Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern regarding the continuing threat and lack of protection to Mr. Albert Rumbekwan, head of the National Human Rights Commission’s (Komnas HAM) office in Papua. On September 23 unidentified persons broke into Rumbekwan’s house. It is believed this was yet another incident in the series of threats to him. In another incident, soldiers threatened to kill Catholic priest, Johanes Djonga, for continuously doing human rights work. The AHRC strongly urges that adequate protection must be afforded to them and that their cases are effectively investigated to hold those responsible to account.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
CASE 1:
As described in our previous appeal: UA-209-2007 Mr. Albert Rumbekwan, head of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Papua, has since been experiencing threats to his life. He has been receiving SMS messages which contain threats. His service vehicle had also been followed by unknown persons.
On September 23, around 12:30am unidentified persons broke into his house. Since it was so dark following the power interruption in Jayapura, Rumbekwan placed two candles in front of his house. However, an unidentified person was seen by his neighbour, Mr. Rio Katmo, putting them off. The candles however were lighted again few minutes later. Another neighbour, Mr. Jack Komboy, also witnessed having seen unidentified persons prowling around Rumbekwan’s house.
It is believed that this incident is part of the continuing threat and harassment to him. These incidents have since persisted following his meeting with Hina Jilani, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders in June 2007. Rumbekwan started experiencing threats in various forms after Jilani left Papua on June 10.
CASE 2:
In another incident, on September 17, a group of unidentified persons entered the Kondios Abepura Public Building searching for Johanes Djonga, a Catholic Priest. There are no further details of what these persons have done at the time. The incident took place following a threat made by a military commander and his men to kill Father Djonga. They accused him of fabricating reports regarding the situation in their area. Father Djonga has since been actively involved in defending the rights of local people in Papua.
It was on August 22 when the Commander of the Army Special Forces (Kopassus) in Waris district, Papua province; First Lieutenant Usman and his soldiers, made threats to kill Father Djonga and to bury him in a 700-metre-deep canyon. They accused him of making false allegations about the situation in Waris district and reporting it to the local and international NGOs. They also accused him of being provocative and claimed that he was betraying the Indonesian government. On September 16, the same officers also reportedly falsely accused Father Djonga of having been involved in illegal logging and food business in West Papua.
The continuing threats to Father Djonga are strongly believed to be a result of his involvement in human rights work. Recently, the report he submitted to the governor of Papua and the military commander in the city of Jayapura, Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian, strongly criticized the military action in the borders of Waris and Papua New Guinea.
On September 18, after receiving threats on his life, Father Djonga informed the head of Papua Police asking for him to take action. However, the police commander refused to do anything, telling him that there was nothing they could do to protect him because the persons involved are soldiers. Failing to get remedies from the police, Father Djonga had to report to the Chief of Military Regional Command in Papua province regarding the threats on his life made by soldiers and to seek assistance from him.
Although the military chief promised he would take action, he threatened that they would file charges of defamation against Father Djonga if they found that his claims or accusations against the soldiers are false.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities requesting them to take prompt action to protect the lives of these two victims. Express your concern into the continued failure by the authorities to protect Mr. Albert Rumbekwan. A police commander who refused to take action into Father Johanes Djonga’s case must also be investigated. Similar actions must also be taken against the soldiers responsible in threatening him.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
INDONESIA: Continuing threat on the head of the Human Rights Commission in Papua; soldier threatens to kill a priest
CASE 1:
Name of the victim: Mr. Albert Rumbekwan, head of the National Human Rights Commission’s (Komnas HAM) office in Papua
Alleged perpetrators: Unidentified persons
Date of incident: At 12:30 am. on 23 September 2007
Place of incident: At his house
CASE 2:
Name of the victim: Father Johanes Djonga, a Catholic priest
Alleged perpetrator: Commander of the Army Special Forces (Kopassus) in Waris district, Papua province; First Lieutenant Usman, and soldiers under his command
Date of incident: September 17 and August 22, 2007
I am writing to express my deep concern to yet another threat made on Mr. Albert Rumbekwan, Head of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) of Papua office. On September 23, unidentified men break into his house at early dawn. Although there was no untoward incident that took place that time, I am deeply concerned that it was part of the continuing threats and harassment on him.
