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1992 Reebok Human Rights Award Winn



1992 Reebok Human Rights Award Winner Fernando de Araujo Released From
Prison in Indonesia 
12:24 p.m. Mar 24, 1998 Eastern 
JAKARTA, Indonesia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 1998--Fernando de Araujo, an
Amnesty International prisoner of conscience who was presented the Reebok
Human Rights Award in absentia in 1992, was released from prison yesterday
in Jakarta. He had spent over six years in prison upon his release. His
release was confirmed by Doug Cahn, Reebok's director of Human Rights
Programs who was with de Araujo immediately upon his release from prison. 

"Fernando was released this evening," said Cahn. "His release was unexpected
and is a victory for everyone who stands for human rights around the world,"
said Cahn. Cahn was in Indonesia on company business at the time of de
Araujo's release and had hoped to get approval to visit de Araujo in prison
as he had on a visit in 1995. 

"Today I am a free man, but I do not feel free from the struggle for human
rights for my people," said de Araujo. 

At the age of 26, de Araujo was sentenced to nine years in prison in 1991 on
a charge of "subversion." In November 1991, he organized and led a
non-violent demonstration in Jakarta protesting the Santa Cruz massacre
which took place in Dili earlier that month. Representatives from Amnesty
International and the news media reported that more than 100 people were
killed and scores injured when soldiers opened fire on mourners attending
the funeral of an activist who championed the cause of independence for East
Timor. 

At the time, de Araujo was General Chairman of RENETIL, a student group that
took a non-violent approach to promoting East Timor's independence from
Indonesia. Prior to his arrest, de Araujo communicated regularly with humans
rights groups, foreign diplomats and the news media. He was arrested and
charged under Indonesia's sweeping Anti Subversion Law. His indictment made
no reference to acts involving the use or advocacy of violence. 

Since 1992, Reebok joined human rights groups in bringing attention to de
Araujo's imprisonment and the imprisonment of hundreds of prisoners of
conscience. De Araujo along with other recipients of the Reebok Human Rights
Award who remain imprisoned are recognized at every Reebok Human Rights
Award ceremony and at other company events where participants are given the
means to call for their release through mail campaigns and other methods. 

Earlier this month, Reebok marked the 10th anniversary of the Reebok Humans
Rights Award Program which is the only award recognizing human rights
activists under the age of 30 who support non-violent means of fighting
human rights abuses. To date, 56 individuals from 29 countries have received
the award. Honorees receive a $25,000 grant from the Reebok Foundation to
benefit the human rights organization of their choice. The Award brings
international attention to the work of extraordinary young activists and
encourages young people to follow the examples set by the honorees. 

At this year's Reebok Human Rights Awards ceremony, past award recipients
launched a youth human rights network called RAW Network (Reebok Award
Winners Network) and appointed a full-time executive director. RAW Network
is dedicated to securing the unconditional release of past honorees Phuntsok
Nyidron, a 29 year old nun serving a 17 year sentence for her part in a
peaceful demonstration for Tibetan independence in 1989, and Ma Thida, a
doctor and writer in Burma serving a 20 year sentence for her non-violent
support for democracy. 

Past winners, members of the Reebok Human Rights Award Board of Directors
and others have successfully campaigned for the release of David Moya, a
Cuban activist and 1990 recipient of the award. Moya was released from
prison in 1991 and lives in exile in the United States where he works for
free expression and democracy in Cuba. (See also: http://www.businesswire.com) 

Copyright 1998, Business Wire