Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding intimidation, harassment and forced dispersal of a discussion and movie screening organized by Papuan students in their student dormitory in Surabaya, East Java province. The head of Tambaksari sub-district, along with the police, civil service police unit (satpol PP) and military personnel, forcibly dispersed the students from their discussion and movie screening. Moreover, without clear information or evidence, the students have been accused of causing public disharmony. The officials also unlawfully committed a sweeping operation, asking students to show their identity cards, without any official letter or order.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On Friday, 6 July 2018 at 6 p.m., Papuan students living in the student dormitory in Jalan Kalasan, Surabaya, East Java province organized a movie screening on the bloody tragedy in Biak Papua 1998 (Tragedi Biak Berdarah). However, since 3 p.m., some police officers seriously monitored the dormitory.
At 7:15 p.m., while the discussion regarding the movie was ongoing, police intelligence came to the dormitory, immediately followed by other police officers and personnel of Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP). According to information received by the AHRC, the police officers and Satpol PP suddenly stood in front of the dormitory’s door and told the students that they will break the door. However, two Papuan students standing near the door tried to speak with the police and inform them about the discussion. However, one of the Papuan students, named Hendri, was dragged out and intimidated by the police. Hendri was even asked by one of the police to fight, but Hendri did not respond.
Then at 8:30 p.m., the head of Tambaksari sub-district (Camat Tambaksari) along with military personnel, police and civil service police unit came to the dormitory. In addition, approximately six police officers in a black uniform and carrying weapons also came to the dormitory. Then, the head of Tambaksari sub-district ordered the Papuan students to show their identity cards, saying “we are conducting a sweeping operation.” However, the students rejected the sweeping, asking the sub-district head about the official letter, which the officers did not have.
Subsequently, there was a debate between the students, backed by the public lawyers of Surabaya legal aid (LBH Surabaya), and the head of the sub-district along with the police and military. Suddenly, the police dragged out one of the public lawyers, Mr. Sholeh. One of the discussion participants, Anindya, experienced sexual harassment committed by the police. She was forcibly dragged out from the dormitory.
The sub-district head accused the students of causing public disharmony and forcibly dispersed everyone. Then the sub-district head, the police and the military left the dormitory.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The movie on “Biak Berdarah (Bloody tragedy in Biak)” is about a case of serious human rights violation that occurred in Biak, Papua on 6 July 1998. In this case, eight people were killed, three people disappeared, four people suffered from serious injured and 30 people were unlawfully detained by the security forces. Moreover, approximately 150 people were tortured, and 32 unidentified dead bodies were found after the massacre.
The movie screening in the Papuan students’ dormitory aimed to commemorate 20 years of the case and to discuss about impunity and lack of law enforcement upon the case.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below. Ask them to ensure that any form of forced dispersal, intimidation and harassment against the right to freedom of peaceful assembly as well as freedom of expression must be stopped. Moreover, any form of abuse of power committed by the head of Tambaksari sub-district along with police, civil service police unit and backed by the military personnel must be properly investigated and prosecuted.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, calling for their intervention in this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
INDONESIA: Police and government staff forcibly dispersed movie screening in Papuan students’ dormitory
Name of victims: Papuan students in the Dormitory Jalan Kalasan, Tambaksari Surabaya and public lawyer of Jakarta Legal Aid who provided legal assistant
Names of alleged perpetrators: Head of Tambaksari sub-district, police officers, civil service police unit (satpol pp), military personnel
Date of incidents: 6 July 2018
Place of incident: The dormitory of Papuan students in Jalan Kalasan, Tambaksari, Surabaya, East Java province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding intimidation, harassment and forced dispersal of a discussion and movie screening organized by Papuan students in their student dormitory in Surabaya, East Java province. The head of Tambaksari sub-district, along with the police, civil service police unit (satpol PP) and military personnel, forcibly dispersed the students from their discussion and movie screening. Moreover, without clear information or evidence, the students have been accused of causing public disharmony. The officials also unlawfully committed a sweeping operation, asking students to show their identity cards, without any official letter or order.
On Friday, 6 July 2018 at 6 p.m., Papuan students living in the student dormitory in Jalan Kalasan, Surabaya, East Java province organized a movie screening on the bloody tragedy in Biak Papua 1998 (Tragedi Biak Berdarah). However, since 3 p.m., some police officers seriously monitored the dormitory.
At 7:15 p.m., while the discussion regarding the movie was ongoing, police intelligence came to the dormitory, immediately followed by other police officers and personnel of Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP). According to information received by the AHRC, the police officers and Satpol PP suddenly stood in front of the dormitory’s door and told the students that they will break the door. However, two Papuan students standing near the door tried to speak with the police and inform them about the discussion. However, one of the Papuan students, named Hendri, was dragged out and intimidated by the police. Hendri was even asked by one of the police to fight, but Hendri did not respond.
Then at 8:30 p.m., the head of Tambaksari sub-district (Camat Tambaksari) along with military personnel, police and civil service police unit came to the dormitory. In addition, approximately six police officers in a black uniform and carrying weapons also came to the dormitory. Then, the head of Tambaksari sub-district ordered the Papuan students to show their identity cards, saying “we are conducting a sweeping operation.” However, the students rejected the sweeping, asking the sub-district head about the official letter, which the officers did not have.
Subsequently, there was a debate between the students, backed by the public lawyers of Surabaya legal aid (LBH Surabaya), and the head of the sub-district along with the police and military. Suddenly, the police dragged out one of the public lawyers, Mr. Sholeh. One of the discussion participants, Anindya, experienced sexual harassment committed by the police. She was forcibly dragged out from the dormitory.
The sub-district head accused the students of causing public disharmony and forcibly dispersed everyone. Then the sub-district head, the police and the military left the dormitory.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that any form of forced dispersal, intimidation and harassment against the right to freedom of peaceful assembly as well as freedom of expression must be stopped. Moreover, any form of abuse of power committed by the head of Tambaksari sub-district along with police, civil service police unit and backed by the military personnel must be properly investigated and prosecuted.
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. Mr. Kahar Muzakir
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative
Ketua Komisi 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. H. Bambang Soesatyo, S.E., M.B.A
Chief of the Indonesian House of Representative
Gedung DPR/MPR RI
Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 6
Jakarta
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 5715509; 5715344; 5715621
Fax: + 62 21 5714469, 5734389
9. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK)
Jalan Raya Bogor KM. 24 No. 47-49, Susukan, Ciracas, RT.6/RW.1, Susukan, Ciracas, Kota Jakarta Timur, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 13750
Tel: +62 21 29681560
Fax: +62 21 29681551 / +62 21 29681557
10. Mr. Ahmad Taufan Damanik
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 Program
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
