Australia West Papua Association, Sydney
Open Letter To President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Indonesia
c/o The Ambassador
Embassy of Indonesia
8 Darwin Avenue,
Yarralumla,
ACT 2600
22 August 2009
Re: Concern for the health of Filep Karma
Dear President Yudhoyono,
I am writing to you concerning the case of Filep Karma, a West Papuan man who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for
simply being part of a rally where the West Papuan national flag, the Morning Star was raised and for peacefully
exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Filep Karma who is serving his sentence in the Abepura Prison is now in the intensive care ward at the Dok Dua Hospital
in Jayapura. We are very concerned about the health of Filep Karma who has been ill since the 6 August and although he
reported this fact to prison medical authorities he received no attention from the prison director or the medical
personnel.
It was only after he spoke to a journalist from the Bintang Papua on the 17 August about his condition that he was
transferred from the prison to the Dok Dua hospital (after more than a week of suffering ) where he is attached to a
drip and unable to eat or go to the toilet. He is unable to move at all and lies on his bed all the time. He is under
heavy guard.
I urge you to request the local authorities to ensure that he receives all necessary medical treatment immediately and
is not subjected to further ill-treatment by design or neglect.
I also ask you to use your good offices to release Filep Karma and all other prisoners of conscience in West Papua as a
sign of good faith to the West Papuan people.
AWPA is also concerned about the statement from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday that that the
International Committee of the Red Cross would not be allowed to re open an office in West Papua. The previous Red Cross
office was forced to shut and leave West Papua earlier this year after its staff members visited prisoners in jail.
The ICRC is mandated by the international community to visit prisoners to verify whether they are being treated
according to relevant international standards. ICRC detention visits also aim to ensure respect for the life and dignity
of prisoners and to prevent torture, ill-treatment or abuse, which violate essential rights and the basic principles of
humanity. Regular visits by the ICRC enable the ICRC to track prisoners' whereabouts and make recommendations to the
authorities about any improvements to conditions that may be necessary.
We urge you to allow the ICRC to open an office in West Papua so they can continue their valuable humanitarian work
ensuring prisoners are treated with dignity and live free from the fear of torture.
Yours sincerely
Joe Collins
AWPA (Sydney)
CC. The Hon Kevin Rudd MP. Prime Minister
The Hon Stephen Smith MP. Minister for Foreign Affairs
Various human rights organisations
-----------------------------------------------------
We urge people to write along similar lines
Contact details
Indonesian Embassy
8 Darwin Avenue,
Yarralumla,
ACT 2600
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600
The Hon Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600
ends