Yusak Pakage

Yusak Pakage (born c. 1979[1]) is an Indonesian activist for Papuan independence, best known for his 2005–2010 imprisonment for raising the pro-independence Morning Star flag.

Yusak Pakage
Bornc. 1979 (age 41–42)
NationalityIndonesian
OrganizationParlemen Jalanan
Known for
  • Papuan independence activism
  • 2005–2010 imprisonment

Background

Indonesia's control over the province of Papua has been disputed since 1963, when the country took control of the province from the Dutch. A separatist movement formed, battling the Indonesian government for more than four decades. During this time, one sixth of the province's population died in military operations.[2] Papuans also cite economic issues, stating that the area's natural resources are exploited exclusively for the benefit of the national capital, Jakarta.[3]

Flag-raising incident
The Morning Star flag, used by supporters of Papuan independence

In December 2004, at the age of 26, Pakage and activist Filep Karma raised the Morning Star flag at a rally of 200 people outside of Abepura, Papua Province. According to Amnesty International, police then fired on the crowd and advanced with batons, arresting Karma. Pakage later protested Karma's arrest at the police station and was arrested himself.[4]

In January 2005, Pakage and Karma were on trial for treason before the Jayapura District Court. The prosecutor accused Pakage of having "damaged the sovereignty of Indonesia".[5] In May, Papuan independence supporters clashed with police outside the courthouse, throwing bottles and rocks while police fought the crowd with batons.[6] The police commander in charge of the operation was found guilty of human rights violations and replaced several days after the incident.[7]

At the conclusion of the trial, Pakage was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment,[8] while Karma was sentenced to fifteen years.[1] On 24 August 2005, Pakage briefly escaped from custody while under escort to fetch a book from his home. He was recaptured several hours later at the office of the NGO Elsham Papua.[9] Several international human rights organizations protested on behalf of Pakage and Karma, including Amnesty International, which designated them as prisoners of conscience,[10] and Human Rights Watch, which called them political prisoners and urged their immediate release.[11]

In August 2008, 40 members of the US Congress sent a letter to Indonesia calling for Pakage and Karma's release, in response to which a 100-person rally protested in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta.[2] The Indonesian government rejected the request;[12] Demianus Rumbiak of the Papuan division of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights stated that the US Congress had no right to interfere with Indonesia's domestic issues, stating that Pakage's arrest was not a human rights issue as he had been incarcerated for violating Indonesia's positive law. However, later Pakage was one of 457 Papuan prisoners granted a reduction in his term, receiving three months clemency.[13]

Pakage and Karma's arrest were the subject of further protests in front of the Indonesian embassy in Washington, D.C., in 2009.[3] President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pardoned Pakage in mid-2010, and he was released from prison on 8 July. Human Rights Watch released a statement praising the release but also calling for remaining Indonesian political prisoners to be freed.[8]

Later activity

Pakage continued his activism after his release, becoming the coordinator of Parlemen Jalanan ("Street Parliament"), which advocated on behalf of Papuan prisoners.[10] In May 2012, Pakage and the Free Papua Movement announced that they would hold another ceremony to raise the Morning Star flag.[14]

On 23 July 2012, Pakage was arrested again for having a penknife in his bag while observing the trial of fellow activist Buchtar Tabuni,[15] who was charged with organizing violent protests.[16] Pakage was charged with "possession of a weapon", which carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment.[15] According to Amnesty International, he was still being denied access to a lawyer as of 24 August, and had been reportedly threatened with physical abuse by police.[10]

References
  1. "Amnesty International Welcomes Release of Indonesian prisoner of conscience jailed for raising flag". States News Service. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2012.(subscription required)
  2. "Protester killed at independence rally in Papua". Associated Press. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2012. (subscription required)
  3. "Rights Groups Protest in Washington to Demand Release of Papuan Activists". The Jakarta Globe. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  4. "Free Papuan Protestors". Amnesty International. 1 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2012.(subscription required)
  5. Nethy Dharma Somba (13 January 2005). "Papuan separatists on trial for treason". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  6. "Dozens Injured at Trial of Separatists". Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association. 12 May 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2012.(subscription required)
  7. "Senior Papua police officer replaced, and four officers under questioning, following riot". Radio New Zealand International. 12 May 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  8. "Indonesia releases 2 Papuan political prisoners". The Jakarta Post. Associated Press. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  9. "Papuan leader back behind bars". The Jakarta Post. 25 August 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  10. "Urgent Action: Papuan Political Activist at Risk". Amnesty International. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  11. "Human Rights Watch demands release of prisoners in Papua". The Jakarta Post. 22 February 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  12. "RI rejects US congressmen's request on two OPM activists". The Jakarta Post. 12 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  13. Damanik, Martian (16 August 2008). "Pengibar Bintang Kejora Dapat Remisi" [Morning Star Flag Bearers Receive Clemency]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  14. "Papuans plan flying banned flag for July commemoration". Radio New Zealand International. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  15. "Concerns Papuan prisoner is denied access to medical treatment". Radio New Zealand International. 26 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  16. Nethy Dharma Somba and Bagus BT Saragih (15 June 2012). "Riots in Jayapura as police shoot dead Papuan activist". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
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