Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from local human rights organization KONTRAS regarding two separate cases of violence and intimidation against human rights defenders by paramilitary groups in Surabaya and Bandung in Java province on 12 and 14 December 2006 respectively. The unlawful behaviour of the paramilitary groups and the alleged deliberate inaction of the local police authorities in these cases is a flagrant violation of the freedom of expression which is guaranteed by the Constitution of Indonesia as well as the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights to which Indonesia is a state party. Please also refer to similar cases of threats and intimidation by paramilitary groups against human rights defenders, which the AHRC has reported previously: UA-185-2006; UA-15-2003; UA-11-2002, UP-18-2002, UP-21-2002 and UP-24-2002.
CASE DETAILS:
A public event organized by local human rights advocacy groups in commemoration of Human Rights Day was severely disrupted by unidentified members of the Anti-Communist Front (Front Anti Komunis FUI) on 12 December 2006 in Surabaya in the East Java province.
Local activists had planned to screen several political documentary films including “Stage Limit” and “Shadow Play” which were both based on the government-sanctioned massacres and abductions of 1965/66 and 1997/98.
At around 12:25pm, over 100 members of the FUI gatecrashed and attempted to disband the gathering of local human rights defenders and activists. They demanded that the screening of the documentary films be immediately stopped for fear that they would encourage what they referred to as “communist ideology” and anti-Islamic sentiment amongst the public. They also threatened to kill members of the organizing committee of the event if they refused to cooperate.
Fearful of their safety, the committee and attendee members of the commemorative gathering dispersed. FUI members then seized all the documentary films. Throughout this, the police took no interventionary action.
A public discussion and debate on the issue of contemporary Marxist movements and lecture by guest-speaker Marhaen Suprapto, held at the Ultimus book-store on 14 December 2006 in Bandung in the West Java province, was also severely disrupted in a similar fashion by members of the Youth of Military Veterans (Pemuda Panca Marga- PPM).
In the days prior to the event, members of the organizing committee had been subjected to threats and intimidation, allegedly from the Intelligence Service.
At around 6:30pm on December 14, members of the PPM barricaded the entrance to the bookstore with a car which was carrying the PPM banner. Disrupting the lecture and discussion, attendees at the event quickly dispersed and attempted to escape through another entry/exit point which led to the main local Pasundan University. Several attendees, including the Guest Speaker Marhaen Suprapto, were severely assaulted by PPM members.
At 7:15pm, Mr. Suprapto, Mr. Min Sukardi, a 69 year-old attendee, and Mrs. Eros Rohani, a 54 year-old attendee and seven other attendees were taken to the Intel Pos Bandung police station. Meanwhile, PPM members destroyed countless books and vandalized the bookstore. Despite KONTRAS’ appeal to the Bandung police to intervene, the police took no action.
Kept overnight, the police released the 7 attendees the following day, without having questioned them or filing any official charges.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below expressing your grave concern regarding the totally unethical behaviour of the said groups in their violation of the rights of the said victims to the freedom of expression.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
INDONESIA: Increase in violence against human rights defenders on freedom of expression by Paramilitary groups
CASE 1
Name of victim: Organizing committee and attending members of local gathering in commemoration of Human Rights Day
Alleged perpetrators: Anti-Communist Front (Front Anti Komunis FUI)
Date of incident: 12 December 2006 at around 12:25pm
Place of incident: Surabaya: East Java Province
CASE 2:
Name of victim:
1. Mr. Marhaen Suprapto: Guest Lecturer; resident in Canada.
2. Mr. Min Sukardi: 69 years-old; Attendee at public discussion.
3. Mrs. Eros Rohani: 54 years-old; Attendee at public discussion.
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Youth of Military Veterans (Pemuda Panca Marga- PPM)
2. Officers of Intel Pos Bandung Police Station
Date of incident: 14 December 2006 at around 6:30pm
Place of incident: Ultimus Bookstore: Bandung, West Java Province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding two separate cases of violence and intimidation against Human Rights defenders by paramilitary groups in Surabaya and Bandung in the Java province on the 12th and 14th December 2006 respectively, despite the constitutional guarantees provided under section Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia in regards to freedom of expression and opinion.
The case details are as follows:
CASE 1
A public event organized by local human rights advocacy groups in commemoration of Human Rights Day was severely disrupted by unidentified members of the Anti-Communist Front (Front Anti Komunis FUI) on 12 December 2006 in Surabaya in the East Java province.
