Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014 Impunity

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

Prabowo also gave his view on the 1998 Reformasi, namely that it came too Impunity quickly, as well as the foreign pressure. The developments in Indonesia, according to Prabowo, brought the state in real danger. Fact was that East Timor was on the loose, while Aceh was a state within the state with a very different Prabowo ready to explain 1998 law system from the Republic as a whole. “And we accepted all that,” said Kompas, 23-04-2014 Prabowo.

The presidential candidate from the Partai Gerindra, Prabowo Subianto, is ready According to Agum the Pepabri continues to be neutral. That is in compliance to explain a few stories and qualifications that stick to him in relation to the with the principle of neutrality of the army and the police, he said. incidents that took place around the fall of President Suharto in 1998.

Prabowo said this during a meeting with the board members of the Association of Elections 2014 retired (Pepabri). Prabowo briefly spoke privately with the Chairman of the Pepabri, former generals Agum Gumelar, Wismoyo Arismunandar, Suryo New Parliament is not better Prabowo, and Yunus Yosfiah. Kompas, 26-04-2014

In the meeting with dozens of Pepabri members he declared: “It all started in At first sight the Parliament (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, DPR) for the period 2014- 1998, or rather I was drawn to step down from 1993 onwards.” In those years the 2019 is not better than the current DPR. That is because quite a number of Indonesian economy grew with astonishing speed, had 8 percent growth, which candidates have been elected by money-politics or just because of their has only been matched by China. This period of growth collapsed in 1998. “It was popularity. And at the other hand, many activist members of Parliament, who not a crisis; it was rather an economic war.” were known for their critical and integer attitude have failed to be elected.

With the fall of Suharto Prabowo also exited from the army. According to Kompas The University Teacher of the State Islam University Syarif Hidayatullah, in Prabowo was fired from the ABRI (Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia Jakarta, Andar Nubowo, said in a debate in the parliamentary complex that he [now TNI]) by its commander, general Wiranto. One consideration was the assesses that 30 % of the 560 DPR members were elected by money politics and recommendation by the Officers Honorary Council (Dewan Kehormatan Perwira), pop singers popularity. Those candidates, said Anjar, can be considered as not a member of which was Agum Gumelar. “I left the army with all qualifications having sufficient knowledge or capacity to perform in the DPR. and stories. If needed I am ready to give an explanation,” he said. Partai Golkar politician, Bambang Soesatyo, even said that part of the new DPR members can be characterized as “envelope-members”, because they distributed

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Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014 envelopes with bribes to people that could vote for them. “Some have given Betty also said that the KPU members had been instructed to return to Intan Jaya away hundreds of thousands envelopes with Rp 20,000 to Rp 100,000 (US$ 2 – so that the recounting can be carried out. “I have ordered them to immediately 10). And others used an “in-bulk”system (sistem borongan), they paid 50 to 100 leave Nabire. The recounting has to be done in Intan Jaya. The provincial level Million Rp (US$ 5,000 – 10,000 ) to buy 200 up to 1,000 votes per village”, said KPU has consulted the local police to guard the safety of the KPU members in Bambang. Intan Jaya, “said Betty. She said that similar things had happened in Yahukimo.

Recounting in Papua faces obstacles The spokesperson of the Papua police, Pudjo Sulistyo said that his men were in touch with the army in full support of the KPU tasks. Kompas, 26-04-2014

A number of problems have arisen in the recounting process in the districts of More irregularities Intan Jaya and Yahukimo in the province of Papua. This is related to several Kompas, 26-04-2014 violent threats that have been expressed by elements who are supporters of candidates for the Parliaments (national or provincial) that failed to gather In the district of West-Bandung 1.600 original ballot papers have been found enough votes. among civilians, whereas these may only be found among KPU officials. Until 25 April the Monitoring Body Bawaslu did not know who the perpetrators of this ”The Monitoring Council in Intan Jaya has reported that not one of the members illegal act have been. Complaints about this fraud had been lodged by 32 of the election commission (KPU) was present. So the recounting was not candidates from 12 political parties. There will be an investigation. It would possible,” said the chairman of the Provincial Bawaslu (Body for Election indicate that the safety of original papers has not been sufficiently guaranteed. Monitoring) for Papua, Robert Horik, 25 April in the capital of Papua, Jayapura. The sheds doubts on all papers.

