Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013 Impunity

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013

News website Liputan6.com said the pact, Impunity allegedly signed on May 15, 2009, in Batu Tulis, Bogor, West Java, included an statement indicating that Prabowo agreed to let Megawati run as a Wiranto interviewed about East presidential candidate and Prabowo as her running Timor mate in the 2009 presidential election.

The Dutch journalist working with AlJazeera, Step Asked about the pact, Prabowo — who was leaving Vaessen, has made a documentary about the for Malaysia to appeal the death sentence murder of colleague journalist Sander Thoenes on currently facing Indonesian maid Wilfrida Soik — 21 September 1999. In the course of the declined to clarify, stating instead that if such a documentary with much original footing, she also pact existed it was made in confidence. interviews former general Wiranto and former president Habibie. Wiranto notes that human Prabowo briefly stated that Gerindra and the PDI-P rights violations were state policy; whereas Habibie were building political communications and that a responds to her question: “Did you see me with a coalition between both parties was still possible. gun in East-Timor?” In the pact, it was reported that the PDI-P agreed The video can be viewed at to endorse Prabowo as the presidential candidate http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeerac in 2014. orrespondent/2013/10/trail-murder-indonesia- “The Batu Tulis Pact in 2009 between Megawati bloody-retreat-201310307281244674.html%20 or and Prabowo actually exists and it did happen,” an via http://nrch.nl/35y2 . anonymous source who attended the meeting where the pact was discussed, told Liputan6.com Elections 2014 on Friday.

Cooperation PDI-P and Gerindra The Jakarta Globe, 18 November 2013

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the Great Indonesia Movement Party have reportedly signed a political pact in 2009 — dubbed the Batu Tulis Pact — that included a point where Megawati Soekarnoputri’s party promised support for Gerindra chief patron Prabowo Subianto’s presidential bid in 2014.

The pact — if verified — could have serious The source also said that the meeting was consequences for the PDI-P’s ambitions to win next attended by 10 people from both parties. year’s elections, despite the emergence of Joko Attendees included politicians Megawati and her Widodo, the current governor of Jakarta, as its daughter Puan Maharani, Pramono Anung, rising star. Prabowo, Fadli Zon, Martin Hutabarat and businessman Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Prabowo’s brother.

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Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013

Another source told detik.com on Sunday that the Earlier this year, Gerindra said that there was still a pact was handwritten and signed by both chance that it would form a coalition with Megawati and Prabowo. Megawati’s party to support Prabowo as a presidential candidate in the 2014 election. Martin Hutabarat, a member of Gerindra’s board of advisers, refused to give a clear answer when Suhardi, the chairman of the party, said anything asked about the existence of the pact but hinted at could happen in the 16 months leading up to the its existence. “I will not answer it with words, I am election, despite Megawati’s anger toward just going to answer it with a nod,” Martin said as Prabowo for taking credit for Joko’s gubernatorial he nodded his head. victory in Jakarta in September last year.

He also said he wanted to be careful about the “Regardless of all of the rumors, we will always political contract because Gerindra wanted the respect Megawati,” Suhardi said. “The logic is that coalition with the PDI-P to remain harmonious. we have a similar vision regarding the importance of nationalism and pro-people policies.” “Gerindra and PDI-P’s biggest contribution is by supporting certain figures that are loved by the “Yes, it won’t be easy,” he added. “But as time public to hold public office and we realized that by goes by, Prabowo’s popularity is increasing, and pairing Jokowi and Ahok [Basuki Tjahaja Purnama] nobody can deny that he is the frontrunner.” as Jakarta’s governor and deputy governor,” Martin said. “And the Gerindra Party will still give Suhardi added that Gerindra hopes to secure 30 the ticket to Prabowo as a presidential candidate in percent of the vote in next year’s legislative 2014,” Martin said. elections.

Senior PDI-P politician Sabam Sirait who also Most polls have named Prabowo the most popular attended the Batu Tulis meeting said he did not candidate for 2014, ahead of Megawati. However, know that Megawati agreed to support Prabowo as many say that his bid could end before it begins a presidential candidate in 2014. due to a lack of party support.

“It’s true that I attended it. As far as I know it was The PDI-P won 14 percent of the vote in 2009, to discuss a presidential candidate for 2009. But while Gerindra only garnered 4.5 percent. I’m not saying that it was just that. Whether or not Although legislators are still negotiating the voting there was a discussion about other issues, only threshold required to make a presidential bid, Megawati and Prabowo have the answers,” Sabam many say the current figure of 20 percent will be told Liputan6.com. But Sabam said that there was maintained, meaning anyone intending to run no explicit agreement between the PDI-P and needs support from a party or coalition of parties Gerindra to discuss the 2014 presidential election. that have won at least 20 percent of the popular Sabam added that the PDI-P has given Megawati vote in the legislative elections. the full authority to decide the party’s presidential Analysts say Prabowo burned his bridges with the candidate. PDI-P by glorifying his role in last year’s Jakarta “It was agreed that Megawati would decide the gubernatorial race. Although she did not mention presidential candidate, which could be herself or Prabowo by name, Megawati blasted “free riders” another person. That decision is hers,” Sabam said. that took credit for Joko’s victory. Megawati, has yet to announce the party’s presidential candidate.

