By Amnesty Reading University

Reading Amnesty International Groups from town and University work to help those imprisoned unjustly and who have not used or advocated violence. In particular they have taken a special interest in two West Papuan men imprisoned for simply raising a flag in peaceful protest.

Filep Karma was arrested in 2004 for raising the Morning Star, the West Papuan flag of independence, the symbol of those who want West Papua to be independent from Indonesia, who currently rule the area. This act often meets with arrest, imprisonment and torture.  Yusak Pakage was arrested later the same day while protesting against the arrest of Filep Karma. Neither man was advocating violence.

26 May 2010 is the fifth anniversary of their conviction for these ‘crimes’ - merely expressing their political opinions, a freedom which we are lucky enough to be able to take for granted.  Filep Karma was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, with Yusak Pakage receiving 10 years. Reports suggest that both men have recently been denied access to adequate medical care while seriously ill in prison.

To mark the anniversary of their conviction, Reading Amnesty Groups have collected over two thousand signatures on a petition requesting the immediate release of Filep and Yusak.  This will be handed in on that day at 2pm, to the Indonesian Embassy in London, by the former Bishop of Oxford, Lord Harries of Pentregarth.  Please consider coming along to lend your support.  We will meet outside the Embassy in Grosvenor Square at 12 noon to take part in a peaceful demonstration.

Reading Amnesty Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 8pm at RISC, 35-39 London St, Reading RG1 4PS. For more details of Reading Amnesty’s work for these two prisoners please contact Dr. Sean O’Leary:  s.v.oleary@reading.ac.uk