Jayapura, Jubi – Legislator of Papua, Wilhelmus Pigai stated that after the lifelong sentence of the convicted, Antonius Uwamang from Cipinang Prison, Jakarta to Abepura Prison, Jayapura City, Papua succeeded, they are now trying to get the remission (reduction of punishment) or pardon fom the president to Uwamang.
Member of Commission I in the field of politics, law and human rights said, since last week, Anton Uwamang has been transferred to LP Abepura. The next struggle is to seek remission or pardon for Uwamang.
“Regarding remission, which is in the process, the submission of a criminal change from a lifetime to a temporary penalty, has been submitted and hopefully on August this year there is a certainty,” said Wilhelmus Pigai to Jubi, Sunday (July 30).
According to him, the transfer of Anton Uwamang to Papua will facilitate the family to monitor his condition and to visit him.
“For nearly 12 years Anton has been detained at the Cipinang prisons, the family has never visited him, we are grateful that our efforts and the family have asked Anton to be moved has been successful, he has arrived at LP Abe since Tuesday (July 25),” he said. .
He said, in addition to the transfer efforts from LP Cipinang to LP Abepura and the remission (reduction of punishment), he will also fight for pardon or pardon from the president for the convicted person who was charged for shooting in Mimika in 2002.
“So there are three things that we are fighting for: the transfer of detentions has succeeded, then the remissions and pardons are now in process and pending,” he said.
While Vice Chairman of Commission I, Orwan Tolli Wone said when one checked Uwamang track record during his time in Cipinang prison, he should naturally got remission.
“Uwamang is entitled to a remission like any other prisoner, that’s the right of citizens, especially during the duration of the sentence Uwamang has never been in trouble,” Orwan said.
Anton Uwamang was sentenced to life for the shooting of a convoy of employees of PT Freeport Indonesia, on August 21, 2002 which resulted in two Americans, Ricky Lynn Spier (44) and Leon Edwin Burgon (71) and Indonesian citizen Bambang Riwanto killed.
In addition to Anton, his colleagues Yulianus Deikme and Agustinus Anggaibak were convicted 15 years in prison. Yairus Kiwak, Rev. Isaac Onawame, Esau Onawame and Hardi Sugumol were charged eight years in prison.
A test for Jokowi
The struggle for clemency for Uwamang will be a test for Indonesian President, Joko Widodo. Although he once freed five Papuan political prisoners in May 2015, none of them are a lifelong convict. The president who is familiarly called Jokowi is also considered to never prove his government’s commitment to solve the problem of alleged violations of Human Rights in Papua, along with democratic space in Papua.
Setara Institute some time ago mentioned in the policy span, it is proven that President Joko Widodo has no policy in solving cases of human rights violations and democratic conditions in Papua. This can be seen from the absence of any regulations or legislation concerning human rights issues.
In contrast, Jokowi only political maneuvered by attempting to open partial democracy taps such as granting pardons to political prisoners, lifting up restrictions on foreign press, and forming a team to resolve human rights cases in Papua, have not solving the problems of Papua holistically.
“The presidential political steps seem ambiguous and contradictory. On one hand, the president grants clemency to five political prisoners and grants foreign press freedom. But on the other hand, the government made a massive arrest against the peacefull demonstration of the people of Papua. In fact, the President is actually planning to build a new territorial command and police mobile brigade, Navy base, and add more troops to Papua. This further demonstrates that governments is still present his militaristic and repressive approach to Papuan society, “said Bonar Tigor Naipospos, Deputy Director of Setara Institute.
In international forums, continued Naipospos, Jokowi runs a diplomacy ‘turn a blind eye’ by denying all complaints and information about human rights violations in Papua.
In many forums, the government is more defensive without adequate foundation. The international government’s arrogance by ignoring the human rights situation report is evidence of a denial of the humanist policy that Jokowi had promised.(*)
