New York (ANTARA News) - Some 40 United States Congressmen have sent a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of two sympathizers of the outlawed separatist OPM (Free Papua Organization), 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," they 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 United States 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," Ambassador Sudjadnan told ANTARA on Wednesday.
He said the sending of the congressional letter to the president was not a trivial matter because it was signed by 40 US Congressmen.
The ambassador said he had often explained to people in the US who asked about Karma and Pakage that they had been detained for criminal acts and it had been proven in court, and even in the Supreme Court.
He said the government could not interfere in the case of Karma and Pakage because it was a matter in the hands of the judicial authority.
The initiative to send the congressional letter was coordinated by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
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.
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