ID :
15359
Fri, 08/08/2008 - 20:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/15359
The shortlink copeid
PAPUA LEGISLATOR DISMISSES US CONGRESSMEN'S DEMAND ON TWO OPM SUPPORTERS
Jayapura, Indonesia, Aug. 8 (ANTARA) - A provincial Papua legislator said US Congressmen should not interfere in an Indonesian court's decision regarding Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, two Papua residents who were detained in 2004 for involvement in activities supporting the outlawed separatist OPM (Free Papua Organization).
"From the judicial point of view, the request made by a number of US congressmen is obviously an act of interference in Indonesian law," Ramses Wally, deputy chairman of Papua's Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD)'s Commission A, said here on Friday.
Some 40 US 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.
Other countries cannot interfere in an Indonesian court's decision because Indonesia is a sovereign country including in law enforcement, Wally siad.
"I think the US Congressmen's request is a political rather than a legal move. They claimed they were acting based on the human rights point of view. The question is which human rights has Indonesia violated by sentencing Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage?" Wally said commenting on the US congressmen's letter.
He said the human rights issue must not be misused to defend a political interest, namely the wish to see Indonesia's disintegration.
Freedom of expression could be done by writing a letter, holding discussion or dialog, instead of hoisting a flag of OPM which symbolized separatism, he said.
Wally, who is also the chief of the Simporo Babrongko tribe, said the US Congressmen's move was part of a political game mobilized by some international NGOs which were trying to internationalize the Papua issue so that Papua could break away from Indonesia.
He said the Indonesian nation must always be aware of such a political maneuver and united to reject the attempt of the US Congressmen who tried to undermine Indonesia's legal system for a certain political purpose.
"We must not be discouraged in rejecting the political moves of the US Congressmen who asked for the release of political detainees Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage. As a sovereign country, we must not allow any country to dictate us, especially in the legal enforcement," he said.
"From the judicial point of view, the request made by a number of US congressmen is obviously an act of interference in Indonesian law," Ramses Wally, deputy chairman of Papua's Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD)'s Commission A, said here on Friday.
Some 40 US 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.
Other countries cannot interfere in an Indonesian court's decision because Indonesia is a sovereign country including in law enforcement, Wally siad.
"I think the US Congressmen's request is a political rather than a legal move. They claimed they were acting based on the human rights point of view. The question is which human rights has Indonesia violated by sentencing Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage?" Wally said commenting on the US congressmen's letter.
He said the human rights issue must not be misused to defend a political interest, namely the wish to see Indonesia's disintegration.
Freedom of expression could be done by writing a letter, holding discussion or dialog, instead of hoisting a flag of OPM which symbolized separatism, he said.
Wally, who is also the chief of the Simporo Babrongko tribe, said the US Congressmen's move was part of a political game mobilized by some international NGOs which were trying to internationalize the Papua issue so that Papua could break away from Indonesia.
He said the Indonesian nation must always be aware of such a political maneuver and united to reject the attempt of the US Congressmen who tried to undermine Indonesia's legal system for a certain political purpose.
"We must not be discouraged in rejecting the political moves of the US Congressmen who asked for the release of political detainees Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage. As a sovereign country, we must not allow any country to dictate us, especially in the legal enforcement," he said.