Robert said that there were indications of those threats by candidates who were In the district South Nias (North Sumatra) the Bawaslu has suggested that there not satisfied with the outcome of the elections. ”This is very damaging. It will should be held a re-run of the election. The counting papers of a number of take much more time,” said Robert. polling stations (82) had not been sent to the district offices in time. The KPU will investigate the need for a re-run. A member of the KPU at provincial level, Betty Wanane, acknowledges what happened in Intan Jaya. “All KPU members in Intan Jaya are in Nabire. They want Similar situations have arisen in the district of Sampang (Madura, East Java), to change the location of the recounting to Nabire because they are afraid of where the safety of the officials seems to have been the reason. Re-runs have conflicts between certain candidates,” said Betty. already been carried out in four polling stations in the district of Blitar, East Java.

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

Presidential elections According to him, the average amount of rice produced on Indonesian farms was between four to five tons for each hectare of land, while the population grew by three million each year. Jokowi presents agricultural Manifesto “Like it or not, we need to prepare more food for this growth. Additionally, in the The Jakarta Globe, 27-04-2014 past five years there has been a significant increase in food imports,” he said, Over a month after officially entering the presidential race, Jakarta Governor Joko citing hikes in the imports of several staple food items such as rice, corn, soy, Widodo, nominated as presidential candidate by the Indonesian Democratic flour, sugar, salt, beef, onions and fruits. Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, has begun introducing his vision and mission to the voters.

Visiting local farmers at the Tanjungrasa village in Bogor district’s Cariu subdistrict, Joko on Sunday addressed six points in the field of agriculture and food security that would be his focus should he be elected president in the election set to take place on July 9.

Productive agricultural lands, Joko said, should not be converted into other use, such as residential or industrial areas, and should instead be preserved. Additionally, he said farmers would have to be assisted in making sure that even the smallest plots of lands were used productively and that farmers were educated not to use chemically engineered seeds or pesticides.

Joko also emphasized the need to build better infrastructure for farmers, the need to monitor the quality of water in the fields, as well as improved monetary benefits for farmers and better access to capital and financial support.

“I asked farmers, how many tons [of rice] can be produced from one hectare [of “We import fish. We are a maritime nation but our fish imports have spiked,” land]? Apparently it was six tons, because farmers here are using a good mix,” Joko said “These are issues that need to be sorted out. These things are the Joko said during his visit on Sunday. reason why inflation on certain basic commodities easily occurs for a long period of time and repeatedly.”

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

Joko was adamant that the issue would see major risks unfurl in the next five to A mental revolution, she said, was part of an effort to build a fair and prosperous 10 years should the government fail to take strict and extreme policies. “Without society that adheres to the Pancasila state ideology. “A nation that never leaves that, we are risking our sovereignty and food security,” he said. behind nation and character building projects,” Eva explained.

As such, Joko said it was important to ensure the production sector was She emphasized that Joko had started this mission in Jakarta, with people improved so as to limit imports. “We have to concentrate the production. becoming more aware of their responsibility not to litter in the areas surrounding Imports have to be cut and eventually eliminated. With some effort and hard the Angke river in West Jakarta following the city administration’s revitalization work, I think we can achieve this within four or five years,” he said. program.

Aside from his vision for the Indonesian agricultural sector, Joko on Sunday also “The Indonesian culture of working together has to be developed and introduced what he called a “mental revolution,” which he cited as one of the strengthened for it to become the base of our [development],” Eva said, adding main requirements needed to see positive changes in Indonesia in the future. “A that education played a pivotal role in ensuring the strengthening of this culture mental revolution, because we have to change ourselves, so that this nation can among Indonesians. “Of course people and human resources are the engine of reach its potential, because we are a big nation. Let’s change our mentality from any public transformation projects and, as such, the spirit of education has to be the negative to the positive,” Joko said on Sunday, emphasizing that the issue made the center of character-building efforts.” would be one of his biggest focuses if elected president and would cover areas such as education, health and agriculture. Further reading: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/joko-widodo-lays- agricultural-manifesto-indonesia/ “We cannot be stuck in negative thoughts and instead should be positive, we have to be sure that we can do this well and in the right way,” Joko said. Police A member of Joko’s national secretariat team, Eva Kusuma Sundari, said that with the program, Joko would become an icon of transformative leadership bringing Police arrests alleged terrorist new values to be practiced by government. The Jakarta Globe, 27-04-2014 “[Joko is] a leader who seeks to promote a mental revolution for the sake of The Densus 88 police anti-terrorism squadron on Friday arrested a man transforming Indonesia into becoming a sovereign, independent nation, the suspected of slitting the throats of two police officers in Poso, Central Sulawesi in embodiment of a 21st-century Trisakti [ideology],” Eva said in Jakarta on Sunday, October of 2012, allegedly at the direction of Santoso, Indonesia’s most wanted referring leadership principles espoused by Sukarno. fugitive.

