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Activist visits Papuan political prisoners
Canadian activist Jeremy Bally, 26, visited on Monday the Abepura Penitentiary in Jayapura, Papua, to meet political detainees and convicts to hand over 40 post cards from seven countries supporting the separatistsâ cause
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anadian activist Jeremy Bally, 26, visited on Monday theAbepura Penitentiary in Jayapura, Papua, to meet political detainees andconvicts to hand over 40 post cards from seven countries supporting theseparatists' cause.
Bally met, among others, Forkorus Yoboisembut, Philep Karma, Selpius Bobii, Dominikus Serabut and Viktor Yeimo.
'The political detainees and convicts were healthy and there were no problems. I am sure the prison guards treat them very well,' he told reporters after his visit.
The post cards were from Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Ireland, the UK, New Zealand and Australia, collected during Bally's cycling trips, which served as a campaign for Papuan Independence. His journey is recorded at www.pedallingforpapua.com, spending 6 months traveling some 12,000 kilometers in the seven countries.
Bally said that he felt comfortable and safe, which was different to the negative perception he had of Papua prior to his visit.
'I was happy I could deliver the post cards. It turned out that Papua is not like what I have heard,' he told reporters, who said he would soon return to Canada.
He was also delighted to be warmly welcomed by the Abepura Penitentiary warden and other officials and guards at the prison.
Bally arrived in Jayapura on Monday and returns to Jakarta on Tuesday before returning to Canada.
