A Papuan Human Rights Hero Has Died
Filep Karma Called for Papua Independence from Indonesia; Spent 11 Years in Prison
Human Rights Watch
Filep Karma, a prominent Papuan activist and former political prisoner, was found dead Monday on a beach in the Papuan city of Jayapura. He had been on a diving trip with his brother-in-law and nephew, and apparently went diving alone after his relatives left the trip early. Karma, a master diver with three decades’ experience, was found wearing his scuba diving suit. (...)
In 2010, Human Rights Watch published a report on political prisoners in Papua and the Moluccas Islands, launching a global campaign to release the prisoners. In 2011, Karma’s mother, Eklefina Noriwari, petitioned the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for Karma’s release. The working group determined Karma’s detention had violated international law, and called on the Indonesian government release him. The authorities only released Karma in 2015.
After his release, Karma embraced a wider agenda of political activism. He spoke about human rights and environmental protection. He campaigned for the rights of minorities. He organized help for political prisoners’ families. (...)
Filep Karma outside the Abepura prison in Jayapura, Indonesia, December 2014. © 2014 Andreas Harsono.
Tags: #new_guinea #dutch_new_guinea #papua #west_papua #papua_merdeka #independence #act_of_free_choice #referendum #human_rights #racism #discrimination #indonesia #media #censorship #censor #news #freedom_of_the_press #press_freedom #nederlands_nieuw-guinea #human_rights_abuse
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