As you are aware, Rumbekwan has since been experiencing harassment and threats on his life following his meeting with Ms. Hina Jilani, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders in June 2007. It is disappointing however that despite this the concerned authority has failed to afford protection to him to carry on his normal duties. To date, those responsible of threatening him, particularly those sending him SMS threatening his life, have not been identified so far, and I am deeply concerned this would be the case for the September 23 incident unless adequate actions are taken.
I have learned that even before conducting a thorough investigation, the police has already rejected Rumbekwan’s claim that it was part of the threats on his life. I completely reject the actions taken by the police for rejecting the victim’s claim and ignoring his concern in absence of a thorough investigation. I urged you to take action to identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the break in. I am gravely concerned by the lack of actions taken to protect him.
In another incident, I have also been informed on the continuing threat and lack of protection to Catholic priest Johanes Djonga who has been threatened to be killed by soldiers. On September 17, unidentified men entered into the Kondios Abepura Public Building looking for him. Prior to the incident, on August 22, the Commander of the Army Special Forces (Kopassus) in Waris district, Papua province; First Lieutenant Usman and soldiers under his command, have threatened to kill and bury him in a 700-metre-deep canyon. The soldiers accused him of making false allegations about the situation in Waris district and for reporting them to the local and international NGOs. They also reportedly falsely accused him of having been involved in illegal logging in West Papua.
I have learned though that the threat on Father Djonga was a result of his active involvement for the protection of human rights in the province. In one instance, he reported to the governor of Papua and the military commander in the city of Jayapura, Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian, strongly criticizing the military action in the borders of Waris and Papua New Guinea. Because of his work, the military however claimed his action were acts of betraying the Indonesian government.
When Father Djonga reported to the head of the Papua police, the latter reportedly refuses to take action for reasons that those involved are soldiers. Instead of investigating further and ensuring he is afforded with protection, the police commander told him they could not do anything for him. And when Father Djonga reported the threat made on him by soldiers to the Chief of Military Regional Command in Papua province, although the latter did promised to take action but needlessly threatened to charge him for defamation if they found his accusations against the soldiers are not true. I completely reject these actions taken by the police and military. For police and military to deny the victim of assistance and threatens him with legal action respectively are completely unacceptable.
I therefore urge you to have Father Djonga’s case thoroughly investigated. The police commander who refuses to take action must be investigated and held to account. The concerned authorities must exhaust all means to afford protection for him and to ensure his safety. The military men in threatening to kill him must also be investigated to answer the allegations against them. If found that the allegations are true, appropriate charges and sanctions must be impose upon them promptly. The Chief of Military Regional Command in Papua who threatens to charge him with defamation must retract his statement.
I strongly demand that similar violence and threats against human rights activists in Papua must be stopped. I urge the Indonesian government to ensure that attacks, threats and acts of intimidations against activist are thoroughly investigated and that they are allowed to carry on their normal duties without fear. Those responsible must be held to account and that remedies are provided to the victims. The continuing attacks on human rights activists in the province are of serious concern. Not only has it attacked the human rights movement but it also tantamount to silencing the large victims of human rights violations to whom these activists represent.
I am aware that activists in Papua have commonly experienced these violence and attacks; and that these have been taking place. The failure to or the implied tolerance by the authorities to hold those responsible to account is a matter of grave concern. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council and State party to the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the government must uphold its international obligations, particularly Article 12.2 of this Declaration to: “take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation”.
I trust that you take immediate action on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS 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
Email: presiden@ri.go.id
2. Mr. Hendarman Supandji
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
3. Gen. Sutanto
Chief of National Police
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 721 8012
Fax: +62 21 720 7277
Email: polri@polri.go.id
4. Mr. Ifdhal Kasim
Chairperson
KOMNAS HAM (National Human Rights Commission)
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. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary on the situation of human rights defenders
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 906 8670
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