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013

Gerindra has long hoped to get the support of the State institutions country’s main opposition party as it waits for the right moment to officially declare its chief patron and founder, Prabowo, as its presidential Amok in the Constitutional Court candidate. Kompas, 15-11-2013

Ahmad Muzani, Gerindra’s secretary general, said The authority of the Constitutional Court has in September that Prabowo had carried out further deteriorated. After the President of the consolidation efforts in the regions and that he was Constitutional Court was arrested for bribery, now confident about being chosen as the presidential a number of people have run amok in the building candidate on the party’s behalf. of the Court. Such a thing has never happened before since the Court was established 10 years Ahmad acknowledged that while Prabowo was ago. The riot occurred during the reading of the polling well in opinion surveys, his presidential bid decision on the provincial election for a governor could “still fail.” and vice-governor of the Province of Maluku. He also said he hoped that Prabowo’s presidential The new President of the Court, Hamdan Zoelva nomination would earn the PDI-P’s support. was reading the decision in a conflict of the several candidates in the governors’ election. It is thought Many female candidates for that the riot was the work of the followers of one Parliament are unexperienced. of the pairs of candidates who had lost in the election. The case was brought before the Kompas, 15-11-2013 Constitutional Court by one of the pairs, Herman Political parties have a tendency to choose female Adrian Koedoeboen-M Daud Sangadji. candidates for the Parliamentary elections in a The rioters demolished several chairs, quite arbitrary way. Their main aim is to achieve microphones and computers in the building. The the quota requirement of 30% female candidates. judges of the Constitutional Court ran for their The consequence is that many female candidates lives. The session was continued after 1 ½ hour. have insufficient experience in the political Five people have been arrested. More arrests are practice. expected based on the CCTV footage. This was noted by the Secretary-general of the Indonesian Female Coalition Dian Kartikasari in a Freedom of Religion public debate on the Outcome and Analysis of a Mapping Exercise of Women Representatives in the DPR. The current division of candidates is 63% SHI’A COMMUNITY AT RISK OF males and 37 % females. NEW FORCED EVICTION

But many females have insufficient political Amnesty International Urgent Action, 13-11-2013 experience, because the political parties recruite At least 168 people from a Shi’a community in East them in an arbitrary way, just to fulfil the 30% Java are at risk of being forcibly removed again quota requirement. Many of them are the wives of from their temporary shelter. The community was male politicians. displaced in August 2012 after a mob attacked their village.

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013

On 10 November, East Java province local Religious Conflict Is Normal, government officials led by the Ministry of Religion and assisted by the police and military, attempted Religious Affairs Minister Says to forcibly move around 20 families of a Shi’a The Jakarta Globe, November 16, 2013. community from their temporary shelter in Sidoarjo, East Java. They intended to place them in Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said on the Haji Sukolilo dormitory in Surabaya, which is Friday that religious tolerance in Indonesia is used to temporarily house Muslims before their among the best in the world, despite some issues pilgrimage to Mecca. The Shi’a community and he said still needed to be addressed. human rights groups believe that the move is a “Conflict is normal, as long as it’s not [provoked],” way to further pressure members of the he said at a gathering of religious leaders in community to convert to Sunni Islam, by restricting Bandung, West Java on Friday evening. “Why? As their movement and limiting their access to the long as God created humans with anger, then the outside world. The Shi’a followers object to the potential of conflict arising is still there.” relocation, saying they would prefer to return safely to their homes and livelihoods with “But remember,” he said, “God gives us anger, but adequate state protection. God also guides our anger. In Islam, patient people are loved by God.” Nearly 15 months since they were attacked and displaced, at least 168 Shi’a followers from In addition to theologizing, he called on Indonesian Sampang district in East Java have been prevented religious leaders to be mindful of the possibility of from returning to their village by the local being provoked by irresponsible parties who authorities. They were first moved to temporary wished to harm the country’s religious harmony. shelter at a sports complex in Sampang (with minimal facilities) where they lived for 10 months. “We have to be cautious about this,” he said. “Why On 21 June they were forcibly moved by the do we have to be harmonious? Because we are Sampang district authorities to a housing facility in [made up of] various ethnicities, cultures and Sidoarjo, East Java. The community had previously religions. Selfishness sometimes does arise. Do not faced intimidation and harassment by local let pluralism become a weakness.” government officials to convert, at their temporary shelter in Sampang, if they wanted to return to Earlier this week, Shiite Muslims in West Java were their homes. The Shi’a community, originally from forced to move a ceremony to commemorate the Karang Gayam village in the Sampang district on Ashura holiday from Kana Palace in Bandung to a Madura Island, were displaced in August 2012 small school building, causing the loss of thousand when an anti-Shi’a mob of around 500 people of dollars and forcing the group to deny thousands attacked the community with sharp weapons and of worshipers entry to the event. The local stones. One person was killed and dozens were government, led by the Islamist Prosperous Justice injured. The mob also set fire to 35 houses Party’s (PKS) Ahmad Heryawan, has been accused belonging to the Shi’a community. Five people of systematically siding with intolerant groups were sentenced to between eight months and four against religious minorities. years’ imprisonment in connection with the attack. West Java Police initially claimed that the group did A sixth accused person was acquitted. not provide sufficient documents to get a permit for the event. Permit disputes had frequently come

