Indonesia: UN Rights Visit Can Challenge Discrimination, Impunity

Plight of Religious Minorities and Papua Abuses Are Serious, Ongoing Problems 

(New York) – The visit of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay is an opportunity to highlight concerns about discrimination against religious minorities and impunity for state security forces in Indonesia, Human Rights Watch said today. Pillay is on an official visit to Jakarta from November 12-13, 2012.

We hope the visit of High Commissioner Pillay will spotlight the country’s most serious human rights challenges. Indonesia should realize that religious discrimination, impunity, and the deterioration in rule of law is a recipe for violence, abuses, and lawlessness.

"Brad Adams, Asia director".

“We hope the visit of High Commissioner Pillay will spotlight the country’s most serious human rights challenges,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Indonesia should realize that religious discrimination, impunity, and the deterioration in rule of law is a recipe for violence, abuses, and lawlessness.”

Source: http://www.hrw.org/news/2012

HRW: World Report 2012, Indonesia

Here: World Repor Indonesia - Human Rights Wacth (HRW) - PDF File

Events of 2011

Over the past 13 years Indonesia has made great strides in becoming a stable, democratic country with a strong civil society and independent media. However, serious human rights concerns remain. While senior officials pay lip service to protecting human rights, they seem unwilling to take the steps necessary to ensure compliance by the security forces with international human rights and punishment for those responsible for abuses.
In 2011 religious violence surged, particularly against Christians and Ahmadiyah, a group that considers itself Muslim but that some Muslims consider heretical. Violence continued to rack Papua and West Papua provinces, with few effective police investigations to hold perpetrators accountable.

Freedom of Expression

While Indonesia today has a vibrant media, authorities continue to invoke harsh laws criminalizing those who raise controversial issues, chilling peaceful expression. Indonesia has imprisoned more than 100 activists from the Moluccas and Papua for peacefully voicing political views, holding demonstrations, and raising separatist flags.
The new Law on State Intelligence passed in October, contains vague and overbroad language that could facilitate abuse. For instance, anyone who even negligently leaks confidential information about intelligence activities is subject to imprisonment, raising fears the law could be used to prosecute journalists, political opposition members, or human rights activists who publish information in the public interest about government abuses.
Indonesia's criminal libel, slander, and "insult" laws prohibit deliberately "insulting" public officials and intentionally publicizing statements that harm another person's reputation. In July the Supreme Court overturned an acquittal of Prita Mulyasari, who complained of poor medical treatment over emails to friends, and convicted her on internet defamation charges. Despite acquitting Mulyasari in a related civil case, the Supreme Court sentenced her to a six-month suspended sentence.

Military Reform and Impunity

Impunity for members of Indonesia’s security forces remains a serious concern, with no civilian jurisdiction over soldiers who commit serious human rights abuses. Military tribunals are held rarely, lack transparency, and the charges frequently fail to reflect the seriousness of the abuses committed.
In January a military tribunal in Jayapura, Papua, convicted three soldiers from Battalion 753 and sentenced them to between eight to twelve months imprisonment. Despite video evidence of six soldiers involved in brutally torturing two Papuans, the tribunal tried only three of the six soldiers, and on lesser military discipline charges rather than for torture. The soldiers have not been discharged.
In August the Jayapura military tribunal convicted three soldiers from the same battalion regarding an incident in which soldiers shot and killed Reverend Kinderman Gire on the suspicion he was a separatist. Again, the tribunal only convicted them of "disobeying orders," and sentenced them to six, seven, and fifteen months in prison respectively.
In June President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appointed his brother-in-law Lt.-Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo as the new army chief. Pramono commanded a Kopassus team that was deployed to East Timor in 1999. During that time, in the run up to a referendum on independence, pro-Indonesia militias or security forces killed more than 1,000 civilians.
The armed forces retain extensive business holdings despite a law requiring the government to shut down these businesses or take them over by October 2009.