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

“We arrested him in Mamasa, in western South Sulawesi, yesterday,” a source in agents, a monitoring group said on Tuesday. Santoso, also known as Abu Densus 88 said on Saturday. “He was involved in the murder of our officers in Wardah, who heads a group called the East Indonesia Mujahedeen from the Tamanjeka [a village in Poso] a while ago.” mountains of Central Sulawesi, urged followers to show no mercy against elite counter-terror unit Densus 88, the US-based SITE Intelligence Group said. The suspect, who Densus 88 would not name, was thought to have killed two police officers — First Brig. Andi Sapa and Brig. Sudirman — and was an alleged “Poison them, if you are not able to kill with the sword. If you have a weapon, member of Santoso’s East Indonesia Mujahideen, police said. then kill,” it quoted him as saying in a 20-minute video published on jihadist forums. “They are invaders of this country, and they want to apostatize the Santoso and his lieutenant, police defector Daeng Koro, stand accused of running Islamic Ummah.” a terrorist training camp in the mountainous jungles of Central Sulawesi and masterminding violent plots, including the murder of police officers and a Densus 88 was established after the Bali bombings on Bali that killed 202 people thwarted bombing of the Gang Dolly red-light district in Surabaya, Indonesia’s in 2002, mostly Western tourists. It has gained strong public support in Indonesia second largest city. “We’re cutting down the roots of Santoso’s network,” the after claiming the scalps of some of the region’s most-wanted extremists. But it source in Densus 88 said. The anti-terrorism squadron also said it had caught two has also faced allegations of torture and unlawful killings that have sparked additional terrorism suspects in Poso earlier this month. concerns it is fueling the jihadist cause.

“We arrested Paimin, alias Ade, and Ardi in Poso,” National Police spokesman Santoso, who is himself suspected of multiple murders of police, claimed that the Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said. “Both were caught separately and were in the unit was “the Australian army, not the Indonesian army, and not a defender of East Indonesia Mujaheedeen network led by Santoso.” the country of Indonesia.”

Paimin was caught on April 16 in Lawanga, North Poso. He was a suspected of “They are defending Australia and America … to destabilize the existing system in carrying out a bombing in the village of Pantago Lemba in February of 2014. He Indonesia,” he said. Santoso issued a similar call in a YouTube clip posted in July was also accused of acting as a courier for Santoso. Ardi was caught a day later in last year. Kayamanya. He was accused of involvement in the same bombing and of theft to support terrorism. State Institutions Agence France Presse reported on 23-04-2014: Corruption in State Institutions Indonesia’s most wanted Islamist militant, Santoso, has issued a new call for attacks on anti-terror police, whom he accused of being Australian and US Kompas, 23-04-2014

