On 26 May, an Indonesian court passed gross prison sentences against two young West Papuans for organising peaceful celebrations and flying the Morning Star flag in the provincial capital, Jayapura, on 1 December last year.
Philep Karma was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment while his colleague, Yusak Pakage, was given a sentence of ten years. They were convicted under Indonesia's draconian anti-sedition laws.
TAPOL vehemently condemns the verdicts as being totally unjustified for peaceful actions and calls on the Indonesian authorities to release the two men immediately and unconditionally. It further condemns the oppressive use of penal sanctions to suppress the legitimate exercise of the Papuans' rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
The two West Papuans were merely expressing a sentiment widely held among West Papuans that they have the basic right to self-determination, which has been denied them since the fraudulent Act of Free Choice in 1969.
Papuans annually commemorate 1 December as the anniversary of the day in 1961 when they adopted the Morning Star flag as the symbol of their independence aspirations.
The decision to put the two men behind bars for such a long period can only further exacerbate the sense of injustice already widely held among the people of West Papua and deepen their sense of grievance against the Indonesian authorities.
The men have won wide popularity among people in Jayapura as is evident from the crowds which have supported them during several court hearings. On 10 May, Indonesian police were seen brutally beating demonstrators after a hearing when many people were injured. Such acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators are a violation of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly which are sanctified under Indonesian law.
TAPOL appeals to the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to review its policy towards West Papua and respond without delay to widespread calls for West Papua to become a Land of Peace and for dialogue as the way to reach understanding with the people of West Papua.