Human Rights - Indonesia - Papua - Filep Karma

Human Rights - Indonesia - Papua - Filep Karma

 

Because until today the medical condition and the medical care of Filep Karma did not improve, the Foundation Pro Papua wrote a letter to the Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs.

Below you will find the answer of the ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the minister of FA, Drs. M.J.M. Verhagen and the original letter of Foundation Pro Papua for your information.

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From: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South East Asia and Oceania Division
Postbus 20061
2500 EB The Hague
The Netherlands

our ref. DAO-189/10

Date 18 May 2010
Re. Human Rights - Indonesia - Papua - Filep Karma

To: Foundation Pro Papua


Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your letter to minister Verhagen in which you express your concern about the withholding of medical care to Filep Karma, who is at present serving a prison term of 15 years for raising the Morning Star. The minister has asked me to reply to your letter.

As is known, The Netherlands has expressed its concern on a regular basis and at different levels to the Indonesian authorities about the severe punishment of Filep Karma and convicts in similar cases. This issue was also extensively discussed during senior official talks with Indonesia in November 2009.

Now that mister Karma is dealing with health problems which cannot be treated in the local hospital in Jayapura, our embassy in Jakarta is following developments very closely. For this purpose there is close contact with the NGO's who, also on Dutch request, make efforts in order to come to a solution together with the Indonesian authorities. The main issue is to raise funds for travel expenses and for obtaining permission from the Indonesian authorities for the transport of Filep Karma to Jakarta for further medical care.

I assure you that the Dutch government will continue to follow developments in this case and will bring it to the attention of the Indonesian government when necessary.

The minister of Foreign Affairs
On behalf of the minister

Mr. K.J. Hartog
Director Asia en Oceania
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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To: Drs. M.J.M. Verhagen
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Postbus 20061
The Hague
The Netherlands
 

 

Date: 9 April 2010
Subject: human rights -Indonesia – Papua – Filep Karma

Dear mister Verhagen,

With this letter we want to express our deepest concern regarding the denial of medical care to prisoners in Papua, in this case in particular, to Filep Karma.
He has been convicted on May 26th 2005 to 15 years in prison for unfolding the Papuan national flag.

We have been informed about the serious medical condition of Filep Karma by, among others, the association Papua Vrouwen in Nederland (PVN - Papuan Women in The Netherlands) and the UK based human rights organization TAPOL. Filep Karma does not receive the proper medical attention required as is shown from the information included*.

Therefore we ask you to contact the Indonesian authorities at short notice and request them to take their responsibility in general regarding their convicts and to admit Filep Karma to the necessary medical attention.

During your visit to Indonesia in January 2009 you discussed the “possible pioneering role of Indonesia in the field of human rights and democratization”. It seems evident that the Filep Karma case leaves sufficient room to point out this pioneering role to Indonesia once more.

With kind regards, also on behalf of the association Papua Vrouwen in Nederland

Foundation Pro Papua

appendix:
* Information Solidaritas Korban Pelanggaran HAM Papua, Solidarity with the Victims of Human Rights Violations in Papua
* Tapol, Medical condition of the Papuan political prisoner, Filep Karma
* Bintang Papua, 5 March 2010 - Raising money for Filep Karma's medical treatment