Freedom of Religion

In 2011 incidents of religious violence got more deadly and more frequent, as Islamist militants mobilized mobs to attack religious minorities with impunity; short prison terms for a handful of offenders did nothing to dissuade mob violence. The government failed to overturn several decrees that discriminate between religions and foster intolerance.  According to the Setara Institute, which monitors religious freedom, there were 216 cases of religious attacks in 2010 and 184 cases in the first nine months of 2011.
In February more than 1,500 Islamist militants attacked a house in Cikeusik, western Java, killing three and seriously wounding five Ahmadiyah men. The incident was caught on film. Public outrage generated around the case prompted the authorities to act quickly in investigating the attack. In July the Serang district court sentenced 12 men to between three and six months imprisonment for disturbing public order, incitement, and assault, but not for manslaughter. Police and prosecutors failed to present a fully compelling case against the 12 defendants. Police did not conduct thorough investigations, and prosecutors did not call key eyewitnesses to the attack. The prosecutors also sought reduced sentences, contending that the Ahmadiyah provoked the attack.
In August the Serang court convicted one of the Ahmadiyah members seriously injured in the attack, Deden Sudjana, for assault and disobeying police orders, sentencing him to six months imprisonment.
In 2011 Islamist mobs attacked Ahmadiyah communities and mosques in various places, including West Java, Banten, and South Sulawesi. In August in Makassar, South Sulawesi, a lawyer who represented the Ahmadiyah was assaulted.
In April an Islamist suicide bomber attacked a police mosque in Cirebon, West Java, killing himself and injuring at least 28 people. The bomber had previously been involved in violent protests over a blasphemy trial and an anti-Ahmadiyah attack in Cirebon in 2010. In September another Islamist suicide bomber attacked a church in Solo, Central Java, killing himself and wounding 14 churchgoers.
In February Islamists also attacked three churches in Temanggung, Central Java, after the district court convicted controversial preacher Antonius Bawareng of blasphemy. The court sentenced him to five years in jail, the maximum penalty for blasphemy, but Islamists called for him to be executed. The Semarang district court later convicted eight of the Islamists involved in the attack, sentencing them to between five months and one year imprisonment.
Minority congregations reported that local government officials arbitrarily refused to issue them permits required, under a 2006 decree, for building houses of worship. Those who attempted to worship without a permit faced harassment and violence.
In January the Supreme Court ordered the reopening of a Presbyterian church known locally as GKI Yasmin, overturning the Bogor administration’s ruling which had revoked the church’s building permit. However, Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto refused to comply. Government ministers offered the church “relocation.” In October an Islamist organization began to harass churchgoers who were holding Sunday services on a sidewalk outside the sealed church.
Senior government officials—including Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, and Minister of Human Rights and Law Patrialis Akbar—continued to justify restrictions on religious freedom in the name of public order.

Papua/West Papua

In August internal military documents—mainly from Kopassus, Indonesia’s special forces—were made public, exposing how the Indonesian military monitors peaceful activists, politicians, and religious clergy in Papua. The documents show the deep military paranoia in Papua that conflates peaceful political expression with criminal activity. Several of those named in the documents as targets have faced arrest, imprisonment, harassment, or other forms of violence.
Access to Papua in 2011 remained tightly controlled. Few foreign journalists and human rights researchers can visit independently without close monitoring of their activities. Since October the vice president’s office has set up the Unit to Accelerate Development in Papua and West Papua, which is focused on economic development. Its board members include some veterans of peace talk over Aceh.
In July over 500 representatives of Papuan civil society met at a peace conference in Jayapura, organized by a government-funded peace-initiative network.
Violence in Papua worsened in July and August with several unrelated attacks in which more than two dozen people were killed or seriously injured. Seventeen people were killed in Puncak Jaya in July when two rival political camps clashed in an election dispute.
In Puncak Jaya there has been a long insurgency between the Free Papua Organization (OPM) and the Indonesian military. The OPM commander in Puncak Jaya claimed responsibility for several attacks against the Indonesian military in July, including one in which an Indonesian military chopper was shot down, injuring seven soldiers and killing one.
In October security forces used excessive violence when arresting more than 300 Papuans involved in a three-day Papuan Congress. At least three men were killed and more than 90 were injured. Six Papuan leaders were charged with treason.

Aceh

Aceh's provincial government continued to implement a repressive Sharia-inspired dress code with disregard for women’s agency and a law on "seclusion," banning association between unmarried men and women in "isolated" places. The provisions are enforced primarily through a Sharia police force that harasses, intimidates, and arbitrarily arrests and detains children, women, and men. Local community groups also forcibly enter homes and assault and publicly humiliate couples they suspect are committing "seclusion." Police make little effort to deter and prosecute such assaults. In April two couples were publicly caned under the “seclusion” law.
At this writing it was unclear what effect a decision by Partai Aceh, the main party of the former rebels, to boycott December 2011 local elections would have. The party claimed that Jakarta-sponsored election regulations were not in line with the 2005 Helsinki peace agreement that ended the decades-long conflict in Aceh.

Migrant Domestic Workers

Migrant domestic workers continue to face abuses both during the recruitment process in Indonesia and while employed abroad. The government has failed to stop local recruiters from charging prospective migrants exorbitant fees that leave them highly indebted, which contributes to situations of forced labor abroad.
In May Indonesia and Malaysia signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on Indonesian domestic workers traveling to Malaysia. The revised agreement includes some improved benefits for migrant domestic workers, allowing them to keep their passports instead of having to surrender them to their employers, and guarantees them a weekly day off. But the agreement does not set a minimum wage, as Indonesia had wanted, and perpetuates recruitment fee structures that leave workers indebted.
In June the Saudi government executed Ruyati binti Sapubi, a 54-year-old domestic worker from western Java. She was convicted of murdering her Saudi employer, who she claimed was abusing her.

Child Domestic Workers

Hundreds of thousands of girls in Indonesia are employed as domestic workers. Many work long hours, with no day off, and are forbidden from leaving the house where they work. In the worst cases, girls are physically, psychologically, and sexually abused by their employers. Despite supporting the landmark International Labour Organization convention in June that extended key labor protections to domestic workers, Indonesia's domestic laws exclude all domestic workers from the basic labor rights afforded to formal workers. A domestic workers law that was introduced in 2010 has since stalled in parliament.

