Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from national human rights organizations regarding forced evictions and police brutality. These actions have been taken against residents of Sukamulya village, Kertajati sub-district, Majalengka regent, West Java province. Local government supported by the police forcibly evicted residents of Sukamulya village. This village is the last one to be driven out. Previously, 10 villages in Kertajati sub-district had been effectively dispossessed to facilitate the development of the West Java International Air Port (BIJB).
CASE NARRATIVE:
On Thursday, for the seventh time since August 4, 2016, the local government of West Java province and the government of Majalengka regency, planned to conduct measurements and force eviction of Sukamula village to aid in the development of the West Java International Air Port (BIJB).
Since September 6, 2016, during the measurement process, police intimidated, terrorized and criminalized the Sukamulya villagers. Two villagers, Agus and Rahman were summoned to the Majalengka police resort for no reason.
On November 16, 2016 the government deployed numerous police officers to the area. They arrived from Majalengka police resort (Polres Majalengka); police sectors (Polsek) from Polres Majalengka; officers from Indramayu regent and Sumedang regent; seven trucks of police officers from Community Control unit (Dalmas), two trucks of the police mobile brigade (Brimob), 20 car rangers and one car of Gegana unit (Police special response unit); one water cannon unit on stand-by in the Kertajati police sector; 1,200 police officers from West Java regional police (Polda Jabar) and personnel of the civil service police unit (Satpol PP). All arranged to support the forced evictions.
Sukamulya villagers opposed the land measurement for the international air port development. Chaos reigned. Police used tear gas on the villagers, cut their electricity supply, conducted sweeping operations, causing many local residents to experience trauma and fear. Six Sukamulya villagers were arrested; some villagers were injured. Three are still in police custody.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
West Java International Air Port (BIJB) is part of the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development (MP3EI) launched in 2011, by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Under President Joko Widodo, the government issued Presidential Decree No 3, 2016 regarding strategic projects. This encompasses 52 railway projects, 19 train projects, 17 airport projects, 13 port projects, 10 clean water projects and the development of 60 reservoirs.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below. Ask the government of Indonesia, particularly the administration of East Java province and the Majalengka regent, to obey the law and stop the violence. The police, military and civil service police units should not attack local residents nor use heavy weapons against them. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should ensure that the investigation into this case be conducted under the fair trial principle. They need to show courage to name those police officers or military personnel who breached the law. Recommend that those who committed acts of violence be prosecuted.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
INDONESIA : Sukamulya villagers fight for their land but face attacks and criminalization
Name of victims: Sukamulya villagers
Names of alleged perpetrators: Police officers in West Java regional police office (Polda Jawa Barat), Majalengka police resort (Polres Majalengka), and local police sectors (Polsek) in the area of Polres Majalengka.
Date of incident: August 4, September 6, November 16, 2016
Place of incident: Sukamulya village, Kertajati sub-district, Majalengka regent, West Java province.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding forced evictions and police brutality. These actions have been taken against residents of Sukamulya village, Kertajati sub-district, Majalengka regent, West Java province. Local government supported by the police forcibly evicted residents of Sukamulya village. This village is the last one to be driven out. Previously, 10 villages in Kertajati sub-district had been effectively dispossessed to facilitate the development of the West Java International Air Port (BIJB).
On Thursday, for the seventh time since August 4, 2016, the local government of West Java province and the government of Majalengka regency, planned to conduct measurements and force eviction of Sukamula village to aid in the development of the West Java International Air Port (BIJB).
Since September 6, 2016, during the measurement process, police intimidated, terrorized and criminalized the Sukamulya villagers. Two villagers, Agus and Rahman were summoned to the Majalengka police resort for no reason.
On November 16, 2016 the government deployed numerous police officers to the area. They arrived from Majalengka police resort (Polres Majalengka); police sectors (Polsek) from Polres Majalengka; officers from Indramayu regent and Sumedang regent; seven trucks of police officers from Community Control unit (Dalmas), two trucks of the police mobile brigade (Brimob), 20 car rangers and one car of Gegana unit (Police special response unit); one water cannon unit on stand-by in the Kertajati police sector; 1,200 police officers from West Java regional police (Polda Jabar) and personnel of the civil service police unit (Satpol PP). All arranged to support the forced evictions.
Sukamulya villagers opposed the land measurement for the international air port development. Chaos reigned. Police used tear gas on the villagers, cut their electricity supply, conducted sweeping operations, causing many local residents to experience trauma and fear. Six Sukamulya villagers were arrested; some villagers were injured. Three are still in police custody.
Therefore, I respectfully request you ensure that the Indonesian government, in particular the government of East Java province and the Majalengka regent, obey the law and stop using violence. The police, military and civil service police should not attack local residents nor use heavy weapons against them. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) must see that the investigation into this case be conducted under the fair trial principle. Courage should be shown by the commission to name those police officers or military personnel who breached the law. Recommend that those who committed violent acts be prosecuted.
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)
