Surat Congress AS Buat SBY

Dr. H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta 10110
Indonesia

Your Excellency,

We the undersigned members of the U.S. Congress respectfully call to your attention the cases of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage who, in May 2005, were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the legitimate and peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression in Abepura, Papua on December 1, 2004. Amnesty International has declared the two 'prisoners of conscience.' We also call your attention to reports by reputable sources that Mr. Karma was beaten by the police following his arrest. There are also reliable reports that police at the scene of the demonstration beat a human rights defender who sought to photograph the violent police action against peaceful demonstrators.



The unjust imprisonment of Mr. Karma and Mr. Pakage occurs in the context of a crackdown on Papuan human rights defenders, which has included general public threats by senior military officials and intimidation directed at individuals by anonymous figures. This campaign of threats and intimidation has targeted Papuans who met with and gave testimony about human rights abuse to a senior UN human rights representative when she visited Papua at your government's invitation in June 2007.

We urge you to take action to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Karma and Mr. Pakage. Any security officials who mistreated Mr. Karma or who may have employed inappropriate force against peaceful demonstrators should be prosecuted. Such steps would be an important indicator that Indonesia, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, takes its international obligations to fully respect universally recognized human rights.

In accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, we thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely

Patrick J. Kennedy
Raul Grijalva
Barbara Lee
Joseph Pitts
Tammy Baldwin
Barney Frank
Mark Kirk
Tim Walz
Mike Honda
Lois Capps
Jan Schakowsky
Jim McGovern
Jesse Jackson Jr.
Ellen Tauscher
Tom Allen
Jim Langevin
Ed Pastor
Sam Farr
Steve Rotham
Jim Oberstar
Thad McCotter
Darlene Hooley
Maurice Hinchey
Joe Crowley
Lloyd Doggett
Carolyn Maloney
David Wu
Linda Sanchez
Peter DeFazio
Zoe Lofgren
Albio Sires
Ed Towns
Sheila Jackson-Lee
Danny Davis
Betty Sutton
Eliot Engel
Chakah Fattah
Rush Holt
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Diane Watson