MONTHLY INFORMATION BULLETIN – PBI INDONESIA

DECEMBER 2008.

1 INDONESIA OVERVIEW WITH REGARDS TO PBI THEMES 1.1 NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 1.2 DEVELOPMENTS IN REGIONS WITH A PBI PRESENCE 1.3 EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

2 ACTIVITIES OF PBI INDONESIA 2.1 SUMMARY OF TEAM STATUS 2.2 MEETINGS WITH AUTHORITIES AND DIPLOMATIC CORPS 2.3 MEETINGS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS 2.4 PROTECTIVE SERVICES/PARTICIPATORY PEACE EDUCATION

3 PUBLICATIONS

11... IINNDDOONNEESSIIAA OOVVEERRVVIIEEWW NB: All news items as reported below come from a number of media sources, including The Jakarta Post, Kompas, Cenderawasih Post, Papua Post and NGO/INGO reports.

1.1 NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Peacebuilding and Human Rights Initiatives

Activists Gather Across the Country for International Human Rights Day • Rights activists across the country celebrated International Human Rights Day on December 10 by staging rallies and other events to express their views and voice their demands about the current state of human rights in Indonesia. In Bandung the head of the religious activities monitoring team, Ahmad Baso, said the number of incidents of violence against religious groups filed at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in 2008 had declined. It recorded 72 such cases, only around 2 percent, compared to 4,000 incidents of human-rights infractions due to other causes. The five dominant infractions the public reported include abuse of civil and political rights, land disputes, police brutality and government-sanctioned violence. Meanwhile in Makassar, students and activists from groups affiliated with the Front for the People's Struggle for Human Rights commemorated the day by holding a rally at the Mandala Monument for the Liberation of West Irian. They called for the government to immediately ratify the convention on international crimes, thoroughly investigate human-rights violators and 2 MONTHLY INFORMATION BULLETIN PBI INDONESIA PROJECT-DECEMBER 2008

stop criminalisation of citizens, students and workers exercising sincere efforts to uphold democracy. They rejected all forms of discrimination, exploitation and violence against women, children and minorities and called for a ban on the use of firearms by police while handling demonstrations. (For Human Rights Day events in Papua, see below).

Impunity and Access to Justice

Muchdi Acquitted for the Murder of Munir • Former Deputy Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Muchdi Purwopranjono, was found not guilty of all charges against him in the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, who died of arsenic poisoning on board a Garuda flight from Singapore to the Netherlands in 2004. The trial, which began in September, was considered a landmark case since it was the first time in Indonesia that such a high- ranking officer of the intelligence services had been brought to court. However, the court’s verdict, handed down on December 31, left Human Rights activists incensed. Munir’s widow and PBI client, Suciwati, expressed her shock at the judgement, saying that she and Munir’s supporters would immediately go to the National Police Headquarters and the Attorney General’s Office to discuss the next steps to take. “Today’s ruling proves that Indonesian justice still sides with human rights abusers,” she said. Head of KontraS ( Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan, The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence), Usman Hamid, blamed the ‘poor prosecution’ as one of the reasons for Muchdi’s acquittal. He cited their failure to present taped conversations between Muchdi and Pollycarpus Priyanto, who is currently serving twenty years for his involvement in the killing. The National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) plans to review the verdict in light of growing public suspicion that it was part of an alleged political machination on the part of BIN and law enforcers to see Muchdi released. Observers point to the retraction of testimonies by several BIN witnesses during the trial, which was overlooked by the panel of three judges at the South Jakarta District Court. Another key witness, BIN agent Budi Santoso, failed to turn up at the trial despite dozens of summons filed by prosecutors. Prosecutors say they are preparing to appeal to the Supreme Court against the ruling. In a counter-move, however, Muchdi’s lawyer, Wirawan Adnan, said the defense team would sue Suciwati, Usman Hamid and other activists for slander against their client.

