Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KontraS). It is a national, human rights NGO, handling the case of torture which caused the death of Mr. Afriadi Pratama (23). The case was occasioned by a personal conflict, namely a love triangle, between Mr. Afriadi, Mr. Adil S Tambunan, a police officer and Eka Boru Niraja. There was a fight between the two men in which Mr. Adil was stabbed. Mr. Afriadi tried to escape, but was arrested without a warrant, detained and tortured to death.
CASE NARRATIVE: (based upon chronology of KontraS)
On 25 August 2016, there was a fight between Mr. Afriadi Pratama and Mr. Adil S Tambunan, a police officer of Meranti Police Resort (Polres Meranti). After stabbing Mr. Adil, Mr. Afriadi escaped to Merbau Island. Police officers of Meranti Police Resort, 15 in number, came to Afriadi’s house. Without any official letter, they forcibly searched the house and intimidated his mother. The police produced a photo of Mr. Adil who was stabbed to death by Mr. Afriadi.
Mr. Afriadi was found by the police on Merbau Island. They were led by Adjunct Commissaries Police (AKP) Suhartono Yakub, commander of Merbau police sector (Polsek Merbau). According to KontraS, after Afriadi was arrested, the police were violent towards him. They shot him in the foot, bloodied his lip and caused injuries to his face.
Afriadi was forcibly transferred to Merbau Island through the Nursa port. On the island, Afriadi was dragged, kicked, trampled and beaten with a piece of wood. There were some 12 police officers involved in the arrest and torture. Two wore official police uniforms. Mr. Afriadi was thrown in a police vehicle and brought to a local Meranti hospital (RSUD Meranti).
After discharge from the hospital, the police ordered Afriadi transferred to the Meranti Police Resort for further examination. In the transfer, Afriadi was seriously injured. In the end, Afriadi’s family received information that he had passed away in the Meranti Police Resort.
A day later, people knew that Afriadi had passed away. Hundreds of Selat Panjang residents came to the Hospital, asking about Afriadi’s death. At the hospital, residents met with senior adjunct police commissioner (AKBP) Asep Iskandar. After a discussion with him, the residents were not satisfied. They posed the question—why was Afriadi tortured and killed? The commissioner stated that he only ordered his subordinates to search for and arrest Afriadi.
After the dialogue, thousands of residents came to the Meranti Police Resort, calling for an investigation into the death. The chief of the Meranti Police Resort refused to meet with the residents. They became angry and tried to penetrate the police offices. The vice chief of police tried to calm down the residents. But they ignored him with shots being heard from inside the police offices. One resident, Mr. Isrusli, was bleeding after being shot in the head and had to be hospitalized. The investigation and trial process is still on-going in this case of torture.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP) has yet to regulate punishment against torture. As a result, we see light punishment and impunity for the perpetrators. For the last ten years, the Parliamentary Drafting Committee has been working on a new Penal Code Bill, but has yet to bring it to completion.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that a comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute the police officers involved in the torture and death of Mr. Afriadi Pratama. We urge a proper investigation into the shooting of Mr. Isrusli which took place in the Meranti Police Resort.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
INDONESIA: Police officers tortured a Meranti resident to death and shot one of the protesters
Name of victims: Mr. Afriadi Pratama (tortured to death), Mr. Isrusli, shot in the head
Names of alleged perpetrators: (AKBP) Asep Iskandar, chief of police of Meranti Police Resort, Adjunct Commissaries Police (AKP) Suhartono Yakub, commander of Merbau police sector (Polsek Merbau) and other police officers of the Meranti Police Resort
Date of incident: 25 – 26 August 2016
Place of incident: Merbau Island, Riau province, Indonesia
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the death of Mr. Afriadi Pratama (23). The case was occasioned by a personal conflict, namely a love triangle, between Mr. Afriadi, Mr. Adil S Tambunan, a police officer and Eka Boru Niraja. There was a fight between the two men in which Mr. Adil was stabbed. Mr. Afriadi tried to escape, but was arrested without a warrant, detained and tortured to death.
On 25 August 2016, there was a fight between Mr. Afriadi Pratama and Mr. Adil S Tambunan, a police officer of Meranti Police Resort (Polres Meranti). After stabbing Mr. Adil, Mr. Afriadi escaped to Merbau Island. Police officers of Meranti Police Resort, 15 in number, came to Afriadi’s house. Without any official letter, they forcibly searched the house and intimidated his mother. The police produced a photo of Mr. Adil who was stabbed to death by Mr. Afriadi.
Mr. Afriadi was found by the police on Merbau Island. They were led by Adjunct Commissaries Police (AKP) Suhartono Yakub, commander of Merbau police sector (Polsek Merbau). According to KontraS, after Afriadi was arrested, the police were violent towards him. They shot him in the foot, bloodied his lip and caused injuries to his face.
Afriadi was forcibly transferred to Merbau Island through the Nursa port. On the island, Afriadi was dragged, kicked, trampled and beaten with a piece of wood. There were some 12 police officers involved in the arrest and torture. Two wore official police uniforms. Mr. Afriadi was thrown in a police vehicle and brought to a local Meranti hospital (RSUD Meranti).
After discharge from the hospital, the police ordered Afriadi transferred to the Meranti Police Resort for further examination. In the transfer, Afriadi was seriously injured. In the end, Afriadi’s family received information that he had passed away in the Meranti Police Resort.
A day later, people knew that Afriadi had passed away. Hundreds of Selat Panjang residents came to the Hospital, asking about Afriadi’s death. At the hospital, residents met with senior adjunct police commissioner (AKBP) Asep Iskandar. After a discussion with him, the residents were not satisfied. They posed the question—why was Afriadi tortured and killed? The commissioner stated that he only ordered his subordinates to search for and arrest Afriadi.
After the dialogue, thousands of residents came to the Meranti Police Resort, calling for an investigation into the death. The chief of the Meranti Police Resort refused to meet with the residents. They became angry and tried to penetrate the police offices. The vice chief of police tried to calm down the residents. But they ignored him with shots being heard from inside the police offices. One resident, Mr. Isrusli, was bleeding after being shot in the head and had to be hospitalized. The investigation and trial process is still on-going in this case of torture.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that a comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute the police officers involved in the torture and death of Mr. Afriadi Pratama. We urge a proper investigation into the shooting of Mr. Isrusli which occurred in the Meranti Police Resort.
The government must ensure that the families of the victims receive appropriate compensation in a timely manner. The investigation must be conducted under the fair trial standard and the due process of law.
I look forward to your prompt action to this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH., MH
Director General of Human Rights
Office of the Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Pol. Dir. H.M. Tito Karnavian, M.A., Ph.D
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Ms. Poengky Indarti
Commissioner of the National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Professor. Amzulian Rifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsmen of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (GedungPengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. Dir. HM. Azis Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative
KetuaKomisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
JalanJenderalGatotSubroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566
8. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881
9. M. Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
