President yet to receive US Congressmen`s letter on Papua

08/07/08 21:32

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has yet to receive a letter said to have been sent by US Congressmen demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of two sympathizers of the outlawed separatist OPM (Free Papua Organization), a presidential spokesman said.

"Until now, we have not received it. We have checked with the Foreign Ministry and the US Embassy here but neither of them knows about it," Dino Patti Djalal said on Thursday.

Dino was commenting on a report that some 40 US Congressmen had sent a letter to President Yudhoyono demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of two OPM sympathizers identified as Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage.

"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," the US Congressmen said in their joint letter.

"We urge you to take action to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Karma and Mr. Pakage," the letter said.

Indonesian Ambassador to the US Sudjadnan Parnohadingrat confirmed the US congressmen had sent a letter to President Yudhoyono.

"It`s true. The letter was dated July 29, 2008, and sent through us. We passed it on to Jakarta," Sudjadnan told ANTARA on Wednesday.

Dino admitted that the letter had already been published in the East Timor and Indonesian Action Network (ETAN)`s website.

He questioned the ETAN`s interest in meddling in the issue of Papua, the more so because East Timor had seceded from the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

The current security conditions in Papua were relatively stable and special autonomy for the country`s easternmost province was running well, he said.

"The US Congress must look at this. Please respect the stability there and the government`s independency with regard to the Papua issue," he said.

Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years imprisonment respectively in May 2005 for hoisting the "Bintang Kejora" (Morning Star) flag of OPM in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004.(*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008