The problem of unfair trials in which prisoners of conscience have been convicted must also be addressed. In many cases, arrests have been carried out without warrants and detainees have been denied access to lawyers, and in some cases, subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.
It will come as no surprise to anyone that Indonesia has imprisoned large amounts of Papuans during its occupation of West Papua. Kept in terrible conditions, prisoners are often tortured and many ‘disappear’ or are poisoned.
These prisoners need support, and our support can make a difference in the way they are treated. One Papuan prisoner, who people in the UK phoned the prison about, reports: “I was being kept in the pitch black in an overflowing toilet. I was cuffed at my hands and feet. After two weeks the guards pulled me out and asked me why all these people were phoning and enquiring about me. They looked scared and I told them that now the world is watching them. I was returned to my cell but they now cleaned it, put a light in and removed the cuffs… It made me feel strong to hear people outside were supporting me.”
Collected on these pages are lists of politial prisoners and contact information for all the prisons. We can support these prisoners by telephoning the prisons, sending money and writing to them.
There will also occasionally be co-ordinated efforts to get people to phone for specific prisoners on certain days, especially in response to emergency situations where there is fear of torture - to receive "Urgent Action" emails please send and email to koteka_prisoner_support@westpapua.net and see the latest news. Writing to prisoners
Sending letters and cards to long term prisoners is one of the best ways to support them. Almost all get to the prisoners and many people have received replies. Prisoners who were recently released and received letters and cards from the outside told us how it made them feel strong inside. Why not get some cards signed at a meeting or event and send them to the prisoners. See the prisoner lists for people to write to. If you cannot write Indonesian, do not worry just send a colourful card and include some of these phrases:
Kami harap anda baik baik - we hope you are well
Kami harap anda akan merdeka cepat - we hope you will be free soon
Kami teman orang Papua - we are friends of Papuan people
Salam manis dari... - Sweet greetings from...
