Holiday Card Action 2008

INDONESIA – Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage

For peacefully raising a flag, Filep Karma, a former civil servant, and Yusak Pakage, a student, were sentenced in Indonesia to 15 and 10-year prison terms, respectively. The two took part in a ceremony in Papua province in eastern Indonesia on December 1, 2004, during which the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, was raised. In response, police advanced on the crowd, firing weapons and beating people with batons. Police arrested Filep Karma at the site of the ceremony and reportedly beat and stomped on him during transport to the police station. A group of about 20 people were later arrested at the police station when they went to protest Karma's arrest. This group was subsequently released, except for Yusak Pakage who remained in detention.

In April 2008, Filep Karma reportedly was beaten by prison guards at the Abepura prison. One of them allegedly told Filep Karma that he wanted to kill him, and then both started to beat him about the head. Filep Karma was able to receive medical care following the attack, but it is not clear whether authorities have investigated the incident.

Filep Karma studied social and political sciences at university, while Pakage studied theology and law. Amnesty International considers both men to be prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely for peacefully expressing their political beliefs.

You may write to Filep and Yusak in English, but if you would like to send a greeting in Bahasa Indonesian, you may write: "Salam hangat dari [your name]," which means "Greetings from [your name]."

Please send cards of support to:
Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage
c/o Pascalis Letsoin
LBH PAPUA
J1 Sehat I No. 37B
Kotaraja Jayapura
INDONESIA