Free Yanto Awerkion

Dear friends,

Here's an update from the Free West Papua Campaign on a community petition you signed:

We would like to thank you again for signing the historical petition calling on the UN to urgently act on West Papua.

As you may know people from over 185 countries signed this petition in an incredible act of international solidarity.Immediately when we launched it, Indonesia made it illegal, with threats of arrest and torture for anyone in West Papua caught signing it. Avaaz has even been blocked across the whole of Indonesia for hosting it. 

But despite this brutal intimidation, an unprecedented 1.8 million West Papuans (70% of the indigenous population) hand-signed, or gave their thumbprints, on this very petition that you also signed, making it one of the most courageous and significant acts of grassroots people power ever, directly from the people of West Papua. The petition has shown unanimously that West Papuans do not feel safe under Indonesian occupation, and it has resulted in game changing evidence which is currently being presented to the United Nations. 

One man, Yanto Awerkion, still remains behind bars just for supporting it, and we would like you to help us get him out.

On 30th May 2017, West Papuan people held a peaceful prayer gathering in the town of Timika to count the number of signatures that were collected in the region of Bomberai. As soon as Yanto Awerkion took to the stage to announce 267,437 names joined the petition, Indonesian troops raided the compound. They were fully armed and made up of the Indonesian military, police, Detatchment 88 (“Anti Terror” troops), Kopassus (Special Troops) and Intelligence Services. 

Yanto was arrested and has remained behind bars ever since. For 8 months, his health seriously deteriorated and he has reported headaches, fevers and respiratory disorders. He has been given only 2 meals per day with little light, and unable to see his young family.

His trial is on the 9th January, in Timika Court where he is facing charges of “Makar” or Treason, and 15 years in prison. Just for supporting a petition.


"It is horrible that this young person can be charged with treason for helping with a petition. It is a travesty of justice and we need to keep supporting him!"
Former MP Catherine Delahunty New Zealand.

The Free West Papua Campaign are running a campaign to help #FreeYanto.

If you would like to join our action you can follow the links here
You can follow the Free West Papua Campaign on Twitter and  Facebook to keep up to date with the petition, as well as other actions for West Papua.

Our action:

Please help by calling the local authorities in Timika and request Yanto Awerkion is unconditionally released from custody as soon as possible. If you cannot speak Indonesian we suggest stating your name, location, organisation, and state you are calling for Yanto Awerkion, & to protect his human rights.
Please make these calls on Friday 5th and/or Monday 8th. (*Indonesia is 9 hours ahead of UK, therefore midnight the night before is best).

These phone calls are a simple way of directly helping political prisoners in West Papua. Prisoners have reported that due to phone calls being made they have been untied, and have been given light and clean toilets- prisoners have reported that having international people caring about them have not only made the conditions better, but have made them feel strong.

A campaign last year saw one prisoner be released after 8 months, after he also received threats of 15 years in prison. We know these phone calls work, so let’s do it for Yanto.

Other ways you can help: You can also help by publishing the story on your sites, or by re-tweeting from the Free West Papua Campaign Twitter and Facebook.


Thank you!

The Free West Papua Campaign




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