Urgent Action: THREE MOLUCCANS ARBITRARILY ARRESTED AND DETAINED (Indonesia: UA 82.21)

Pieter, Alexander and Benjamin, pro-independence political activists from Molucca, have been arbitrarily arrested and charged with treason for their role in keeping a Republic of South Maluku (RMS) flag “Benang Raja” in a private house. Charged with treason “makar”, they face up to 20 years of imprisonment. The Indonesian authorities have used the criminal code provisions, mainly Articles 106 and 110 KUHP, to prosecute tens of peaceful pro-independence political activists in Maluku and Papua simply for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on September 19, 2021.
2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 82.21. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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SAMPLE LETTER Dear General (Pol). Prabowo, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the case of three pro-independence activists named Pieter Likumahua, Alexander Workala and Benjamin Naene who have been arrested and accused of treason (makar) allegedly due to their affiliation with the Republic of South Maluku (RMS). It is alarming that on April 7, 2021, as many as twenty fully armed soldiers (TNI) entered Alexander Workala’s house without a warrant. Seemingly based solely on alleged evidence of a flag and a book, Alexander was then taken by the troops to the West Seram (SBB) Police. The next day, April 8, 2021 police arrived at Pieter’s house and took him to be a witness. After the investigation, he was arrested based on the accusation that he gave the Benang Raja flag to Alexander. Benjamin, who accompanied Pieter at the time, was also arrested and detained after confessing to the police that he is a member of the RMS. I find it deeply distressing that the three Mollucans have been accused of violating Article 106 of the Indonesian    Criminal Code (KUHP) simply for peacefully exercising their human rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Therefore, I urge you to:

• Immediately release Pieter Likumahua, Alexander Workala and Benjamin Naene and drop the charges against them;
• Ensure that they have regular, unrestricted access to their family and a lawyer of their choice in line with international standards of fair trial, and
• Ensure that they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment and have access to adequate medical care on request or as necessary.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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