Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding behavior of police officers of the Tanah Karo police resort (Polres Tanah Karo). They supported the Development Company that assaulted, arrested and shot the inhabitants of Lingga village. Police used live bullets and caused the death of one villager. As a law enforcement agency, the Police ignored reports filed by villagers about company violations. Up to this date, no proper investigation has been undertaken by the police officers who assaulted and shot the villagers.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On July 29, 2016 at 12:30 pm, Mrs. Verawenta br Surbakti, on behalf of the development company, communicated with Mr. Phallus, in the Lingga village government. The content of the communication concernned the developer’s plan to destroy the street fence on Lau Batu street (used to relocate the villagers). Villagers questioned the developers about their reasons for destroying the street fence at the relocation area.
Since there was no response from the developer, the Lingga village government reported the developer to the Tanah Karo police resort (Polres Tanah Karo.) But, the police did not follow up on the report. They argued that the villagers had no right to the street. As there was no solution, the villagers mostly women, occupied the street, by sitting and blocking it.
Villagers questioned the police tents which were situated at the relocation site. Police officers in the field did not answer the question put forward by the villagers. They intimidated and warned the villagers, threatening them that they would be killed. One of the police officers, Mr. Efraim, pointed his gun at the protesters.
This provoked the villagers to anger. Subsequently, they burned down the police station and excavators in the relocation area. Many police officers then descended on Lingga village, where they attacked and arrested villagers on the street without any specific reasons.
At this point, police entered the Merpati’s warehouse, destroying the cars and motorcycles inside. The police pointed their guns at the owner of the Merpati warehouse and a villager named Mr. Pian Perangin-angin.
Police officers intimidated the villagers by shooting in the air and beating them in front of the warehouse. Five villagers were arrested and brought to Polres Tanah Karo. At 07.00 pm the villagers came to the Polres Tanah Karo, negotiated with the police, and requested the release of the five villagers.
However, the situation escalated with the police assaulting the villagers using tear gas and live bullets. The shooting resulted in one villager being found dead and one villager in critical condition being admitted to a local hospital. Additionally, 19 other villagers were seriously injured due to the police attack..
At 09.30 pm, military personnel arrived at Lingga village, finally convincing the villagers to stop their protest. They promised to return the villagers who had been detained in police custody. At 24.00 am, the villagers who had been detained were released.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In the past ten years, police brutality in the business area has been phenomenal. As a law enforcement agency, the police failed to remain neutral in solving their cases. Police involvement worsened the conflict. For the most part, the police supported the company and clearly assaulted the protesters, villagers and indigenous people, fighting for their rights. A similar story can be read at AHRC-UAC-069-2016.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that a proper investigation be undertaken against police brutality and their relationship with the Development Company. The government needs to review and audit the developer’s permit. If there is any abuse of the permit, the government must prosecute the developer.
Adequate compensation should be afforded to the victims and their families with the guarantee of non-recurrence in the future.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions and 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 : Villagers assaulted, arrested and shot to death by the Development company with support of the Police
Name of victims : villagers of Lingga village
Names of alleged perpetrators : Police officers of Tanah Karo police resort, Polres Tanah Karo
Development Company
Date of incident : 29 July 2016
Place of incident : Lingga village, Tanah Karo, North Sumatera Province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding behavior of police officers of the Tanah Karo police resort (Polres Tanah Karo). They supported the Development Company that assaulted, arrested and shot the inhabitants of Lingga village. Police used live bullets and caused the death of one villager. As a law enforcement agency, the Police ignored reports filed by villagers about company violations. Up to this date, no proper investigation has been undertaken by the police officers who assaulted and shot the villagers.
On July 29, 2016 at 12:30 pm, Mrs. Verawenta br Surbakti, on behalf of the development company, communicated with Mr. Phallus, in the Lingga village government. The content of the communication concerned the developer’s plan to destroy the street fence on Lau Batu street (used to relocate the villagers). Villagers questioned the developers about their reasons for destroying the street fence at the relocation area.
Since there was no response from the developer, the Lingga village government reported the developer to the Tanah Karo police resort (Polres Tanah Karo.) But, the police did not follow up on the report. They argued that the villagers had no right to the street. As there was no solution, the villagers mostly women, occupied the street, by sitting and blocking it.
Villagers questioned the police tents which were situated at the relocation site. Police officers in the field did not answer the question put forward by the villagers. They intimidated and warned the villagers, threatening them that they would be killed. One of the police officers, Mr. Efraim, pointed his gun at the protesters.
This provoked the villagers to anger. Subsequently, they burned down the police station and excavators in the relocation area. Many police officers then descended on Lingga village, where they attacked and arrested villagers on the street without any specific reasons.
At this point, police entered the Merpati’s warehouse, destroying the cars and motorcycles inside. The police pointed their guns at the owner of the Merpati warehouse and a villager named Mr. Pian Perangin-angin.
Police officers intimidated the villagers by shooting in the air and beating them in front of the warehouse. Five villagers were arrested and brought to Polres Tanah Karo. At 07.00 pm the villagers came to the Polres Tanah Karo, negotiated with the police, and requested the release of the five villagers.
However, the situation escalated with the police assaulting the villagers using tear gas and live bullets. The shooting resulted in one villager being found dead and one villager in critical condition being admitted to a local hospital. Additionally, 19 other villagers were seriously injured due to the police attack..
At 09.30 pm, military personnel arrived at Lingga village, finally convincing the villagers to stop their protest. They promised to return the villagers who had been detained in police custody. At 24.00 am, the villagers who had been detained were released.
Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that a proper investigation be undertaken against police brutality and their relationship with the Development Company. The government needs to review and audit the developer’s permit. If there is any abuse of the permit, the government must prosecute the developer.
Adequate compensation should be afforded to the victims and their families with the guarantee of non-recurrence in the future.
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. Mr. Wiranto
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. 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
Chair person 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)
