Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about police brutality provided by the Indonesian Student Christian Movement (GMKI) Manado branch office, North Sulawesi Province. Police officers supported by the civil service police unit (Satpol PP) and staff employees of the local parliament (DPRD) attacked the protesters. Rather than accommodate the protesters’ objections, the local parliament ignored the violence that occurred in the local parliament office.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 1 June 2016, GMKI conducted a peaceful public protest commemorating the birth of Pancasila, according to the five principles of Indonesia’s ideology. The public protest took place in the local parliament office (DPRD) Manado, North Sulawesi Province.
Protesters were mostly university students who arrived in the local parliament’s office at 12.45pm local time. Subsequently, they conducted their protest for about 30 minutes in front of the office. They were calling for professionalism on the part of local parliament members (MPs). Shortly thereafter, the protesters were invited to dialogue with local parliament members in the plenary session’s room.
However, after they entered the room and started talking, the protesters stated that the representatives of MPs who took part in the dialogue did not represent all political parties. They requested that the MPs ensure that the chairperson of the local parliament from the Democratic Party must also be able to attend the meeting.
While protesters were waiting for the chairperson of the local parliament to arrive, they continued their speech. A protester took one of the name plates on the table belonging to a parliament member with the initials CL. They painted the name plate blue. The paint was a protest against the parliament who failed to fulfill article number five of Pancasila concerning justice for all Indonesian citizens.
While the protesters were sitting on the floor, eating bread and drinking mineral water, suddenly police officers came and demanded a letter permit for GMKI Manado and coordinator Bryan Wagey. The protesters explained to the police that according to Law No 9 of 1998 on the freedom of public opinion, the protesters are only obligated to submit an information letter not a permit letter. Previously, on 31 May 2016, the protesters had submitted an information letter to the Manado city police resort (Polresta Manado).
As the protesters were in discussion with a representative of the police officers, other police officers with the logo Paniki entered the plenary room and attacked the protesters. The police officers kicked, beat them with sticks, and dragged them outside the plenary room. Even when they were outside the room, the police fired tear gas at them while repeatedly beating and kicking them.
Ironically, not only the police officers attacked the protesters, but a civil service police unit (Satpol PP) and the staff employee of the local parliament also attacked them. Some of the protesters were bleeding with serious injuries. Five were hospitalized and one was brought to the emergency unit of the Prof. R.D Kandou Malalayang hospital.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (UUD 1945), has a provision that guarantees the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and peaceful assembly. Nevertheless, violations against such rights massively and frequently occur in Indonesia. Countless cases of forced dissolution and brutal attacks against peaceful public protest occurred in the past year under President Joko Widodo’s administration. The AHRC had issued a statement on forced dissolution against public protests in Papua, and brutal attacks by police officers against sand mining protesters AHRC-UAC-023-2016.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure comprehensive investigation be undertaken to prosecute police officers, civil service police unit (Satpol PP), staff of the local parliament as well as members of local parliament who attacked and used violence against the protesters.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and 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, civil service police unit and local parliament staff attacked a peaceful public protest in Manado
Name of victims: Students in The Indonesian Student Christian Movement (GMKI) branch of Manado, North Sulawesi Province
Names of alleged perpetrators:
– Police officers
– Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP)
– Staff of the local parliament (DPRD)
– Members of local parliament
Date of incident: 1 June 2016
Place of incident: In the local parliament office (DPRD) Manado, North Sulawesi Province.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding police officers supported by the civil service police unit (Satpol PP) and staff employees of the local parliament (DPRD) attacked the protesters. Rather than accommodate the protesters’ objections, the local parliament ignored the violence that occurred in the local parliament office.
On 1 June 2016, GMKI conducted a peaceful public protest commemorating the birth of Pancasila, according to the five principles of Indonesia’s ideology. The public protest took place in the local parliament office (DPRD) Manado, North Sulawesi Province.
Protesters were mostly university students who arrived in the local parliament’s office at 12.45pm local time. Subsequently, they conducted their protest for about 30 minutes in front of the office. They were calling for professionalism on the part of local parliament members (MPs). Shortly thereafter, the protesters were invited to dialogue with local parliament members in the plenary session’s room.
However, after they entered the room and started talking, the protesters stated that the representatives of MPs who took part in the dialogue did not represent all political parties. They requested that the MPs ensure that the chairperson of the local parliament from the Democratic Party must also be able to attend the meeting.
While protesters were waiting for the chairperson of the local parliament to arrive, they continued their speech. A protester took one of the name plates on the table belonging to a parliament member with the initials CL. They painted the name plate blue. The paint was a protest against the parliament who failed to fulfill article number five of Pancasila concerning justice for all Indonesian citizens.
While the protesters were sitting on the floor, eating bread and drinking mineral water, suddenly police officers came and demanded a letter permit for GMKI Manado and coordinator Bryan Wagey. The protesters explained to the police that according to Law No 9 of 1998 on the freedom of public opinion, the protesters are only obligated to submit an information letter not a permit letter. Previously, on 31 May 2016, the protesters had submitted an information letter to the Manado city police resort (Polresta Manado).
As the protesters were in discussion with a representative of the police officers, other police officers with the logo Paniki entered the plenary room and attacked the protesters. The police officers kicked, beat them with sticks, and dragged them outside the plenary room. Even when they were outside the room, the police fired tear gas at them while repeatedly beating and kicking them.
Ironically, not only the police officers attacked the protesters, but a civil service police unit (Satpol PP) and the staff employee of the local parliament also attacked them. Some of the protesters were bleeding with serious injuries. Five were hospitalized and one was brought to the emergency unit of the Prof. R.D Kandou Malalayang hospital.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure comprehensive investigation be taken to prosecute police officers, civil service police unit (Satpol PP), staff of the local parliament as well as members of local parliament who attacked and used violence against the protesters.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. JokoWidodo
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. YasonnaLaoly
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 Badroedin Haiti
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. Mr. Luhut Binsar Panjaitan
Chairperson 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. AmzulianRifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsman of 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. Dr. 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
LembagaPerlindunganSakdidanKorban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881
9. M. Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson National Human Rights Commission
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)