Key International Actors

Indonesia assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) in 2011, holding an ASEAN summit in Jakarta in May and Bali in November. In May Indonesia committed to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” when it was elected by the General Assembly to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, but left unaddressed which concrete steps would be taken to fulfill pledges on key issues like freedom of religion and expression, and accountability of abuses by military forces.
The United States continued to provide extensive military assistance to Indonesia. In July US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa co-chaired the second annual Joint Commission of the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. In November President Barack Obama visited Indonesia as part of the ASEAN Summit in Bali.
The US also continued to reengage with Kopassus, and provide significant support to Detachment 88, Indonesia's counterterrorism police. Similarly, the Australian government continued cooperation with both units.
In July the European Parliament issued a resolution on human rights in Indonesia, condemning recent attacks on Christians and Ahmadiyah properties.

UNHCR: Aid access challenges for Indonesia's West Papua region

By, IRIN - Published: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (http://www.unhcr.org/)

Aid agencies in Indonesia's Papua region say their work is coming under increased government scrutiny due to Jakarta's concern over a secessionist movement on the island.

"So many international aid groups working in Papua have been pushed out by the government," Andreas Harsono, a researcher for Human Rights Watch (HRW) who has been covering Indonesia for years, told IRIN, citing a string of NGOs and charity groups, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), that have had to leave.

"They can maintain a presence if they work with the government, but if they give aid directly to Papuans or Papuan organizations, aid groups will be heavily scrutinized by the government and suspected of aiding the independence movement."

The resource-rich Papua region (2,000km east of Jakarta and comprising the provinces of Papua and West Papua) has the lowest levels of human development of Indonesia's 33 provinces, with about 34 percent of Papuans living on less than US$1 per day, according to government statistics. The region has a land area nearly twice that of the UK but a population of only 3.5 million.

"There are multiple issues facing West Papua and Papua today," said Dini Sari Djalal, head of communications at the World Bank's Jakarta office. "Among the most vital are poverty, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS. The two provinces rank worst in these indicators in all of Indonesia."

At the same time, the region is prone to a host of natural disasters, one of the most recent being a 6.1 magnitude quake on 8 September recorded off the coast of Nabire, Papua.

"In the West Papuan cities of Manokwari and Sorong, earthquakes are recorded on a fairly regular basis as is flooding," said Phillip Charlesworth, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies head of delegation for Indonesia.

But it is Papua's decades-long simmering separatist movement that has often dominated international media attention.

Although the government granted the region Special Autonomy status in 2001, activists continue to voice their discontent, calling for greater autonomy to help improve the region's socioeconomic problems.

Native Papuans are benefiting neither from the land and forests exploited by outside timber and palm oil companies, nor the region's immense mineral wealth, including gold, copper and other metals, they say.

This summer, the International Crisis Group reported at least 15 violent incidents in the provincial capital Jayapura in May and June, and others in the central highlands.

Since the former Dutch colony was annexed in 1969, a small armed group known as the Free Papua Organization (OPM) has been fighting for Papuan independence.

Human rights groups estimate some 100,000 Papuans have died in the conflict since the 1960s, while local media regularly report on clashes between the OPM and security forces.

Economic marginalization, coupled with an ongoing influx of labour migrants from elsewhere in Indonesia continues to fuel tension, particularly over the issue of jobs.

In many of the region's cities and towns, non-native Papuans are now in a majority, and tensions between the two groups are not uncommon, as are reports of the government's often heavy-handed response towards the indigenous population.

"We continue to receive credible reports that Indonesian security forces are committing unlawful killings, and torture [in the Papua region]. They're using excessive force when carrying out arrests or during public policing, and are criminalizing peaceful political activism," said Josef Roy Benedict, Amnesty International's Indonesia campaigner, based in London.

These actions violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Indonesia is a state party of the former and has ratified the latter convention, Benedict added.

Some aid groups not welcome

"We'd welcome the help of more international organizations, but there's a need for the government to open up the space for them to see the reality here," said Julianus Septer Manufandu, executive secretary of the Papua NGO Forum, a network of 118 local NGOs assisting Papuans in human rights, land disputes, natural resources and emergency response.

Currently, five UN agencies are working in the region.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is also on the ground, assisting with blood donations, cataract operations and disaster management.

"We're neutral, so we give victims of the [low-level] conflict humanitarian assistance and the government has no problem with that," said PMI Secretary-General Budi Atmadi Adiputro.

However, others have been less successful.

"One reason why our MoU [memorandum of understanding] was not renewed was because we supported local partners who were involved in human rights work," said Ernest Schoffelen, a programme officer with the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development (Cordaid), a Dutch development agency working in the area of health, peace-building, inter-religious dialogue and human rights in the region for over 50 years.

"Papuans were very welcoming of the aid we provided," Schoffelen said. "The resistance to our presence came more from central government. They didn't want us to be there."

Tortuous NGO registration process

"Everything goes through the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and BIN [the Indonesian State Intelligence Agency]," said one international aid worker who asked not be named, adding it could take 1-3 years for an international NGO to be registered. "All INGOs [international NGOs] proposing to work in Indonesia must appear before an interdepartmental panel, in which the specific ministry or department under which the INGO would work argues the case for the INGO to be allowed."

Those involved in peace-building activities face an even tougher time, he added.

"The level of scrutiny on the part of BIN is extremely high," the aid worker said. "For groups working in peace-building advocacy or legal affairs - which are considered political activities rather than technical development - there's virtually no chance."

ICRC first opened an office in Jayapura (Papuan capital) in 1989. The office was closed in 2009 following an instruction from the Indonesian government, also addressed to a number of other organizations.