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

The Anti-Corruption Commission KPK has serious suspicions that the President of Bambang then filed an appeal and was granted a sentence reduction. His two- the National Audit Body, (Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan, BPK) Hadi Poernomo, has year sentence was reduced to a year and the fine was reduced to Rp 50 million. received money when he was the Director-General Tax Revenues of the Ministry The Supreme Court subsequently ruled in favor of the High Court’s decision of a of Finances, for approving the request to cancel the tax debt for PT Bank Central year in prison and a fine of Rp 50 million, as well as an additional month in prison Asia Tbk in 2004. However, It will be very hard to prove that Hadi accepted a if he failed to pay the fine. bribe after he decided to nullify the tax debt, but he has been identified as a suspect in the case. Aside from Bambang, two other officials, namely former Education Agency head Sri Kuwanto and local legislator Lubby Widarbo, were sentenced in relation to the Bribes in Semarang same case. The Jakarta Post, 26-04-2014 Maluku Former Semarang regent Bambang Guritno, a graft case fugitive since 2011, was arrested by a team of prosecutors on Friday night and taken to Ambarawa Prison, Peaceful political activists arrested in Maluku Central Java. Bambang was arrested while giving a Quran recitation course at a mosque near his rented accommodation in Babarsari, Yogyakarta. However, Amnesty International Public Statement, 25-04-2014 Bambang, who used the name Muhammad Umar Siddiq while at large, insisted The Indonesian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release ten that he hadn’t tried to escape the law. “I am here to teach a Quran recitation political activists who were arrested earlier today in Maluku province, ahead of a course. I am not running away from anything. Everyone knows that,” he said. planned peaceful protest in the province, demands a public statement released Head of the Ambarawa Prosecutors’ office, Sila Pulungan, said his team had been by Amnesty International on 25 April. monitoring Bambang’s movements for a week before deciding to arrest him. They were arrested for planning to commemorate the anniversary of the “Now we have handed him in to prison services to serve his sentence,” Sila said. Republic of South Maluku (RMS) movement’s declaration of independence and Bambang was declared guilty by the Semarang Regency District Court over graft carrying the “Benang Raja” flags – a prohibited symbol of the RMS pro- allegations relating to a Rp 5.8 billion [0.5 Million US$] student textbook independence movement. procurement scandal in 2004. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and The activists are prisoners of conscience – detained solely for the exercise of their ordered to pay Rp 100 million in fines or serve three additional months in prison. rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly – and their arrests He was also ordered to repay Rp 321 million to the state. highlight the Indonesian police’s ongoing failure to respect these rights in Maluku province.

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

The ten activists had gathered this morning in Ambon city, Maluku province, to Background march peacefully on the anniversary of the RMS movement’s declaration of independence in 1950. They were carrying musical instruments, United Nations A number of laws in Indonesia are used to arrest peaceful political activists, in flags and the prohibited “Benang Raja” flags. particular those from areas with a history of pro-independence movements, such as Maluku and Papua. Dozens of political activists from these areas have been As the marchers gathered, Ambon and Lease Islands District Police personnel convicted in recent years – some for as long as 20 years – for attending, appeared and arrested and took away at least ten activists. Their families are not organizing or participating in peaceful political activities and protests, or aware of their current location but according to the local police the activists possessing, raising or waving prohibited pro-independence flags. Amnesty could be charged with “rebellion”. International considers them to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. The organization estimates there are The rights to freedom of expression, opinion and peaceful assembly are currently 70 prisoners of conscience from Maluku and Papua. guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party, as well as the Indonesian Constitution. Amnesty International urges the Indonesian authorities to revoke or amend all Today’s actions by the Indonesian police are a clear violation of these rights. laws that criminalize freedom of expression, to bring them in line with international human rights law and standards. In particular, Articles 106 and 110 Amnesty International is also concerned for the safety of the activists, who may of the Criminal Code which criminalize peaceful “rebellion”, and Article 6 of be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. The organization has documented Government Regulation No. 77/2007 which prohibits the display of regional logos cases in the past where police tortured and ill-treated detained political activists or flags also used by separatist organizations, should be revoked. in Maluku. To date, no independent investigation has been carried out into these human rights violations and none of the suspected perpetrators have been held Amnesty International takes no position whatsoever on the political status of any to account. province of Indonesia, including calls for independence. However the organization considers that the right to freedom of expression includes the right Amnesty International calls on the authorities to ensure that the activists are to peacefully advocate referendums, independence or any other political immediately and unconditionally released. Pending their release, the Indonesian solutions. authorities must ensure that the activists are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated while in detention, and that they are granted access to their family members, Link: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA21/012/2014/en lawyers and medical professionals, if required.

Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia –28-04-2014

Papua

Killing in Papua The Jakarta Post, 25-04-2014

A member of the Indonesian Military (TNI) identified as Second Sgt. Rahman Hakim from Sentani 751 Infantry Battalion was shot dead by an unidentified man at the TNI post in Gurage District, Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, on Friday. It was also reported that a civilian identified as Polang Harahap was also shot and in critical condition.

Cendrawasih Military Command spokesman Col. Rikass Hidayatullah said the two men were shot by unidentified men. Rahman took a shot to his shoulder while Polang was hit on his temple.“The victims have been brought to Mulia General Hospital while soldiers have been deployed to pursue the perpetrators,” he said. Rahman's body was handed over to his family to be buried.

The Gurage post has a history of being ambushed. According to military records, many lives have been lost at the post.