Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the disbanding of a peaceful gathering held by victims of the 1965 massacre, in Bandung, Indonesia on 20 May 2006 by civil militia groups. About one hundred persons belonging to the Laskar Siliwangi (Siliwangi Army) and Pemuda Panca Marga (The Youth of Military Veterans, PPM) threatened and chased away those attending the gathering.
Around 200 persons were at the gathering; victims of the massacre as well as staff from Syarikat, a local rights group that assists the 1965 victims in Bandung and Yogyakarta, advocating for reconciliation between the victims and civilian perpetrators of the massacre. The May 20 gathering was to commemorate Hari Kebangkitan Nasional (the National Awakening Day): 20 May 1908 marks the establishment of Indonesia’s first national movement organization, while 21 May 1998 marks the fall of former dictator Suharto.
Their gathering was interrupted by the arrival of around one hundred persons belonging to the Laskar Siliwangi and PPM. These persons threatened and intimidated the victims, who mostly comprised former political prisoners, all of whom are very old. They shouted and chased the victims away, apparently in fear that the meeting would give rise to communist ideology in Indonesia. At no time however, did the gathering mention communism. The victims left the meeting room afraid and shaken.
The Resort Police of Central Bandung later arrived and took two of Syarikat’s organising committee members Hasyim Adnan and Khusnul Hidayati to the police station for interrogation. They did not question members of the Laskar Siliwangi or the PPM, however. In fact, the police are unable to control these groups, who have little respect for the law and generally operate as they wish.
The Laskar Siliwangi and PPM are known as civil militia groups. They are described by ordinary Indonesians as ‘thugs with uniform’. Laskar Siliwangi is based in West Java, where there is a local military territorial command of the name Siliwangi. The PPM are trained by military officers, wear a similar uniform and have similar political views. They have previously attacked local human rights groups Kontras and PBHI in 2003, for criticising martial law and military atrocities in Aceh (see UA-15-2003 and UA-11-2002 for more information).
The AHRC is concerned by the arbitrary and violent nature of these paramilitary groups. There are many such groups operating in Indonesia, most of which act beyond the law. The increase in recent arbitrary actions by them has led to a debate in parliament regarding their nature and operation.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities below and urge that these groups are prevented from operating beyond the boundaries of the law. It is essential that the Laskar Siliwangi and PPM are held accountable for their threats to the victims and human rights defenders. Similarly, other civilian paramilitary groups must also be kept within the law.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _______,
Re: INDONESIA: Threats to victims and human rights defenders by civilian paramilitary groups
It has come to my attention that a gathering of around 200 persons, comprising of victims of the 1965 massacre as well as staff from the local rights group Syarikat in Bandung, was disbanded by members of the Laskar Siliwangi and Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM).
The gathering was being held on 20 May 2006, to commemorate Hari Kebangkitan Nasional (the National Awakening Day): 20 May 1908 marks the establishment of Indonesia's first national movement organization, while 21 May 1998 marks the fall of former dictator Suharto.
Members of the Laskar Siliwangi and PPM arrived in the middle of the gathering and threatened and intimidated the victims, who mostly comprised former political prisoners, all of whom are very old. They shouted and chased the victims away, apparently in fear that the meeting would give rise to communist ideology in Indonesia. At no time however, did the gathering mention communism. The victims left the meeting room afraid and shaken.
I have also learnt that while the Resort Police of Central Bandung later arrived and took two of Syarikat's organising committee members Hasyim Adnan and Khusnul Hidayati to the police station for interrogation, they did not question members of the Laskar Siliwangi or the PPM.
It is commonly accepted that the Indonesian police are unable to control such civil militia groups, who have little respect for the law and generally operate as they wish. Laskar Siliwangi is based in West Java, where there is a local military territorial command of the name Siliwangi. The PPM are trained by military officers, wear a similar uniform and have similar political views.
I am greatly concerned by the arbitrary and violent nature of these paramilitary groups. Unless they are held accountable for their actions under Indonesian law, there can be no hope for genuine democracy and human rights within the country. They must be prevented from acting arbitrarily and operating beyond the boundaries of the law. To this effect, I urge you to ensure that the action of the two groups in disbanding the May 20 gathering is investigated, and further steps taken accordingly. I also urge you to ensure that the police investigate all such behavior of any paramilitary groups.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
1. Gen. Sutanto
Chief of National Police
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel.: +62-21-721 8144
Fax: +62-21-720 7277, 201402
2. Irjen Pol. Edi Darnadi
Chief of West Java Provincial Police
Mapolda Jawa Barat
Jl. Pelajar Perjuangan 45 No. 31 at
Bandung Jawa Barat
INDONESIA
3. Chief of Bandung City Police Headquarters
Poresta Bandung Jl. Merdeka 1, 4203505
Bandung Jawa Barat 40263.
INDONESIA
4. Mr. Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
Chairperson
KOMNAS HAM [National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia]
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4B Menteng
Jakarta Pusat 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3925230
Fax: +62 21 3151042/3925227
E-mail:
info@komnasham.or.id 5. 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
Email:
postmaster@kejaksaan.or.id Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (
ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