Prior to 2009, ICRC delivered water access and sustainable living environment programmes; international humanitarian law (IHL) dissemination work with the military, police and journalists; and detention visits to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners.

The government reportedly raised objections to the ICRC's presence in Papua for not reporting prison visits to the authorities.

Today the ICRC's presence in the two provinces is limited to ad hoc missions from the head office in Jakarta.

"We still play a supporting role to the work of the Indonesian Red Cross there, and we organize punctual activities, such as IHL dissemination sessions for the Air Force in Biak [a small island to the north]," said Patrick Megevand, the ICRC's Jakarta Regional Delegation communication coordinator.

"We hope to go back there on a more sustainable basis. For now, everything depends upon the renewal of an agreement with the government, which we've been negotiating since the closure of the office in 2009."

Security, political considerations

Others cite security concerns and restrictions on freedom of movement, particularly in the interior.

"The work we did there was valuable and there is a need for an international presence," one former aid worker with an INGO that closed down its Papua operation in 2011 claimed, adding however: "Our international staff received threats, and then national staff started to receive threats from the government."

Oxfam's country director Richard Mawer, said security was not affecting their work on the ground there, but added that all INGOs were finding it increasingly difficult to be given approval to work there, and now required special permission to implement any new initiatives.

Government response

The Indonesian government, meanwhile, says it is just operating standard procedures.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene told IRIN there were no special requirements for INGOs to work in Papua, noting that there were already at least 14 working in the region on health, economic development and natural disaster issues. He added that all must abide by a set of general requirements, which included not engaging in profit-orientated activities or fundraising.

For international NGOs wanting to work in the area of human rights in Papua and West Papua, Tene said:

"Human rights is an important issue in Papua and all of Indonesia, but INGOs must not engage in political activities and must convince the government they do not intend to do this. Their work has to benefit the people [of Papua and West Papua]."

HRW: Indonesia Cabut Dakwaan terhadap Aktivis Papua

Aktivis papuan ( Photo Ilustrasi)

HRW (New York) – PemerintahIndonesia harus membatalkan tuntutan terhadap 5 aktivis Papua yang ditangkap karena mengekspresikan pandangan politik secara damai, demikian Human  Rights Watch hari ini. Pada 30 Januari 2012, pengadilan negeri Jayapura, ibukota provinsi Papua, akan memulai persidangan untuk dakwaan “makar”kepada lima pemimpin Kongres Rakyat Papua, yang dibubarkan secara paksa pada akhir Oktober 2011 lalu.

 " Pemerintah Indonesia harus menunjukkan komitmen terhadap pandangan damai dengan membatalkan dakwaan terhadap lima aktivis Papua. Sungguh mengerikan negara demokrasi modern seperti Indonesia masih saja memenjarakan orang hanya karena mereka mengadakan demonstrasi dan mengungkapkan pandangan kontroversial.Elaine Person, wakil direktur Asia"

“Pemerintah Indonesia harus menunjukkan komitmen terhadap pandangan damai dengan membatalkan dakwaan terhadap lima aktivis Papua,”kata Elaine Person, wakil direktur Asia dari Human Rights Watch. “Sungguh mengerikan negara demokrasi modern seperti Indonesia masih saja memenjarakan orang hanya karena mereka mengadakan demonstrasi dan mengungkapkan pandangan kontroversial.”

Pada 19 Oktober 2011, pasukan keamanan Indonesia bertindak secara brutal saat membubarkan Kongres Rakyat Papua, yang berlangsung tiga hari di Jayapura, demikian Human Right Watch.Setelah seorang pemimpin kongresmembacakan Deklarasi Kemerdekaan Papua 1961, polisi dan tentara Indonesia menembakkan peluru peringatan untuk membubarkan sekitar 1,000 peserta Kongres. Pasukan keamanan itu menggunakan tongkat dan bahkan beberapa senapan ke para demonstran, yang akhirnya membunuh sedikitnya tiga orang dan melukai lebih dari 90 orang. Para saksi berkata demonstran terluka kena pukul di kepala dan beberapa lainluka tembak.

Setelah insiden itu, delapaan polisi, termasuk Kapolda Jayapura, Imam Setiawan, dijatuhi hukuman peringatan untuk pelanggaran disiplin karena tidak memprioritaskan perlindungan terhadap warga sipil. Namun, tak ada tindakan serius terhadap para polisi atau personil militer untuk kemungkinan pelanggaran sewenang-wenang.

Lima aktivis—ForkorusYaboisembut, Edison Waromi, August Sananay Kraar, Dominikus Sorabut, dan Selpius Bobii—didakwa“makar”berdasar pasal 106 Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana dan ditahan polisi sejak 19 Oktober. Seorang lagi, Gat Wenda, anggota Penjaga Tanah Papua(Pepta), yang mengamankan kongres, didakwa terpisah dengan tuduhan kepemilikan senjata tajam.

Setidaknya 15 warga Papua dituduh “makar”atas aktivitas politik damai, termasuk Filep Karma, pegawai negeri sipil yang dipenjara sejak Desember 2004. Sekitar 60 pesakitan politik lain di seluruh Indonesia, sebagian besar aktivis dari Maluku, juga dipenjara karena tindakan mengungkapkan pendapat secara damai. Human Rights Watch mengingatkan kembali pemerintah Indonesia agar segera melepaskan semua pesakitan politik ini dan mengizinkan organisasi hak asasi manusia dan jurnalis internasional mendapat akses bebas ke Papua tanpa diawasi.

Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana perlu diamenden guna memastikan tak ada seorang pun yang dituntut atas perbuatan makar hanya karena mengungkapkan protes secara damai, menurut Human Rights Watch. Pasal karet tentang pidana “makar” melanggar Undang-Undang Dasar Republik Indonesia dan hukum HAM internasional. Pasal 28(e) dalam UUD (Amendemen Kedua) menyatakan, “Setiap orang berhak atas kebebasan berserikat, berkumpul, dan mengeluarkan pendapat.” Pasal 28(f) menetapkan, “Setiap orang berhak untuk berkomunikasi dan memperoleh informasi untuk mengembangkan pribadi dan lingkungan sosialnya, serta berhak untuk mencari, memperoleh, memiliki, menyimpan, mengolah, dan menyampaikan informasi dengan menggunakan segala jenis saluran yang tersedia.” Kovenan Internasional Hak-Hak Sipil dan Politik, yang diratifikasi Indonesia pada 2006, melindungi hak untuk kebebasan berpendapat dan berkumpul secara damai.

Human Rights Watch mengambil posisi netral atas klaim kemerdekaan di Papua. Namun, konsisten terhadap hukum internasional, Human Rights Watch mendukung hak setiap orang, termasuk mereka yang pro-kemerdekaan, untuk mengekspresikan pandangan politiksecara damai tanpa ada ketakutan ditangkap atau mengalami bentuk-bentukpenindasan.

"Pemerintah Indonesia harus mengusut mereka yang bertanggung-jawab atas kekerasan dan pembubaran paksa yang menewaskan tiga warga Papua, bukan menangkap mereka yang membaca pernyataan kemerdekaan 1961,” ujar Pearson. “Melanjutkan sidang aktivis damai Papua hanya akan memperdalam kebencian orang Papua terhadap Indonesia.”

Sumber: http://www.hrw.org/

Indonesia: Lift Restrictions on Reporting, Access to Papua

 Update/28/06-2012

Invite UN Rights Experts to Increasingly Violent Eastern Provinces

Police vehicles patrol the street in Waena, Jayapura on 06/14.

(New York),-- The Indonesian government should allow foreign media and civil society groups access to Papua to report on violence and rights violations since May that have left at least 14 dead.

Human Rights Watch urged Indonesia to accept calls made at the United Nations Human Rights Council to permit access to the province and to issue standing invitations to UN human rights experts.

"By keeping Papua behind a curtain, the Indonesian government is fostering impunity among military forces and resentment among Papuans. It needs to let the media and civil society shine a light on conditions in the province. Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director".

“By keeping Papua behind a curtain, the Indonesian government is fostering impunity among military forces and resentment among Papuans,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “It needs to let the media and civil society shine a light on conditions in the province.”

Human Rights Watch said that the Indonesian government has failed to hold to account those responsible for recent violence in Papua. On June 6, 2012, a crowd stabbed one Indonesian soldier to death and seriously injured another after their motorcycle struck a Papuan child in Honai Lama District in Wamena, a city in Papua’s Central Highlands.

Orginal NewsL http://www.hrw.org/news/

 

Konflik Papua: Human Rights Watch Soroti Persoalan Akses 14 June 2012 12:45

Kerusuhan Perum III (foto jubi)

JAKARTA–Human Rights Watch mendesak pemerintah Indonesia membuka akses penuh untuk media internasional termasuk ahli hak asasi manusia  Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa  untuk memantau pelanggaran HAM dan meminimalisir informasi yang keliru soal Papua.

Wakil Ketua Komite Nasional Papua Barat Mako Musa Tabuni diduga ditembak di otak belakang oleh aparat keamanan sehingga meninggal dunia hari ini. Aksi itu memicu massa membakar sejumlah tempat di Jayapura, Papua.

Aktivis HAM Papua Markus Haluk mengatakan saat itu Mako tengah memakan pinang bersama dengan empat rekan lainnya dan mengetahui kedatangan aparat pada sekitar pukul 09.30 WIT. Mako kemudian menghindari mereka, namun akhirnya ditembak aparat.

“Tidak ada surat pemanggilan sama sekali terhadap Mako. Aparat kalau ingin tembak, tembak saja sekarang seperti preman. Ini bukan penegakan hukum,” ujar Markus ketika dikonfirmasi Bisnis, Kamis 14 Juni 2012.

Dia juga mengatakan setelah kejadian itu sejumlah anggota KNPB dan mahasiswa melakukan pembakaran terhadap sejumlah tempat karena marah dan memprotes insiden tersebut. Penembakan terhadap  Mako dilakukan di daerah putaran taksi Universitas Cendrawasih-Perumnas III, Waena Jayapura.

Saat ini, sambungnya, aparat juga tengah melakukan penyisiran di lokasi terkait dengan kejadian tersebut. Menurut Mako, para anggota KNPB dan mahasiswa pun sudah kembali ke tempat mereka masing-masing.