Local activists had planned to screen several documentary films including “Stage Limit” and “Shadow Play” which were both based on the government-sanctioned massacres and abductions of 1965/66 and 1997/98.
At around 12:25pm, over 100 members of the FUI gatecrashed and attempted to disband the gathering of local human rights defenders and activists. They demanded that the screening of the documentary films be immediately stopped for fear that they would encourage what they referred to as “communist ideology” and anti-Islamic sentiment amongst the public. They also threatened to kill members of the organizing committee of the event if they refused to cooperate.
Fearful of their safety, the committee and attendee members of the commemorative gathering dispersed. FUI members then seized all the documentary films. Throughout this, the Police took no interventionary action.
CASE 2
A public discussion and debate on the issue of contemporary Marxist movements and lecture by guest-speaker Marhaen Suprapto, held at the Ultimus book-store on the 14 December 2006 in Bandung in the West Java province, was also severely disrupted in a similar fashion by members of the Youth of Military Veterans (Pemuda Panca Marga- PPM).
In the days prior to the event, members of the organizing committee had been subjected to threats and intimidation, allegedly from the Intelligence Service.
On 14 December 2006 at around 6:30pm, members of the PPM barricaded the entrance to the book store with a car which was carrying the PPM banner. Disrupting the lecture and discussion, attendees at the event quickly dispersed and attempted to escape through another entry/exit point which led to the main local Pasundan University. Several attendees, including the Guest Speaker Marhaen Suprapto, were severely assaulted by PPM members.
At 7:15pm, Mr. Suprapto, Mr. Min Sukardi, a 69 year-old attendee, and Mrs. Eros Rohani, a 54 year-old attendee and seven other attendees were taken to the Intel Pos Bandung police station. Meanwhile, PPM members destroyed countless books and vandalized the bookstore. Despite ask for intervention from the human rights group KONTRAS, the Bandung took no action.
Kept overnight, the police released the 7 attendees the following day, without having questioned them or filing any official charges at all. What is perhaps worse is that while the attendees were arrested, no action was taken against the members of the paramilitary groups who committed the violation of the constitution.
I am deeply disturbed by this recent series of events. The unlawful behaviour of the said paramilitary groups and the alleged deliberate inaction of the local police authorities in taking disciplinary action against the perpetrators and in granting protection to the victimized persons is a flagrant violation of Article 28 of the Indonesian Constitution, which states that; “The liberties of association and assembly, the freedom of thought expressed verbally or in writing and similar rights are to be determined by law”.
The freedom of thought and expression has clearly been identified in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Indonesia is a state party, as a fundamental and universal human right. Moreover, the protection of civilians who are subjected to persecution, ridicule and abuse for their expression of their beliefs or opinion is a primary obligation of the government and the state police; which as we see here, was clearly not fulfilled. The Indonesian government’s violation of this right (among many) casts grave doubt as to the sincerity of their membership to the UN Human Rights Council.
Therefore, I strongly urge that you take immediate steps in demanding that the said perpetrators are brought to justice without further delay, and duly prosecuted under domestic legislation. I also request that you apply necessary pressure on the central Indonesian government to ensure that the local police and judicial authorities in Surabaya and Bandung are held accountable for their alleged inaction in this matter.
I look forward to your prompt and effective response in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudoyono
President
Republic of Indonesia
Presidential Palace
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara
Jakarta Pusat 10010
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 3845627 ext 1003
Fax: + 62 21 231 41 38, 345 2685, 345 7782
2. Mr. Agung Laksono
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
3. Gen. Sutanto
Chief of National Police
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 721 8012
Fax: +62 21 720 7277
4. Mr. Abdul Rahman Saleh
Attorney General
Kejaksaan Agung RI
Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin No. 1
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 7221337, 7397602
Fax: + 62 21 7250213
5. Mr. Hamid Awaluddin
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Uahi Utoyo Usman S.H.,
Menteri Kehkiman,
JI. H.R. Rosuna Said Kav. 6-7
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
6. Mr. Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
Chairperson
KOMNAS HAM
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4B Menteng
Jakarta Pusat 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3925230
Fax: +62 21 3151042/3925227
E-mail: info@komnasham.or.id
7. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o J Deriviero
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION)
8. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
