M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – An international human rights watchdog has accused the Indonesian government of detaining Papuan activists for their political views.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report, which was made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, that dozens of activists in Papua have been detained by the authorities for expressing their views and raising the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) separatist flag.
"HRW urges the Indonesian government to immediately and unconditionally release all persons detained or imprisoned for the peaceful expression of their political views," HRW said in the report.
The rights group also called on the government to drop all charges against activists who are awaiting trial for their political activities, and urged a public commitment by Jakarta to ensure no further arrests of political activists in the country's easternmost province.
HRW also asked the government to open access to the province. "End all arbitrary restrictions on access to Papua for journalists, diplomats and human rights organizations," the report said.
The group said it could not provide exact figures on how many political activists have been detained by authorities, given the restrictions on access to Papua. "It is impossible to establish with certainty. However, that this happens with regularity is not in doubt," it said.
The HRW does provide a list of activists it says have been arrested, detained and convicted.
The group notes most of the activists were charged under articles in the Criminal Code that criminalize public expression of hostility, hatred or contempt toward the government and prohibit the expression of such feelings or views through the media.
Among those reportedly sentenced to prison for their political convictions are Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, considered by the HRW as the most famous political prisoners in Papua. The two were arrested Dec. 2, 2004, and charged with treason, a day after hundreds of people gathered at the Cendrawasih University campus and called for the separation of Papua from Indonesia and the rejection of the special autonomy granted to the province.
HRW also identifies seven individuals – Welmus Musa Asso, Mayus Togodly, Andi Asso, Ghen Jhon Hilapok, Heri Asso, Jean Hasegem and Gustaf Ayomi, it says were charged with raising the Morning Star flag in front of a local council office.
Separately, Johnson Panjaitan of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association, which has represented a number of Papuan activists in criminal cases, said his organization has in the past attempted to secure the release of jailed activists.
"The Justice and Human Rights Ministry did not seem to mind the activists being released, but the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs still considers it a sensitive issue," Johnson told the Post.
The lawyer also alleged that many of the jailed activists received harsh treatment in prison.
Presidential spokesman Andi Alfian Malarangeng defended the government's actions in protecting the unitary state.
"It is a foregone conclusion that Indonesian territory spans from Sabang to Merauke, and those who challenge this should be seen as separatists and deserve jail terms," Andi told the Post.
He also dismissed complaints about a lack of access to Papua. "We are probably the freest country in Asia when it comes to press freedom," he said.