Direktur Deputi Asia HRW Elaine Pearson mengatakan pemerintah Indonesia seharusnya mengizinkan media asing dan kelompok masyarakat sipil untuk memasuki Papua untuk melaporkan terjadinya praktik kekerasan dan pelanggaran HAM. Selain itu, organisasi tersebut juga mendesak agar Indonesia menerima permintaan Dewan HAM PBB untuk  mengundang para pakar HAM organisasi dunia tersebut.

“Dengan menempatkan Papua di balik tabir, pemerintah Indonesia tengah menumbuhkan impunitas untuk pasukan militer dan kebencian dari orang-orang Papua,” kata Pearson dalam rilis media pada Kamis, 14 Juni 2012. “Pemerintah sebaiknya membiarkan media dan kelompok sipil menerangi provinsi tersebut.”

Dia menuturkan pemerintah Indonesia telah gagal menghukum para pihak yang bertanggung jawab atas kekerasan yang baru-baru ini terjadi di Papua.

Peristiwa pada 6 Juni lalu, bermula dari dua anggota TNI Infanteri (Yonif) 756/WMS saat melewati Jalan Raya Hone Lama, Distrik Wamena, Jayawijaya dan menabrak anak kecil. Berdasarkan laporan persekutan gereja, keduanya kemudian berusaha menghindari kemarahan orangtua dari sang anak namun akhirnya terlibat perkelahian.

Seorang anggota TNI yang bernama Pratu Ahmad Sahlan mati di tempat karena mengalami luka tusuk di dada tembus jantung. Sementara anggota TNI bernama Serda Parloi Pardede dalam keadaan kritis karena pukulan benda keras di seluruh bagian tubuh dan sedang dirawat di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Wamena.

Aksi pembalasan dari pasukan TNI Batalyon 756 kemudian dilakukan sangat brutal dan tak terkendali dengan menyerang, menyiksa, membunuh dan melukai warga sipil  dan membakar rumah.

HRW juga meminta agar Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tidak mencari-cari alasan lagi atas kegagalan pemerintahannya melakukan investigasi.  Pearson mengatakan dengan mengizinkan akses penuh ke Papua, akan meminimalisir romor dan misinformasi yang memicu pelanggaran.

HRW juga mengingatkan tentang permintaan sejumlah negara dalam perhelatan the Universal Periodic Review PBB pada Mei, terkait dengan pembukaan akses penuh Papua dan mengundang Reporter Khusus.  Sejumlah negara itu adalah Inggris, Perancis, Austria, Chile, dan Korea Selatan.

“Beberapa negara menyatakan kekhawatirannya di Dewan HAM PBB soal kegagalan Indonesia untuk mengundang ahli dari PBB,” ujar Pearson.  ”Jika Indonesia ingin dianggap serius, maka tidak seharusnya mengabaikan permintaan tersebut

Indonesia: Dialog Uni Eropa Harus Tekan untuk Kemajuan Hak Asasi Manusi

Angkat Kebebasan Beragama dan Ekspresi Politik Damai

 "Dialog Uni Eropa-Indonesia harus lebih dari pernyataan token hak asasi manusia, tetapi harus mendiskusikan langkah-langkah konkret untuk mengatasi intoleransi agama meningkat dan pembatasan pada kebebasan berekspresi di Indonesia. Dialog ini harus menjadi wake-up call bagi Indonesia untuk melindungi agama minoritas terhadap meningkatnya kekerasan dan diskriminasi.Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director "

Papuan Human Rigth (HRW)

 (New York)-Uni Eropa harus menekan Indonesia untuk bertindak melawan intoleransi religius tumbuh dan untuk melepaskan semua tahanan politik selama dialog hak asasi manusia Uni Eropa-Indonesia pada tanggal 3 Mei 2012, Human Rights Watch hari ini.

"Dialog Uni Eropa-Indonesia harus lebih dari pernyataan token hak asasi manusia, tetapi harus mendiskusikan langkah-langkah konkret untuk mengatasi intoleransi agama meningkat dan pembatasan pada kebebasan berekspresi di Indonesia," kata Elaine Pearson, wakil direktur Asia Human Rights Watch. "Dialog ini harus menjadi wake-up call bagi Indonesia untuk melindungi agama minoritas terhadap meningkatnya kekerasan dan diskriminasi."

Berwenang Indonesia telah gagal untuk merespon meningkatnya insiden kekerasan massa diarahkan oleh kelompok-kelompok Islam militan terhadap kelompok agama minoritas di Jawa dan Sumatera, termasuk Ahmadiyah, Kristen, dan Muslim Syiah. Pada tahun 2011, kelompok-kelompok Islam menyerang anggota komunitas agama Ahmadiyah dan masjid mereka di 14 lokasi. Bahkan dalam beberapa kasus kekerasan yang telah mengakibatkan penuntutan, pemerintah seringkali gagal untuk mengisi semua yang terlibat, dan hukuman yang dijatuhkan telah sangat ringan.

Human Rights Watch Mengutuk Pemerintah RI atas Putusan Hukum aktivis Papua

Forkorus Yaboisembut, pemimpin suku Papua (foto dok)

New York,--Human Rights Watch (HRW) yang berbasis New York telah mengutuk pemerintah Indonesia karena membiarkan keyakinan lima aktivis kemerdekaan Papua, Jumat, mengatakan keyakinan bertentangan kebebasan konstitusional berekspresi.

