Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding human rights violations committed by police officers and the Adidaya Tangguh Company in North Moluccas province, Indonesia. The pattern of violations is one of land confiscation, deprivation of liberty and a vicious attack against local community members on Taliabu Island. Substantial members of the community were detained by the police who were reluctant to investigate any alleged police abuse. This problem has failed to be addressed by the local government. As no solution has been provided, the community still suffers from severe trauma.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On Thursday 23 February 2017, the community of local villages around a mining area organized a peaceful public protest. The protest took place in front of the main gate of Port Gambose. In the protest, the community demanded that the Adidaya Tangguh Company pay compensation for their land confiscation and crop damage. The Company belongs to the Salim Group which is one of the biggest companies in Indonesia.
The protest started at 12.00 pm local time. At 02.40 pm, the Community representative negotiated with the police, who were standing around monitoring the protest. They requested the police to invite the Company representative to meet and hold a discussion with them. However, the request was ignored by the Company.
Until 03.30 pm, the Company continued to ignore the request. As a result, the police commander ordered the Community to stop the protest. As they moved back, preparing to leave, one of the police officers viciously attacked Mr. Ilham Ladiidu a community member. He was from the Bobong Police Sector, and is Head of the Intelligence Unit (Kanit Reserse) of Polsek Bobong. The policeman attacked quickly from behind, hurling, beating and kicking Mr. Ladiidu.
Seeing that a policeman was attacking Mr. Ladiidu, community members moved in to help him. Other police officers began to move to attack the community. They shot in the air as a warning. Then the police chased them back to their village where they conducted a sweeping operation of arrests. The police destroyed houses belonging to the villagers. At this point, the villagers ran and stayed in the forest to avoid further attacks and illegal arrest.
On February 23, the police arrested 13 community members and on February 25, 3 members. Currently, some are still in police custody.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below. Ask them to ensure that a comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute the police officers who attacked the community, illegally arrested and detained them. The government should guarantee an audit and investigation into the Adidaya Tangguh Company. Adequate solutions should be offered to the community who suffered an attack, deprivation of liberty and land confiscation. Police should release, without delay, all persons who were detained in custody.
The AHRC will write separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, to the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, calling for their intervention in this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
INDONESIA: Local Community attacked by Police after protesting against the Adidaya Tangguh Company
Name of victim: Mr. Ilham Ladiidu and local community members
Names of alleged perpetrators: police officers
Date of incident: 23 and 25 February 2017
Place of incident: Taliabu Island, North Moluccas province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding human rights violations committed by police officers and the Adidaya Tangguh Company in North Moluccas province, Indonesia. The pattern of violations is one of land confiscation, deprivation of liberty and a vicious attack against local community members on Taliabu Island. Substantial members of the community were detained by the police who were reluctant to investigate any alleged police abuse. This problem has failed to be addressed by the local government. As no solution has been provided, the community still suffers from severe trauma.
On Thursday 23 February 2017, the community of local villages around a mining area organized a peaceful public protest. The protest took place in front of the main gate of Port Gambose. In the protest, the community demanded that the Adidaya Tangguh Company pay compensation for their land confiscation and crop damage. The Company belongs to the Salim Group which is one of the biggest companies in Indonesia.
The protest started at 12.00 pm local time. At 02.40 pm, the Community representative negotiated with the police, who were standing around monitoring the protest. They requested the police to invite the Company representative to meet and hold a discussion with them. However, the request was ignored by the Company.
Until 03.30 pm, the Company continued to ignore the request. As a result, the police commander ordered the Community to stop the protest. As they moved back, preparing to leave, one of the police officers viciously attacked Mr. Ilham Ladiidu a community member. He was from the Bobong Police Sector, and is Head of the Intelligence Unit (Kanit Reserse) of Polsek Bobong. The policeman attacked quickly from behind, hurling, beating and kicking Mr. Ladiidu.
Seeing that a policeman was attacking Mr. Ladiidu, community members moved in to help him. Other police officers began to move to attack the community. They shot in the air as a warning. Then the police chased them back to their village where they conducted a sweeping operation of arrests. The police destroyed houses belonging to the villagers. At this point, the villagers ran and stayed in the forest to avoid further attacks and illegal arrest.
On February 23, the police arrested 13 community members and on February 25, 3 members. Currently, some are still in police custody.
Therefore, I respectfully request that you ensure a comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute the police officers who attacked community members, illegally arrested and detained them. The government should guarantee an audit and investigation into the Adidaya Tangguh Company. Adequate solutions should be offered to a community that suffered a brutal attack, deprivation of liberty and land confiscation. All community members who were detained in custody should be released by the police without undue delay.
I look forward to your prompt action in 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. Drs. 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 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 Commission III of The House of Representatives
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)
