Cash reward offered for arrest during UK State visit

We are offering a reward of £50,000 to the first person(s) who performs a citizens arrest on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his state visit to the UK (from 31st October to 2nd November 2012).

This man is guilty of orchestrating an ongoing genocide in West Papua where over 500,000 innocent people have been killed and denying Papuan civilians basic human rights including freedom of speech. Foreign media and human rights groups are denied access to the region by the Indonesian Government.

(scroll down for rules & instructions on carrying out citizens arrest)

Background

Over 500,000 innocent civilians have been killed by the Indonesian military in West Papua under a campaign of terror orchestrated by the Government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Everyday women and children are being raped, villages burned, elderly murdered, and lives destroyed. People are being put in prison for raising a flag, or assasinated in broad daylight. (video evidence at bottom of this page)

Performing a Citizen’s Arrest

Your attempts to arrest this war criminal will, at this stage, be largely symbolic, but they will have great political resonance, and with £50,000 cash in your hand open up a world of opportunities. We will be listing on here closer to the time the confirmed itinerary of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his state visit, including functions and convoy routes.

It is essential that they are pursued peacefully and calmly, not least for your own safety: at no point should you create the impression that you mean to harm him, or you could be harmed yourself. The method we recommend is calmly to approach Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and in a gentle fashion to lay a hand on his shoulder or elbow, in such a way that he cannot have any cause to complain of being hurt or trapped by you, and announce loudly, “Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, this is a citizens’ arrest for genocide and crimes against humanity in West Papua. I am inviting you to accompany me to a police station to answer the charge.”

It is likely that British police officers will be accompanying Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, so you should explain the charge to them, and encourage them to support you by arresting him.

You are advised not to put yourself at risk of charges of assault or false imprisonment. In other words, do not cling onto Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or attempt to drag him anywhere (he is after all a dangerous criminal)

You are unlikely to get much further than that. But as long as the attempt is picked up by the media, the point will have been made: he is a war criminal who can expect to be pursued for his crime wherever he goes.

You should decide how you want to leave the situation after your attempt. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or the people accompanying him might wish to argue with you if the arrest takes place in the media spotlight, so before attempting it you should have a good grasp of the case against him, be aware of the likely counter-arguments, and prepare some responses.

But we emphasise again: do not use any methods which could be construed as violent. The founders of this campaign cannot be held responsible if you do not abide by this rule.

Rules

The bounty can be claimed by anyone who meets the following conditions:

1. He or she attempts a citizen’s arrest of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for crimes against humanity and genocide in West Papua.

2. The attempt is reported in at least one mainstream media outlet in a bulletin, programme or article (ie not just a comment thread). The judgement of what is mainstream is at the discretion of those running this site. The purpose of this condition is to ensure that the attempted arrest has political consequences. Links to the report(s) must be sent with the application for the award.

3. The claimant provides proof that he or she is the person mentioned in the report(s).

4. The claimant applies for the award within 28 days of the attempt.

5. If several people are involved in a single arrest attempt, or if more than one person makes an attempt at the same event, the total pot will be shared between them.

Good luck!