Land Rights, Natural Resources and the Environment

Security Forces Attack Villagers in Riau, Sumatra • According to reports by WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) and Watch Indonesia, special police units (Brimob), regular police and hired civilians (preman) attacked villagers at Suluk Bongkal, in Riau province, Sumatra on the 18 th December. The security forces allegedly used a special incendiary bomb to burn the village as well as firearms and tear gas. The attack left two children dead, hundreds of people homeless after their houses were destroyed in the attack, and fifty-eight people detained. It seems the reason for the attack was to evict the villagers following a claim on their land by a local plantation company PT Arara Abadi, which owns the largest pulp and paper tree plantation operation in Indonesia. In Riau alone, it has concessions on more than 350,000 hectares of land. The villagers have been engaged in a land dispute with the company since 1996, when the Indonesian Forestry Ministry gave the company management rights for industrial farming. Since then, the company has tried to evict the villagers but official letters from the Ministry of Forestry and the Riau Governor in 2007 stated clearly that the company could not start operations until the dispute had been settled. The eviction of Suluk Bongka’s residents occurred without any resolution of the dispute and without the residents receiving any prior warning or being served official papers. Police are preventing Human Rights organisations from entering the area. The National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has stated that it will try to send an

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investigation team in and provide protection for villagers who had lodged complaints with them.

Land Dispute Between Navy and Villagers in South Malang • Hundreds of villagers from Pagak and Bantur districts, South Malang, protested in front of local administration’s offices, demanding a thorough investigation into the demolitions of their homes, allegedly committed by personnel from the nearby Navy combat battalion. According to one resident of Pagak village, the demolitions took place last month after villagers failed to pay the Navy fees of between Rp 1 million and Rp 3 million. This incident is the latest in a land dispute that first flared up in 1965. Locals claim they inherited the 4,800 hectares of land from their ancestors, while the Navy claims it has official documents proving its ownership of the land, which was appropriated by the government to build a Naval training centre. Spokesman for the Eatsern Fleet, Lt. Col. Tony Syaiful, denied the allegations that the Navy ordered the demolitions or extorted villagers but admitted that the building of new homes had been banned pending the resolution of the dispute. Part of the land is already documented but the rest still has no title deeds. The local legislative council has tried on several occasions to mediate a solution to the dispute but to no avail.

Commitment to Save Sumatra’s Forests • At the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, the Indonesian government declared its commitment to saving Sumatra's forests. The joint pledge between regional Sumatran administrations as well as the central government was fully backed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The commitment marks the first time regional and central governments have shown a willingness to cooperate in protecting the island's magnificent biodiversity. Sumatra is home to eleven national parks, stretching from Aceh to Lampung, each with a unique ecosystem. The new commitment comes after a huge loss of Sumatra's forest area: eighty-five percent has been destroyed since 1985. This commitment, however, will prove difficult to fulfill, not least because of the increased demand for palm oil. According to a report by Greenpeace Indonesia, since 1990, about twenty-eight million hectares of forests, mainly in Sumatra and Kalimantan, have been converted for use as oil palm plantations. As demand for palm oil is predicted to increase twofold by 2030 and threefold by 2050, the threat forests face from this sector will only increase.

Security Sector (Reform)

Amendment to Military Court Bill in Final Stages • After three years of deliberations, agreement on a draft bill to amend the 1997 Military Tribunal Law has been reached between the House of Representatives and the government, which will allow civilian courts, rather than military tribunals, to try soldiers accused of non-military criminal offences. However, there has been criticism at the government’s insistence that civilian police will not be given authorisation to investigate such cases, leaving it instead to military police. Bhatara Ibnu Reza from human rights organization Imparsial argued that “putting the military police into this (civilian) system will make it as though they have jurisdiction in the general court system, and this will lead to chaos in the implementation of the Criminal Code Procedures.” Legal experts have also voiced concern. University of Indonesia Constitutional Law expert, Irman Putra Sidin, warned that allowing military police a role in the criminal cases of soldiers would violate the 1945 Constitution. He was also concerned that military police might protect high- ranking officers, which could result in “many crimes within the TNI, including corruption, going unpunished.”

