{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://hultgren.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/papuan-independence-activist-freed", "Papuan Independence Activist Freed", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Randy Hultgren", "H001059", "hultgren.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonToday it was announced that Filep Karma, a Papuan activist imprisoned in Indonesia was released.\nOn June 28, 2015, Representatives Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Vargas (D-CA) sent a letter to Sec. Kerry urging him to raise the issue of imprisoned Papuan activists in an upcoming meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Rep. Pitts has been advocating for Karmas release since 2011.\nTom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairman Pitts stated: No one should go to jail because of what they believe. Filep Karmas human rights were violated when he was imprisoned for peaceful protests. I first contacted the President of Indonesia about Mr. Karma in 2011, and so I am glad to hear that he has finally been freed, and his human rights upheld. I hope that this will encourage the release of other prisoners of conscience both in Indonesia and around the world.\nCo-Chairman McGovern said, Protecting human rights is essential to building free and open societies. The release of Filep Karma by the Indonesian government is long overdue and I am pleased to see that he is finally free. Indonesias recent democratic transition has been an encouraging development, but the imprisonment of Karma and other peaceful activists clearly demonstrates that more must be done to strengthen human rights there. The United States has a responsibility to stand up for human rights at home and abroad. I thank Secretary Kerry for his leadership and urge him to continue to push for the reforms needed to support a truly free and democratic Indonesia.\nRep. Hultgren stated: We welcome this long overdue release of pro-democracy activist Filep Karma who was unjustly imprisoned simply for exercising basic democratic rights, said Rep. Hultgren, Executive-Committee Member of TLHRC. The rights of conscience and belief are foundational to free, functioning societies, and I urge Indonesia to act immediately to release others similarly imprisoned. No one should be punished for practicing their basic right to express their beliefs.\nFilep Karma, 56, was imprisoned in 2005 for merely raising a flag in support of independence for the Papuan minority in Indonesia.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://hultgren.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/papuan-independence-activist-freed"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8968552574515343, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}