URGENT APPEAL: Ref: UAM 29/ 05

27 September 2005.

NAME: Semmy Waileruny and Moses Tuwanakotta and 22 Political Prisoners

VIOLATIONS: Unfair and inhumane detention.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please copy the letter below the Background information or write in your own words and send to:

Mr KOFI ANNAN Secretary General of the United Nations ecu@un.org

AND Cc: indonesia2@un.int ; nyv-cdp@minbuza.nl ; netherlands@un.int; presse.cabinet@consilium.eu.int; emeijer@sp.nl

OPTIONAL: PLEASE ALSO SEND APPEALS TO: Diplomatic Representatives of Indonesia in your country. Link to Indonesian Embassies worldwide http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/indonesia1.htm

The Foreign Minister of your country - WORLD-WIDE Governments:

http://www.library.northwestern.edu/govpub/resource/internat/foreign.html

Please cut and paste and send this appeal to your mailing lists

BACKGROUND

Republik Maluku (the Moluccan Islands or the Maluku) form an island group off the eastern-most part of the present-day Indonesia. The Malukan (Moluccan) people are part of the Melanesian people called Alifoeroes (cf West Papua) and have occupied the islands since at least 1000 B.C. In the early 1600's, the Netherlands colonized the islands, beginning with the seizure of Ambon in 1605 and ultimately seized all of the area of what is presently known as Indonesia.

During World War II, the whole of the Netherlands East Indies were seized and held by the Japanese forces from 1942 to 1945. However, the Malukan people maintained a continual war of resistance by what became known as the South Moluccan Brigade against the Japanese occupiers.

In 1949 the Round Table Conference was held in the presence of The Dutch government, the Indonesian government and the UN and Agreements were signed which were to settle the handing over of power to the new United States of Indonesia. The Agreements granted the Malukans the right to determine their ultimate sovereignty: Malukans were to have a choice whether to join with the new state Indonesia or whether to re-establish their historic independent status.

The Round Table Agreements were violated within a year of signing. In response, the Malukan people on April 25, 1950, declared the Republik Maluku Selatan (South Moluccas Republic), comprising the historic islands of the Malukan people: Amboina, Buru, Ceram and the adjoining islands. At this time, the United States of Indonesia did not yet formally exist, not becoming fully independent until August 17, 1950.

Indonesian forces initially invaded the islands on July 13, 1950. A major invasion began on Ambon on September 25, 1950 and cost the Indonesian forces 15,000 casualties before finally they were able to seize control of Ambon city. Armed rebellion and political opposition continues against Indonesian rule today.

Indonesia has met all of the opposition with repression of human rights and wholesale decimation of the Moluccan islands and resources. Indonesia has relocated many Javanese into the Moluccas as part of a strategy to undermine the self-determination claim of the Malukan pepole. Lastly, the Indonesian government carries out overt policies to break down the Malukan culture.

The government of Republik Maluku Selatan was a legitimate government and was wrongly overturned by the government of Indonesia. The Malukan people are entitled to the exercise of self-determination because this was explicitly granted them by history and express agreement of the governments of the Netherlands and Indonesia and acknowledged by the United Nations.

Mr KOFI ANNAN Secretary General of the United Nations ecu@un.org

Dear Mr Kofi Annan,

I appeal to you to urge the Indonesian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the Malukan political prisoners, Semmy Waileruny and Moses Tuwanakotta and 22 other political prisoners who were arrested for peacefully expressing their call for independence.

Mr Semmy Waileruny, (Chairman, Team Lawyers of Churches in Ambon) was arrested at the airport of Ambon, on May 5th 2005. He had just arrived from Jakarta, where he had been incarcerated in Mabes Polri, Tangerang and Cipinang prisons from May 2001 until April 2005 with a few interruptions. He was released early because of his good behaviour.

Mr Waileruny was alleged to have ordered the raising of the Moluccan flag all over Maluku on 25 April 2005. His trial has not yet begun. He is held in Waiheru prison where he sustained injuries to his face and head from beatings ordered by prison authorities in violation of Indonesian law.

Mr Moses Tuwanakotta was arrested on April 25th 2004 after raising the flag (celebration of the 54th Day of Proclamation of the Republic of the South Moluccas) and for making a speech in front of the house of Dr A. Manuputty (former leader of the non-violent liberation movement, Front Kedaulatan Maluku presently living in America). From 25th April 2005 till the beginning of May 2005 he was detained at several police stations in Ambon and in prison in Nania. At the beginning of April 2005 he was taken to Surubaya for security reasons.

The High Court sentenced Moses Tuwanakotta to 12 years imprisonment for activities undermining the State of Indonesia.

He is presently held in isolation in the prison of Poro in East Java in district Sidoarjo. Incarcerated for 5 months in Isolation Block H Cell number 6 which is darkened by day and the lights kept on all night, he is given dirty water and food not fit for consumption. Mr Tuwanakotta has been denied attending church during this period.

The inhumane treatment of these two political prisoners and a group of 22 political prisoners also in the prison in Waiheru, most of them arrested for the peaceful raising of the South Moluccan flag, is of grave concern.

I urge you

- to use your good offices to call on the Government of Indonesia to have Semmy Waileruny and Moses Tuwanakotta and the other 22 Political prisoners,

-

1. Denny Lelapary

2. Lucas Tahapary

3. Bram Talahaturuson

4. Hard Marunaya

5. Andy Salawane

6. Alvin Lelapary

7. Thomas Marisino

8. Sally Ataw

9. Yossy Uspesy

10. Patric Lawansuka

11. Donny Rewaru

12. Minggus Warela

13. Boby Markus

14. Endek Helaha

15. Yacob Leisina

16. Johny Warela

17. Benny Sapulette

18. Agus Matatula

19. Kace Selao

20. Elvis Sapteno

21. Izac Sapulette

22. Yacob Ririmas

released immediately and unconditionally as a sign of good faith towards the South Malukan People

- to request that all the political prisoners have immediate, on-going and regular access to the medical treatment they require.

- to demand that the Government of Indonesia immediately directs the military to desist from human rights abuses in the province of Maluku and halt all military expansion and operations and as the government of Indonesia illegally occupies Maluku, it should withdraw its military forces immediately.

- The United Nations and the government of the Netherlands should carry out initiatives to restore the right to self-determination to the people of Maluku: the people of Maluku should be given the opportunity to reorganize their government in Maluku or, if it is their wish, to indicate by other means of free choice, their wishes for their governance.

Yours sincerely

Copies sent to:

H.E Mr.REZLAN ISHAR JENIE, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations indonesia2@un.int;

H.E. FRANK A.M. MAJOOR, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations, nyv-cdp@minbuza.nl ; netherlands@un.int

H.E. JAVIER SOLANA Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union presse.cabinet@consilium.eu.int

Mr ERIK MEIJER, Committee on Foreign Affairs,Subcommittee on Human Rights, European Parliament, emeijer@sp.nl

ACHEH PAPUA MALUKU HUMAN RIGHTS ONLINE

www.ahro.info ahro@iprimus.com.au

AUSTRALIA

voor meer info zie ook www.fkmcpr.nl