March 18, 2014Please help to make the voices of the many political prisoners in
West Papua heard by attending this demonstration and representing one
of the political prisoners currently incarcerated.
If you are able to attend the demonstration and willing to
take on representing one of the political prisoners then please let us
know by emailing office@freewestpapua.org and we will forward you information about the prisoner you will be assigned to represent.
On
2 April 2014, the Free West Papua Campaign will take part in a
demonstration outside the Indonesian embassy in London to protest the
ongoing detention of over 70 political prisoners in West Papua and to
call for their immediate and unconditional release. The demonstration is
being organised by TAPOL and will also be attended by Amnesty
International UK and Survival International.
We will stage a visual protest, where selected demonstrators will
‘stand-in’ for political prisoners. A ‘stand-in’ demonstrator will
represent a political prisoner, and will be seated on the floor,
handcuffed and mouth taped shut. This will create the main narrative for
the demonstration – to have the total number of political prisoners in
Papua be immediately visualised. 76 prisoners represented by 76
demonstrators. Each ‘prisoner’ will be identified by name cards and when
available, a photo. Other demonstrators will be invited to surround the
‘prisoners’ with placards and signs to bring voice to the protest.
Join us in our call to the Indonesian government to respect freedom
of expression in West Papua and to unconditionally and immediately
release all Papuan political prisoners. Call on Her Majesty’s Government
in the UK to urge the Indonesian government to comply with its
international and national obligations to respect human rights.
According to data from Papuans Behind Bars,
the number of political arrests more than doubled in 2013 as compared
with the previous year, and reports of torture and ill-treatment of
political detainees have also increased. This points to a significant
deterioration in the environment for freedom of expression in West
Papua. Indigenous Papuans continue to be arrested for peaceful
activities such as raising the Papuan Morning Star flag or attending
demonstrations and public events that express dissent. Often they are
charged with treason or incitement which can carry lengthy prison
sentences. Peaceful activists are often charged with criminal violence,
backed by fabricated evidence and unreliable testimony. While many
political prisoners are in jail as a result of their peaceful political
activities, others just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong
time.
Journalists and lawyers face coercion, intimidation and violence from
security forces who enjoy wide impunity. West Papua still remains
largely closed to foreign journalists, NGOs and international
organisations, making it difficult to accurately report on violations as
they take place.
It has been asked for demonstrators not to fly Morning Star flags
at the demonstration, purely to help get the media to focus on freedom
of expression and Papuan political prisoner release.
For more information: www.papuansbehindbars.org / www.tapol.org
