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Release Papuan prisoners: HRW
JAKARTA: The Indonesian authorities must immediately allow two Papuan political prisoners to meet with attorneys and to challenge their transfer from prison to police custody, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW)
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AKARTA: The Indonesian authorities must immediately allow two Papuan political prisoners to meet with attorneys and to challenge their transfer from prison to police custody, according to the Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The prisoners, Filep Karma, 51, and Buchtar Tabuni, 31, have been held at the Jayapura Police station in West Papua, after a riot erupted at Abepura prison on Dec. 3.
HRW deputy director for Asia Elaine Pearson said the Indonesian authorities should explain why Filep and Buchtar had been thrown in a police lock-up and denied access to counsel.
“Prisoners have rights too, and ignoring those rights is no way to celebrate Human Rights Day,” she said in a press statement marking the day on Dec. 10.
HRW reiterated its call for the Indonesian government to immediately free more than 130 Papuan and Moluccan activists imprisoned for peacefully expressing their political views.
The New York-based human rights organization also asked the government to reform laws and policies to protect the freedom of expression.
According to HRW, the Jayapura Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Imam Setiawan said the police had “secured” Karma and Tabuni at the Jayapura Police station for provoking a riot that occurred at Abepura prison following an attempted prison break on Dec. 3, when a prisoner was shot and killed. Karma and Tabuni informed Federika Korain of the United Papuan People’s Democracy Forum (Fordem) that they were transferred to the police station without being told that they had committed an offense, HRW press release went on.— JP
