1) Democratic RI still holds political prisoners
2) Indonesian military strength still below essential force
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1) Democratic RI still holds political prisoners
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Fri, August 10 2012, 7:58 AM
Paper Edition | Page: 4
Mourning in Papua: In this file photo, supporters of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) carry the coffin of Kelly Kwalik, prominent Papuan leader of the armed wing of the OPM, who was shot to death by Indonesian Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel in Timika, the capital of Mimika regency, Papua on Dec. 16, 2009. Some members of the OPM have now been detained by the Indonesian government relating to charges of treason.(JP/Markus Makur)
Selphius Bobii may have spent four months in Abepura Penitentiary in Papua on charges of treason after joining the third Papuan People’s Congress last October, but he remains convinced that he was not guilty of any crime.
According to Selphius, then leader of the United Front of West Papuan Fighters, what he and members of the organization did amounted to an exercise of their political rights as Papuans, and the central government should have respected it.
“We held the congress peacefully and engaged in no criminal or violent activity,” he said on Thursday.
Selphius and six others were found guilty by the Jayapura District Court for violating Article 106 of the Criminal Code for an act of treason by holding the congress and declaring the independence of West Papua.
Before Selphius, dozens of other Papuan political activists had been imprisoned under Article 106 for various actions, ranging from the non-violent hoisting of the Papuan Morning Star flag to the decidedly more serious forceful entry into a police armory.
Data from National Papua Solidarity (NAPAS) claims there are now 45 political prisoners held inside a number of penitentiaries, namely Abepura, Biak, Fak Fak, Nabire, Serui, Timika and Wamena.
Although international organizations like Amnesty International and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) categorize Selphius and his fellow activists as political prisoners, the Indonesian government considers them
criminals.
“They were charged with acts of treason under articles in the Criminal Code, which means that they are criminals. However, some people consider them political prisoners as their actions were based on a political ideology,” said Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana, acknowledging the contentious nature of the prisoners’ status.
Following the downfall of the New Order regime in 1998, the government had unconditionally released “all” political prisoners, including individuals jailed since the 1965 anti-communist purges and political prisoners from Aceh and Timor Leste, who were arrested during the administration of former president Soeharto.
Because the Indonesian government does not recognize him as a political prisoner, prison guards treat Selphius and other Papuan activists the same as drug dealers, robbers or murderers.
Selphius said that some prisoners were in critical condition and prevented from accessing proper medical treatment.
Filep Karma, a 50-year-old convict who was sentenced to 15 years for raising the Morning Star flag in 2004, suffers from colon cancer but cannot get treatment in Jakarta until he receives government permission.
“We raised money for his medical treatment because he refused to pay them [the prison] but we are still negotiating for [authorization for] him to go to Jakarta,” he said.
Another prisoner, Ferdinand Pakage, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of a police officer in March 2006, under what human rights activists describe as questionable circumstances, reportedly suffered the permanent loss of sight in his right eye and chronic acute headaches as a result of police brutality.
“Ferdinand’s family and friends have gathered money for the treatment of his eye, but we can’t get the permit for him to go out of the prison,” Selphius said.
NAPAS coordinator Marthen Goo said that paying for the medical treatment should be the government’s obligation. “However, officials say they don’t have the money,” Marthen said, adding that if the government refused to take care of them while in prison, the prisoners should be released.
Selphius demanded that the government unconditionally release all political prisoners in Indonesia and start a democratic process in Papua.
“How can Indonesia call itself a democratic country if its government bans a very basic right of democracy — the freedom of expression?” Selphius said.
Neles Tebay, an activist with the Peaceful Papua Network, said that the fact that people were locked up for political reasons indicated that there was a political problem in Papua. He called on the government to release the prisoners. “After releasing the prisoners, then we can have a peaceful Jakarta-Papua dialogue,” said Neles. (cor)
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2) Indonesian military strength still below essential force
Thu, August 9 2012 20:52 | 131 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Thursday the Indonesian military strength is still much below the minimum requirement.
Therefore, the government has continued to increase the military budget to strengthen and modernize the country`s weapon system, Yudhoyono said when opening a limited cabinet meeting at the military headquarters in Cilangkap.
"In any country, the defense budget is relatively big. Therefore, I ask for good management of the budget," he said.
He said military operations are not only for state defense and security , but have expanded to overcoming natural disasters, peace keeping mission even to fight terrorism.
He said Indonesia has long stopped modernizing its weapon system, not only because the country was hit by financial crisis.
"Even before the crisis there was no significant increase in the military strength," he said.
Therefore, with an increase in the state budget thanks to strong economic growth, the country could finance the strengthening and modernization of the military, he said in a cabinet meeting at the military headquarters on development of national defense system.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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