Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information provided by Yogyakarta Legal Aid (LBH Yogyakarta) regarding a vicious attack and abuse of power conducted by the Indonesian police, the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), and the Army against local residents who have refused to cooperate with the government in its plan to build a new Airport in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta Province.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 16 February 2016, approximately 1,000 personnel of the Army, Police, and Satpol PP were on guard for the boundary making exercise conducted by the National Land Agency (BPN) in Kulon Progo Regency. The Adjunct Senior Commissioner (AKBP) and Chief of Kulon Progo Police Resort, Djunadi S.I.K led the police officers overseeing the boundary making, while the local army commander led the presence of the army men.
The authorities did not show any willingness to have a dialogue with local residents, who gathered and objected to the boundary making exercise. The residents claimed that the marking had entered residential land. The local residents were then subjected to a violent and brutal attack. They were punched and kicked, and were intimidated in various ways by the Army and police. Children of residents were trampled upon when police dispersed the people gathered.
The police and Army men also choked local residents; as a result, some of them fainted. Further, the police destroyed property belonging to local farmers, such as motorcycles and chili seed plants in the yards. One woman was also force shackled in handcuffs by the police. The citizens cried out and could not believe the brutal attack and inhuman treatment that had unfolded.
Expansion of the Airport in Kulon Progo Regency is part of the government’s ambitious national project under the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development (MP3EI). Launched in 2011, it is a project with great potential for rights violations. Therefore, in order to support this project, the government has sought to apply the National Law No. 2 of 2012 on Land Procurement in the Public Interest.
This brutal attack conducted by the State apparatus proves that the government has no goodwill to set up a peaceful dialogue with local residents concerning the plan to expand the Airport. The government has preferred to deploy excessive force and use violence to grab the land from local residents.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
On behalf of national development, security forces have frequently been deployed to attack and intimidate residents or local indigenous people who defend their land and property. Many land disputes have triggered human rights violations, because of a lack of law enforcement and control upon the security forces that abuse their power.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute officers in the State apparatus that brutally attacked and harassed local residents. Furthermore, the government has to ensure remedy for victims and must avoid land confiscation to expand the Airport.
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 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 and Army attack residents protesting airport expansion
Name of victims:
1. Mr. Prayogo Andi Wibowo
2. Mr. Dita Prihantanto
3. Mr. Muhamdi
4. Mr. Warsiyad
5. Mr. Dwi Sukantar
6. Mr. Suwanto
7. Mr. Suroto
8. Mr. Sukirman
9. Mr. Wagino
10. Mr. Sipiyo
11. Mrs. Sunarti
12. Mrs. Elli
13. Mrs. Tri
14. Mrs. Sumarni
15. Mrs. Suprihatin (stomped and beaten, brought to local clinic unconscious)
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Local government of Kulon Progo Regency and its Land Agency
2. The Army
3. The Police
4. The Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP)
Date of incident: 16 February 2016
Place of incident: Desa Palihan, Kragon II, Bapangan, Glagah of Kulon Progo Regency, Indonesia
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding a vicious attack and abuse of power conducted by the Indonesian police, the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), and the Army against local residents who have refused to cooperate with the government in its plan to build a new Airport in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta Province.
On 16 February 2016, approximately 1,000 personnel of the Army, Police, and Satpol PP were on guard for the boundary making exercise conducted by the National Land Agency (BPN) in Kulon Progo Regency. The Adjunct Senior Commissioner (AKBP) and Chief of Kulon Progo Police Resort, Djunadi S.I.K led the police officers overseeing the boundary making, while the local army commander led the presence of the army men.
The authorities did not show any willingness to have a dialogue with local residents, who gathered and objected to the boundary making exercise. The residents claimed that the marking had entered residential land. The local residents were then subjected to a violent and brutal attack. They were punched and kicked, and were intimidated in various ways by the Army and police. Children of residents were trampled upon when police dispersed the people gathered.
The police and Army men also choked local residents; as a result, some of them fainted. Further, the police destroyed property belonging to local farmers, such as motorcycles and chili seed plants in the yards. One woman was also force shackled in handcuffs by the police. The citizens cried out and could not believe the brutal attack and inhuman treatment that had unfolded.
Expansion of the Airport in Kulon Progo Regency is part of the government’s ambitious national project under the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development (MP3EI). Launched in 2011, it is a project with great potential for rights violations. Therefore, in order to support this project, the government has sought to apply the National Law No. 2 of 2012 on Land Procurement in the Public Interest.
This brutal attack conducted by the State apparatus proves that the government has no goodwill to set up a peaceful dialogue with local residents concerning the plan to expand the Airport. The government has preferred to deploy excessive force and use violence to grab the land from local residents.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that a comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute Sate officers in charge of the attack against local residents.
Furthermore, the government has to provide a remedy for victims and avoid confiscating their land to expand the Airport.
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 Badroedin Haiti
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Kebayoran Baru, 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
Kebayoran Baru, 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 (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. General Gatot Nurmantyo
Chief of Indonesian Military
Mabes TNI Cilangkap Jakarta Timur
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 84595576, +62 21 8459-5326
Fax: + 62 21 84591193
Email: ppidtni@puspen.tni.mil.id
8. Mr. Mahfudz Siddiq
Chairperson of the Commission one of the House of Representative [DPR]
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Tel : +62 21 5715.520, +62 21 5715.518 / 581
Fax : +62 21 5715. 328 / +62 21 571 5687
Email : bag_pengaduan@dpr.go.id
9. Dr. HM. Azis Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative
Ketua Komisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566
10. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Sakdi dan Korban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881
11. Mr. Nur Kholis
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)
