Dear friends,
We wish to share with you the following announcement for the release of Vol. 10/II of the Indonesian publication CAVEAT produced by the Community Legal Aid Institute (LBHM) in Jakarta in cooperation with the Asian Human Rights Commission. A pdf version of CAVEAT can be downloaded here.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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An announcement from the Community Legal Aid Institute, Jakarta, Indonesia forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
INDONESIA: CAVEAT 10/II out Framing in Law, Judicial Mafia and Foreigners’ Rights
Dear Colleagues,
LBH Masyarakat welcomes you to the tenth edition of CAVEAT, our monthly report analyzing human rights in Indonesia. In this edition we present to you some articles on human rights and police reform which has become a hot topic of late. This month, CAVEATs Main Report highlights the issue of charge fabrication by the police or in short, framing. We draw attention to the case of Sukandi Sukatma who has told how he was framed by police simply because he refused the polices request to become a witness and give false testimony in an illegal firearms possession case allegedly committed by his former employer. The case has suddenly sparked public discussion.
The practice of framing not only violates a persons right to liberty and security because the victims are arrested, detained, and sentenced on unreasonable grounds, but framing also violates a persons right not to be tortured. Framing victims have stated they had no choice but to admit to crimes that they did not commit after being tortured. Despite the clear severity of framing crimes, framing unfortunately is not categorized as a human rights violation or even a crime in Indonesia. Its seen as merely a violation of the police code of conduct and thus perpetrators are not punished properly. The absence of proper punishment for framing is aggravated by the fact that both internal and external monitoring mechanisms of the police institution are very weak. The phenomenon of framing has stressed the need for reformation in the police institution.
Similarly our additional feature in this CAVEAT also calls for police reform. The article tells of the confession of Susno Duadji -former National Police Head of Criminal Investigators- stating that a number of high ranking officers were involved corrupt activities during the investigation of an IDR 25 billion (US$ 2,75 millions) tax case. Susnos confession has polarized public opinion. His supporters see Susnos comments as a strong sign for reformation within police institution whereas detractors claim him to be unethical and manipulative. Either way it is clear that reform is needed to halt the rampant corruption from within the Polri.
Were happy to inform you that we have started our new programme in conducting law and human rights education for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs). Supported by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), we have initiated our programme to empower more communities including Injection Drug Users (IDU), sex workers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) communities. Besides starting our new programme, we are continuing our current activities including our cooperation with the Voice of Human Rights (VHR) in broadcasting a law and human rights consultation radio show regularly. You can find more details about our activities in Reportage.
This months Rights in Asia report brings you human rights issues from three Asian countries: India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
Last but not least, the opinion piece Protecting Foreigners Rights in Indonesia written by Answer C. Styannes explores the provision in Constitutional Court Law which enables foreigners to lodge a constitutional review to Constitutional Court. Styannes argues that the fact that the constitution is a social contract between the state and its citizens does not mean that it is not allowed to provide human rights protections to foreigners.
Feel free to disseminate this publication to whom this may concern. CAVEAT is also available on our website: http://lbhmasyarakat.org/detail_publication.php?id_title=57
We sincerely hope that this edition of CAVEAT will help you to have a clearer understanding on the current state of human rights in Indonesia.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Yours faithfully,
Editorial Board
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. The above statement has only been forwarded by the AHRC.
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