UPDATE (Indonesia): Attack on supporters of Munir outside Jakarta court 

[RE: UA-164-2004: The family receives death threats for demanding an impartial inquiry into the death of Munir; UP-30-2005: Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries; UP-47-2005: State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation; UP-72-2005: Mandate of fact-finding team into Munir’s murder should be extended and made more effective; UP-83-2005: Police fail to follow up on fact-finding report into Manir case; President does not react to requests for monitoring of the investigation; UP-96-2005: Trial of Pollycarpus ignores fact-finding team reports; UP-125-2005: President and Parliament must audit the police investigation performance in Munir’s case]
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UP-139-2005: INDONESIA: Attack on supporters of Munir outside Jakarta court

INDONESIA: Attack on the human rights defenders; Rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you regarding an attack made today on several human rights activists and supporters who held demonstrations at the Central Jakarta District Court before the scheduled court hearing into the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.

It was reported that at least ten unidentified men attacked the crowd of about 20 people in the court’s parking lot. Three of the victims were members and volunteers from Kontras (The Commission for Disappearance and Victims of Violence), a human rights organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The others included several women, mothers of the victims of the May 1998 tragedy. From the beginning of the court process, these mothers have been being actively supporting Munir’s case. The people were demanding that other alleged suspects should be brought into the case proceedings. The attackers ripped the posters, leaflets and placards of Munir’s case carried by the people. One of the activists named Chrisbiantoro was hit with a hard object wrapped with newspaper. The activists and supporters were also ridiculed. It was reported that some women who were wearing T-shirts with Munir’s picture on it, were forced to take them off. Other civilians who were inside the court premises, were also pushed and driven out by the attackers.

The AHRC is gravely concerned that such an attack took place right at the very premises of the district court. This use of gangs to attack and intimidate human rights defenders is particularly common in Indonesia.

We therefore urge your strong intervention into this matter. Please IMMEDIATELY send an appeal letter to the Government of Indonesia and urge that it launch a full investigation into this attack and establish whether it is linked to the state intelligence apparatus.

To see our previous Urgent Appeals regarding Munir’s case, please visit:

– UA-164-2004: The family receives death threats for demanding an impartial inquiry into the death of Munir
– UP-30-2005: Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries
– UP-47-2005: State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation
– UP-72-2005: Mandate of fact-finding team into Munir’s murder should be extended and made more effective
– UP-83-2005: Police fail to follow up on fact-finding report into Manir case; President does not react to requests for monitoring of the investigation
– UP-96-2005: Trial of Pollycarpus ignores fact-finding team reports
– UP-125-2005: President and Parliament must audit the police investigation performance in Munir’s case

Urgent Appeals programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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UPDATED INFORMATION:

Victims: about 20 human rights activists and supporters, including three activists from Kontras; the three are Chrisbiantoro, Daud and Paulus. Some are mothers of the victims of the May 1998 tragedy.
Alleged perpetrators: At least 10 hired thugs, in a larger group of around 50 persons
Date of the incident: At about 9:30am on 17 November 2005
Please of the incident: Car park area of the Central Jakarta District Court

On 17 November 2005, at least ten men attacked about 20 human rights activists and supporters holding a demonstration at the Central Jakarta District Court before the scheduled court hearing into the murder of Munir Said Thalib, a human rights lawyer.

At around 9:30am, the group was at the car park area of the district court carrying banners critical of the military, with the names of several persons who may have been involved in Munir’s murder who they were calling to be held responsible.

When one of the Kontras activists started shouting the name of Muchdi and Nurhadi, two intelligence officers due to appear at the court that day, suddenly around 10 persons attacked the crowd. They broke posters, leaflets, banners, and other material. Then they started to ridicule the people, calling them brainless monkeys. They intimidated and hit the activists. They pushed the mothers to take off their t-shirts. There was a lot of yelling between the attackers and the activists (3 men). They hit the head of at least one activist with a newspaper containing something inside. They pushed the civilians out of the court.

Although there are usually many police on security at the court, only one was seen to intervene.

The information strongly suggests that the attack could have been made by a paramilitary group. There are reports that the attackers claimed to be members of the East Indonesia Student Union. Observers suggest that the attack was intended to intimidate the public and those who sympathize with Munir. It was also suggested by Kontras that the attack on civilian court observers was connected with the state intelligence agency. The incident happened just before two persons, Muchdi PR and Nurhadi, two intelligence who were alleged to have been involved in Munirs murder, were about to be examined by the court.

Kontras is expected to file a formal complaint before office of the Central Jakarta District Court and Metrojaya provincial police on November 18.

SUGGESTEDACTION:
Please send an appeal letter to the persons listed below and express your serious concern about this matter. Please ask the relevant Indonesian government authorities to conduct a full investigation into this attack.

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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER