Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the acid attack against senior investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Mr. Novel Baswedan. The attack caused Novel to suffer serious injuries in his eyes. He was hospitalized for a few days in Jakarta, and then transferred to Singapore for better medical treatment. Up until now, the police has done little to successfully investigate the attack or disclose the identity of the perpetrators. Indonesian civil society and anti-corruption activists are therefore demanding that President Joko Widodo establish a special inquiry team to look into the case.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Early in the morning of 11 April 2017, after praying at a local mosque (50 meters from his house), Novel was returning to his house, when suddenly two persons riding a motorcycle approached him and threw some liquid onto his face. The two persons left on the motorcycle immediately afterwards, while Novel screamed and sought for help. Some people still at the mosque came and took Novel back to the mosque, where they put some water on his face to reduce the pain from the acid.
Novel then requested his neighbors to take him to Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading North Jakarta. From there he was transferred to the Jakarta eye center hospital in Menteng Jakarta. After being hospitalized for a few days, he was then transferred to Singapore for better medical treatment.
As a senior Corruption Eradication Comission (KPK) investigator, Novel is publicly known to be involved in the investigation of certain “big graft cases”, such as the case involving former Vice Chief Commander of National Police, Police Commissaries General Budi Gunawan, as well as the giant graft case of electronic identity card (e-KTP), reportedly involving Chairperson of the House of Representatives, Mr. Setya Novanto. On the same day of Novel’s acid attack, the KPK along with the Indonesian immigration office announced that Setya Novanto is prohibited from going abroad for six months, in order to cooperate with the graft investigation process.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) noted and reported previous cases which occurred against Mr. Novel Baswedan (please read AHRC-UAC-070-2015, AHRC-UAU-001-2016 and also AHRC-UAU-004-2016). Novel was arrested and charged with allegations of abuse of power when he was in charge as police officer in Bengkulu province. The case was re-investigated by the police after he was involved in the investigation process of graft case against Police Commissaries General Budi Gunawan, currently head of the intelligence agency (BIN).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that the police find the perpetrators of the acid attack against Novel Baswedan immediately. The police must cooperate with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and Ombudsman, to ensure that the investigation process is open and transparent. Moreover, President Widodo should provide full support in investigating this case and ensure protection for KPK investigators to ensure that such attacks do not recur.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers 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 fail to effectively investigate acid attack on senior anti-graft investigator
Name of victims : Novel Baswedan
Names of alleged perpetrators : Two unknown person related with a graft case
Date of incident : 11 April 2017
Place of incident : Kelapa Gading, Jakarta
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the acid attack against senior investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Mr. Novel Baswedan. The attack caused Novel to suffer serious injuries in his eyes. He was hospitalized for a few days in Jakarta, and then transferred to Singapore for better medical treatment. Up until now, the police has done little to successfully investigate the attack or disclose the identity of the perpetrators. Indonesian civil society and anti-corruption activists are therefore demanding that President Joko Widodo establish a special inquiry team to look into the case.
Early in the morning of 11 April 2017, after praying at a local mosque (50 meters from his house), Novel was returning to his house, when suddenly two persons riding a motorcycle approached him and threw some liquid onto his face. The two persons left on the motorcycle immediately afterwards, while Novel screamed and sought for help. Some people still at the mosque came and took Novel back to the mosque, where they put some water on his face to reduce the pain from the acid.
Novel then requested his neighbors to take him to Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading North Jakarta. From there he was transferred to the Jakarta eye center hospital in Menteng Jakarta. After being hospitalized for a few days, he was then transferred to Singapore for better medical treatment.
As a senior Corruption Eradication Comission (KPK) investigator, Novel is publicly known to be involved in the investigation of certain “big graft cases”, such as the case involving former Vice Chief Commander of National Police, Police Commissaries General Budi Gunawan, as well as the giant graft case of electronic identity card (e-KTP), reportedly involving Chairperson of the House of Representatives, Mr. Setya Novanto. On the same day of Novel’s acid attack, the KPK along with the Indonesian immigration office announced that Setya Novanto is prohibited from going abroad for six months, in order to cooperate with the graft investigation process.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that the police work to urgently find the perpetrators of the acid attack against Novel Baswedan. The police must cooperate with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and Ombudsman, to ensure that the investigation process is open and transparent. Moreover, President Widodo should provide full support in investigating this case and ensure protection for KPK investigators to ensure that such attacks do not recur.
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 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)