Jayapura Pengadilan Negeri dihukum lima pria aktivis dan menghukum mereka tiga tahun penjara karena pro-kemerdekaan pernyataan yang dibuat di Rakyat Papua Ketiga Kongres di Kecamatan Abepura pada Oktober tahun lalu.

Lima pria Selpius Bobii, aktivis media sosial, Agustus Sananay Kraar, seorang PNS, Dominikus Sorabut, pembuat film, Edison Waromi, mantan tahanan politik, dan Forkorus Yaboisembut, pemimpin suku Papua.

Obama Didesak Soroti Aksi Kekerasan di Papua

Preseden AS, B. OBAMA (foto APF)

Washington - Presiden Amerika Serikat Barack Obama didesak untuk menyoroti lemahnya akuntabilitas pasukan keamanan Indonesia di Papua. Lemahnya akuntabilitas selama ini mengakibatkan terus berlanjutnya tindak kekerasan dan pembunuhan di sana.

Desakan itu disampaikan oleh Human Rights Watch, lembaga penggiat hak asasi manusia yang bermarkas di Washington, Amerika Serikat, secara tertulis kepada Obama, Rabu 16 November 2011.

Obama akan berkunjung ke Indonesia untuk mengikuti Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi ke-19 ASEAN dan Konferensi Asia Timur di Nusa Dua, Bali, 17-19 November 2011.

Keep Papua, Do not Fear Violate Human Rights

Front Pembela Islam

Jakarta (SI ONLINE) - To defend the land of Papua from the Republic of Indonesia's lap, the government asked to not be afraid violate Human Rights (Human Rights). "No need to fear is also at the International Criminal Court (ICC)", said former Chairman of Legal Aid Foundation, Munarman, Kemenhan Office, Jakarta, Friday (23/12/2011).

The reason, said Munarman, as long as the United States is actually the most widely violated human rights. Even when prompted Munarman expressed his willingness to defend the state when brought to the Court of Human Rights.

Treat as opposed to human rights, further Munarman, actually done by the enemies of this country. DPP Chairman Nahi Munkar FPI field is pointed out, in Papua MER-C makes health clinic but were not given permission. Yet this effort to preserve and maintain Papua.

Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence

Title	Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence
Publisher	Human Rights Watch
Country	Indonesia
Publication Date	28 October 2011
Cite as	Human Rights Watch, Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence, 28 October 2011, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4eb253d42.html [accessed 20 December 2011]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher.

Here: UNHCR Publisher

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should immediately establish an independent investigation into the deaths of at least three protesters and the ongoing violence in Papua, Human Rights Watch said today.

On October 19, 2011, Indonesian police and the army fired warning shots to disperse approximately 1,000 Papuans gathered for a peaceful pro-independence demonstration in the Papua provincial capital, Jayapura, after one of the leaders read out the 1961 Papua Declaration of Independence. In an ensuing crackdown by the security forces on the demonstrators, at least three people were killed and dozens were injured. Witnesses said several had gunshot wounds.

Joint Letter to Minister Rudd on Promoting Respect for Human Rights in Papua

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP

Foreign Minister

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

 Published: http://www.hrw.org/news/

Dear Minister Rudd,

Re: Promoting respect for human rights in Papua

We are writing because 1 December 2011 marks the 50^th anniversary of the first raising of the West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag. This date is considered by many Papuans as their unofficial ‘Independence Day’ and it is almost certain that protests and flag raising ceremonies will be held throughout Papua on this day.

Exodus in Papua amid fears of crackdown

Karlis Salna, AAP South-East Asia Correspondent

Human rights groups have called for Australian monitors to be allowed into Papua amid reports people are fleeing parts of the Indonesian province due to fears of another violent crackdown on pro-independence rallies planned for next week.
This source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news
In a joint letter to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Human Rights Watch and the Melbourne-based Human Rights Law Centre have called for Australian embassy staff to be deployed to the restive Indonesian province to monitor events on December 1.

Large numbers of people are expected to gather in cities and other areas in Papua on Thursday for rallies to mark an unofficial independence day and the 50th anniversary of the first raising of the Morning Star flag.

Australia must act to protect human rights in Papua: Joint letter from HRLC and Human Rights Watch

The Australian Government should take a leadership role in promoting and protecting human rights in the troubled Indonesian province of West Papua say two leading human rights organizations in a Joint Letter to the Foreign Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.

Ahead of the 50th anniversary this Friday of the first raising of the West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag, the Human Rights Law Centre and Human Rights Watch have called on Minister Rudd to publically and unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and suppression of peaceful protest and also deploy Australian embassy staff to Papua to monitor and observe anticipated events to mark the anniversary.

“Australia must unequivocally support the human rights of all persons to freedom of expression, association and assembly,” said Tom Clarke from the Human Rights Law Centre. “It is not in Australia’s strategic interest to have a festering human rights problem on our doorstep.”

Indonesia: Obama Should Press Rights Concerns

 Religious Intolerance, Abuses in Papua Should Top Agenda

 This Published www.hrw.org/news

(Washington, DC) – US President Barack Obama has an important and timely opportunity to raise human rights issues with the Indonesian government when meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this week in Indonesia, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Obama. He will travel to Bali for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on November 19, 2011.

