Skip to main content

Written question asked by Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 12 March 2012.


Indonesia

Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the opinion stated by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that the imprisonment of Filep Karma constitutes a breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and whether they will raise the issue with the Government of Indonesia.
Answer

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is an independent special procedure of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Government support its work. We are concerned about prisoners, including Filep Karma, who are serving lengthy jail sentences for flying the Papuan Morning Star flag. It would appear that the sentences handed down, following convictions on treason charges, are incompatible with Indonesia's obligations as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We continue to raise our concerns over disproportionate sentences for flag flying with the Indonesian Government.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
16033; 736 c13-4WA
Session
2010-12
Subjects
Flags Prisoners Universal Declaration of Human Rights Indonesia Papua International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Karma, Filep
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk