying to handle the issue of Papua within the frame of democracy, including upholding the law in an independent way, free from foreign influence," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sutjipto said here on Tuesday.

Speaking to the press after addressing a seminar on security strategy prior to the 2009 general elections, he said the government fully left the case of two symphatizers of outlawed separatist OPM (Free Papua Organization) -- Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage-- to the independent law-enforcing agency.

"The government never interferes in the law-enforcing agency that has issued a binding verdict to the two people. So, please look at this matter as a form of independent law enforcement within the frame of a democratic state," Widodo said.

He said the government always abides by the principles of democracy in handling the issue of Papua.

"We are trying to give the Papua government and people a greater role in developing themselves to lead a better life in the future," he said.

Forty US Congressmen had sent a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of Karma and Pakage who were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years in jail respectively in May 2005 for hoisting the OPM`s "Bintang Kejora" (Morning Star) flag in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004.

Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda said in Bengkulu province at the weekend he would soon answer the US Congressmen`s letter.

"We will answer the letter as soon as possible. In essence, we wiil ask the US government to respect the legal decision in our country," he said.(*)

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08/13/08 04:49

US Congress no influence to RI in taking action against OPM

Makassar, S Sulawesi, (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will always stick to its stand to take firm measures against two symphatizers of the outlawed separatist OPM (Free Papua Organization) despite the US Congress` request for their immediate and unconditional release.

"How many US Congressmen have expressed support for and concern about (the OPM symphatizers). But the matter is not something unusual. We will always push through the legal process and each country must respect other nation`s legal process in the current era of democratic transparency, which is free from other government`s influence or intervention," Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda said here on Tuesday.

The minister said the US government has reiterated its support for Indonesia`s integrity. Only a few US Congressmen have expressed support for and concern about the OPM sympathizers.

On July 29, 40 US Congressmen sent a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage who were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years in jail respectively in May 2005 for hoisting the OPM`s "Bintang Kejora" (Morning Star) flag in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004.(*)

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