Soon Tabuni, a Papuan farmer, sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and a fine of IDR 1 billion (approximately USD68,828) for a Facebook post. Court proceedings have been incredibly slow, with restricted access to his lawyer and family. Detained for 332 days, there are concerns for Soon’s health and wellbeing due to poor prison facilities. Charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions Act (ITE Law), Amnesty International is concerned that these criminal proceedings threaten respect for and the protection of the right to freedom of expression in Indonesia.
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President Republic of Indonesia
Ir. H. Joko Widodo
State Secretariat
Jl. Veteran No. 17-18
Kota Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta
Indonesia (10110)
Ambassador Iwan Freddy Hari Susanto
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202 775 5200
Twitter: @IndonesiainDC
Facebook: @IndonesiainDC
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear President Widodo,
I am writing to you to express my concern about Soon Tabuni, a Papuan farmer, who has been imprisoned solely for a Facebook post he made last year. He has been detained for peacefully expressing his opinion, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that Indonesia has ratified.
It is alarming to me that, in addition to having already been detained for 332 days in the Mobile Brigade Command Prison, Soon Tabuni has had restricted access to his lawyers and family. Charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions Act (ITE Law), the Timika District court sentenced him to 6 months imprisonment, a fine of IDR 1 billion, a subsidiary of 6 months imprisonment.
I find it distressing to learn that when Soon Tabuni was arrested on May 27, 2020, he was shot three times in the leg by a plain-clothed police officer. He was on his way to repair his computer at the time.
Amnesty International is concerned that criminal proceedings under the ITE Law threaten respect for and the protection of the right to freedom of expression in Indonesia. The right to freedom of expression is essential for the right to peacefully advocate for independence or any other political ideas that do not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Criminalizing such peaceful exercise of human rights is contrary to international human rights law.
I, therefore, urge you to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Soon Tabuni as he is detained solely for peacefully exercising his human rights;
- Drop the charges against him; and
- Pending his release, ensure that he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment and have regular access to their family members, access to medical care, and lawyers of his choice.
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