Indonesia: Release Filep Karma

  ACTION TYPE     LETTER     FAX  

Indonesian prisoner of conscience Filep Karma is a civil servant who was arrested and charged with treason in 2005. As the Indonesian President prepares to visit the UK, please write to the authorities and demand Filep’s immediate and unconditional release.  Take action

Denied medical treatment

Filep has suffered from a variety of medical issues, including internal bleeding, a suspected tumor on his colon and inflammation of the stomach. He was denied access to the doctor of his prison and prison authorities refused to pay for his transport and medical costs for treatment elsewhere, despite being obliged to do so under national and international standards.

In recent months, local and international campaigning groups have highlighted his case and contributed to a fund to assist him. This meant Filep was finally able to receive vital medical treatment, and reports suggest he was treated well throughout. 

Arrested for raising a flag

Former civil servant Filep Karma and student Yusak Pakage were arrested and charged with treason in 2005, after taking part in a peaceful political ceremony at which a Papuan independence flag was raised. They were sentenced to 15 and 10 years in prison respectively. Yusak Pakage was released in July 2010, but Filep Karma remains in prison. 

Prisoner of conscience

In August 2011, Filep rejected an offer from the Indonesian Justice and Human Rights Ministry to shorten his sentence by five months, around the annual Indonesia Independence Day celebrations (when prisoners are often offered pardons or reductions to their sentences).

Filep maintains that he should never have been imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of his right to freedom of expression, and that to accept any kind of reduction or pardon would compromise this principle and accept that he had done something wrong. He has stated that he would only accept an offer of an unconditional release. Read more about Filep's case

Enter your contact details below to write a letter to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Amir Syamsuddin.

This is a letter action. We will email you the appeal letter for you to print and put in the post. The address of the Minister will be on the letter.