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013 up in past instanced of religious minorities being S.N.F. also said that the Indonesian Military (TNI) barred from worship in the province. would have detected that he was gay when he enrolled to become a military officer. S.N.F Suryadharma is currently embroiled in a highly- challenged the court to conduct a medical public Rp 1.05 trillion ($90 million) libel lawsuit examination to determine whether or not he was against a celebrity tabloid that accused him of gay. “The defendant strongly rejects the judges’ concealing a third marriage to model and House of consideration,” S.N.F. said in his appeal. Representatives member Okky Asokawati. However, the appeal court rejected his defense, In September, he came under widespread criticism upholding the lower court’s decision and after accepting an honorary degree from Thailand’s dismissing him from his job and punishing him with Princess of Naradhiwas University for his efforts to a five-month prison sentence. promote tolerance. The court insisted that the punishment was “I cannot believe the Thai government would allow handed out not because he was gay but because one of its universities to honor him for religious he abandoned his duties for 42 days because he tolerance in Indonesia when we know as a minister was embarrassed by his homosexuality. instead of promoting religious tolerance he has often made counterproductive statements that However, Hendardi, a prominent human rights have triggered religious violence,” Haris Azhar, the activist, demanded the court clarify whether S.N.F. coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons really had abandoned his duties and was punished and Victims of Violence (Kontras) told the Jakarta because of the desertion and not because of his Globe at the time. sexual preference.

“Nobody can be punished because of their sexual Non-discrimination orientation. It’s part of people’s basic rights that is guaranteed by the United Nations,” he said. Soldier’s Dismissal Linked to Sexual Hendardi, however, acknowledged that a Orientation revolution in the country’s mindset was needed in By Jakarta Globe November 18, 2013. order for someone who was openly gay to be free to join the military in Indonesia. Despite rejecting allegations that he was gay, Second Sergeant S.N.F. has been dismissed from Experts and activists have agreed that accepting his squad by a high military court in Jakarta in what openly gay individuals in most professions, appears to be the first legal case hinging on alleged especially in the military, will be difficult in a homosexuality in the military in Indonesia. country where homosexuality is taboo and where many Indonesians still refuse to acknowledge gay S.N.F., who joined the military in 2008, appealed a people, with some groups even using violence decision by a Bandung court to the high court in against homosexuals. Jakarta and rejected all accusations, including claiming that an allegation which stated that he Further reading: was gay wasn’t backed up by experts’ opinions or a http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/soldiers- medical examination by a doctor. dismissal-linked-to-sexual-orientation/

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 18-11-2013

Death penalty

Fifth execution confirms shocking new trend of secrecy Amnesty International News Flash, 18-11-2013

The execution of a Pakistani man in Indonesia on Sunday, carried out in secret, is a shocking and regressive step, said Amnesty International.

According to media reports, Muhammad Abdul Hafeez, 44, was executed by firing squad in the early hours of Sunday morning. Hafeez is the fifth person to be put to death this year since Indonesia resumed executions in March after a four year hiatus. A further five individuals are believed to be at imminent risk of execution.

Papang Hidayat, Amnesty International’s Indonesia Researcher, commented:

“This latest death by firing squad highlights the deplorable and retrograde trend in Indonesia to shroud executions in secrecy. The complete lack of transparency is not only devastating for the individuals and their families; it can also prevent last minute appeals for a stay of execution.

“Such actions fly in the face of the Indonesian government’s commitment to uphold human rights. We urge the authorities not to carry out any other death sentences. Anymore executions would also further undermine the government's efforts to protect Indonesian nationals that face the death penalty overseas.

"With these clandestine executions it appears the government is also trying to prevent a full and informed public debate on the use of the death penalty.”