The Obama administration’s deepening relationship with Indonesia means being frank about Indonesia’s serious human rights challenges. Indonesian government indifference to mob violence against religious groups and brutality by soldiers against peaceful protesters are good places to start.Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Obama should address key human rights challenges in Indonesia, including attacks on religious minorities, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the lack of accountability of Indonesian security forces for human rights abuses, especially in the easternmost province of Papua, Human Rights Watch said.

Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence

Ensure Proper Treatment of Detainees

• 
  Police arrest attendees of the Third Papuan People Congress in Jayapura, Indonesia's Papua province on October 19, 2011.
  © 2011 Reuters

• 
  Armed security forces atop one of several armored personnel carriers surrounding Zaccheus field in Abepura on the morning of October 19, 2011.
  © 2011 Oktovianus Pogau/Pantau Foundation

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Indonesia: Stop Prison Brutality in Papua

Papuans peacefully calling for independence does not justify a deadly crackdown. President Yudhoyono has an opportunity to show Papuans that he’s concerned about their rights by seriously investigating these deaths.

Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch

(New York) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should immediately establish an independent investigation into the deaths of at least three protesters and the ongoing violence in Papua, Human Rights Watch said today.

On October 19, 2011, Indonesian police and the army fired warning shots to disperse approximately 1,000 Papuans gathered for a peaceful pro-independence demonstration in the Papua provincial capital, Jayapura, after one of the leaders read out the 1961 Papua Declaration of Independence. In an ensuing crackdown by the security forces on the demonstrators, at least three people were killed and dozens were injured. Witnesses said several had gunshot wounds.

“Papuans peacefully calling for independence does not justify a deadly crackdown,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “President Yudhoyono has an opportunity to show Papuans that he’s concerned about their rights by seriously investigating these deaths.”

Indonesia: Repeal New Intelligence Law

Overbroad Provisions Facilitate Repression

Indonesia should protect its citizens against terrorism and other threats, but the loose language of the intelligence law invites dangerous misuse. If the government wants a good intelligence law, it needs to start over.

Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch

(New York) – Indonesia’s recently enacted intelligence law could be used to impose repressive practices reminiscent of the Suharto era, Human Rights Watch said today. The Indonesian parliament, which passed the law on October 12, 2011, should repeal or amend the act to meet international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said.

“Indonesia should protect its citizens against terrorism and other threats, but the loose language of the intelligence law invites dangerous misuse,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “If the government wants a good intelligence law, it needs to start over.”

INDONESIA: Jayapura city district police and military arbitrarily torture and arrest Papuan civilians

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the arbitrary arrest and torture of 15 Papuan villagers, including several minors, in Horas Skyline village, Jayapura, Papua, committed by a joint team of Jayapura city district police and Cenderawasih military area command on 31 August 2011. Until now, there is no investigation into the incident.

CASE NARRATIVE:

According to information received from Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja Baptis Papua (The Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua), Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Untuk Penegakan Hukum dan HAM di Papua (Civil Society Coalition to Uphold Law and Human Rights in Papua) and other activists, on 31 August 2011 at 5am, around 115 members of a joint team of Jayapura city district police (POLRESTA) and Cenderawasih military area command raided Papuan villagers in Horas Skyline village, Abepura district, Jayapura, Papua. All of the team members had guns and long barreled rifles, and some of them were wearing a black mask. When they were some 300 meters from the targeted houses, the team shot at the houses seven times.

(left: Siki Kogoya/ source: The Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua)
Siki Kogoya, a villager who was in his yard at the time, was shocked upon hearing the gunshot, after which he saw the joint team members make their way to him. One of the members pointed his gun at Siki's mouth, while three others pointed their long barreled rifles at his neck. They then beat him with rifle butts and kicked his head, face, ribs and chest. Siki was ordered to lie face down on the ground, while the officers continued pointing their weapons at him and asked him questions regarding the location of Panius Kogoya, Etra Yanengga, and Arman Kogoya, and whether he knows Danny Kogoya. This was related to their involvement in a shooting accident in Nafri on 1 August 2011, and the killing of a taxi driver and burning of his taxi in Skyline on 6 July 2011. 
More>>INDONESIA: Jayapura city district police and military arbitrarily torture and arrest Papuan civilians — Asian Human Rights Commission

Indonesian Rights Activists Applaud Rawagede Decision

Indonesian activists on Thursday welcomed an international court’s finding that the Dutch state was responsible for a massacre in Indonesia in 1947 and that victims’ families should be compensated.

The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said the decision shows that there is no statute of limitations on human rights cases.

“This happened more than 60 years ago. It will send a message to our government that they should take responsibility for their own abuses in Indonesia,” Kontras deputy coordinator Haris Azhar told AFP.

HRW Telusuri Ulang Kronologis Pencabutan Izin Gereja

Lembaga pemantau Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia melakukan penelusuran ulang kronologis kasus penyegelan Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Yasmin, Bogor, Jawa Barat. Penelusuran ulang kasus GKI Yasmin dilakukan untuk mendapatkan data dan informasi secara lengkap untuk kemudian dilaporkan kepada Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa (PBB).

“Kami melakukan wawancara dan ketemu dengan semua pihak yang terkait kasus GKI Taman Yasmin,” kata Andreas Harsono, Indonesia Consultant for Human Rights Watch, Minggu (11/9).