(MENAFNEditorial) Human Rights Watch (HRW) urges President Joko Widodo to release all political prisoners with presidential amnesty after granting clemency to five Papuan prisoners on Saturday.
Phelim Kine Deputy Asia director of HRW said Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s move to grant clemency to five Papuan prisoners raised hope that other political prisoners would be freed.
"The Indonesian government should release all political prisoners with an immediate presidential amnesty rather than demand prisoners admit ‘guilt’ for convictions that violated their basic human rights" Kine said in a statement on Saturday.
Widodo announced clemency for Apotnalogolik Lokobal Numbungga Telenggen Kimanus Wenda Linus Hiluka and Jefrai Murib while visiting Papua’s provincial capital of Jayapura on May 9 2015. The five men convicted by a Wamena court in 2003 for their alleged role in a raid on an Indonesian Armed Forces weapons arsenal in Wamena on April 4 2003 that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers were serving prison terms ranging from 19 years and 10 months to life imprisonment
“If President Widodo is serious about addressing Papua’s toxic fear impunity and violations of human rights he should start by releasing all political prisoners freeing the media and demanding meaningful investigations into abuses” Kine said.
According to HRW most Papuan political prisoners reject the concept of clemency as it requires an admission of guilt in return for release. The organization said that was why President Jokowi should give amnesty rather than clemency. Read more..
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