The most well-known ex-political prisoner from West Papua, Filep Karma, a human rights activist, was discovered dead this morning on a beach in Jayapura, the Melanesian region’s capital.
His passing has shocked the Papuan people as well as grassroots activist groups in Indonesia and other parts of the Pacific.
“It is true that a body was found by a resident on the beach at Bse G, suspected to be Filep Karma, but to be sure, the police are still waiting for confirmation from his family,” North Jayapura police chief Police Adjunct Commissioner Yahya Rumra told Antara News.
According to CNN Indonesia, Frist Ramandey, the president of the Papuan Human Rights Commission, verified Karma’s body had been discovered on the beach.
He added that his team was still looking into the specifics of Karma’s passing.
He was revered by many Indonesians and regarded as a father figure by West Papuans. He was kind, brave, compassionate, and wise, according to human rights attorney Veronica Koman in a tweet.
“Grassroots are shaken.”
‘I’m crushed beyond words’
In a later tweet, she added: “We first met when I visited him in prison. We would spend days and days together when he visited Jakarta or I visited Jayapura.
“He laid the foundation of how I, as an Indonesian, view West Papua. He called me ‘child’ and I called him ‘father’.
“I’m crushed beyond words.”
In Biak in 1998, Filep Karma, 67, organised the hoisting of the Morning Star flag of freedom, which was forbidden by Indonesian authorities. Filep Karma was later put in prison.
Two years later, he was freed.
He committed a similar offence once more in 2004 and was charged with “treason.”
He received a 15-year sentence at the time, but was released in 2015.
Filep Karma, the most famous West Papuan ex political prisoner, was found dead on a beach in Jayapura this morning.
He was a father figure for West Papuans and respected by many Indonesian people. He was gentle, loving, courageous, and full of wisdom.
Grassroots are shaken. pic.twitter.com/GExI8EG4F6
Advertisement— Veronica Koman 許愛茜 (@VeronicaKoman) November 1, 2022
Filep Karma was “without a doubt the best-known political prisoner in West Papua,” according to the website Papuans Behind Bars.
His release on November 19, 2015, was warmly welcomed by the Papuan civil society. He had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for no more than hoisting a flag.
The son of a prominent local politician, originally from Biak island, Karma studied political science in Java before working as a civil servant in Papua.