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Cultural and Indigenous Rights

President SBY Signs Controversial Pornography Bill • Despite widespread opposition (see Monthly Bulletins October and November 2008), President SBY signed the Pornography Bill this month, ratifying a law that criminalises any sex-related materials deemed to violate public morality. However, resistance to the law remains widespread, with some provinces — including Bali, Papua, North Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara — rejecting it out of hand. The Balinese and the island’s local administration have threatened civil disobedience to protest the law, and other rights and religious groups have said they would file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court (MK) if the law were ratified. Kamala Chandrakirana, chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), said she was gravely disappointed with Yudhoyono’s decision, saying his action had diminished public trust in his leadership and his cause to promote pluralism. “It is a betrayal of our own national values. Komnas Perempuan and many other organisations are now consolidating and seriously studying each article within the law to be ready to submit a judicial review with the MK soon,” she said. One of the President’s advisors, Adnan Buyung Nasution, said he was confident the Constitutional Court would grant a judicial review, adding that the law violated the Constitution as it could not be enacted equally throughout the country.

Government Urged to Protect Rights of Indigenous People • The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has urged the government to give more protection to the rights of indigenous people marginalised by rapid development. According to the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Ridha Saleh, rights of indigenous people have long been neglected due to the government's bias towards developers. "During the last three decades, there have been 1,877 conflicts on land ownership and natural resources. These conflicts were marred by human rights violations." Most of the cases occurred on plantations, or in forest and mining areas. In a written statement, Social Services Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah admitted that protection of the rights of indigenous people was still weak but added that the government was in the process of drafting a bill on the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. Last year, Indonesia joined the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People during the UN plenary session. The declaration is aimed to eliminate discrimination against such groups and to acknowledge their rights.

Gender Violence

Human Trafficking Case in North Sumatra • Police in North Sumatra detained three women for allegedly selling young girls as workers to Malaysian procurers as part of an international human trafficking syndicate. The suspects had recently sold five young girls to a procurer in Malaysia's Penang Island. The suspects usually approached girls and women between ten and twenty years of age, offering them jobs that paid US$420 a month to work in salons in Malaysia. To disguise their crimes, they manipulated the girls' ages by saying they were twenty-one instead of sixteen, so as to meet the minimum age requirement. The three had also been selling girls to agents to work as prostitutes in Riau province. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Indonesia still has limited knowledge in dealing with human-trafficking issues. ILO`s representative in Indonesia, Alan Boulton, said that women and children are especially prone to practises of human trafficking because they have very little knowledge on how to protect themselves against the crime and are traded at a domestic level to be commercially and sexually exploited. The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) maintains that human trafficking occurs in a number of provinces in Indonesia. From March 2005 until October 2008, most of the cases occurred in West Kalimantan, where 709 people became victims of human trafficking.

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Other

Riots in Maluku • Indonesia sent hundreds of troops to its eastern Maluku Islands to quell violence that broke out between Christians and Muslims, leaving at least six people injured and dozens of buildings burned and destroyed. Local police say clashes broke out in Masohi, Central Maluku regency, after a Christian school teacher was accused by a Muslim student of insulting Islam. What began as a peaceful demonstration turned into a riot after clashes took place between one small group and a few police personnel. Maluku province was the site of extreme sectarian violence between 1999 and 2001, which left 10,000 people dead and thousands more displaced. On this occasion, however, locals from both religious communities helped to maintain calm and security once the rioting ended. As one Christian community leader put it: “Muslims and Christians were victimised by sectarian conflict in 1999. We don’t want the same thing happening again.” The teacher who made the alleged insulting remarks has been detained by police along with two other people, one of whom has been accused of inciting criminal behaviour after being caught on film allegedly provoking demonstrators.

Sharp Increase in Child Prostitution • The number of child sex workers in Indonesia has more than doubled in the past decade, with the majority operating around resorts amid the country's booming tourism industry, according to the Indonesian branch of the NGO End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT). The NGO said its 2007 survey showed the number of child sex workers in Indonesia had doubled to more than 150,000 compared to around 70,000 in 1998, a figure cited in a UNICEF report at the time. This figure, which includes male and female sex workers under the age of eighteen, constitutes about 30% of the total number of sex workers in the country. The ECPAT survey found that 80 percent of the children are employed for sex at recreational sites across the country, while the rest are stationed at mining sites, military barracks and rest areas for drivers. Attempts to combat child prostitution are frustrated due to the absence of specific regulations to deal with the issue; there are no clauses, for instance, pertaining to child prostitution in the 2002 Law on Child Protection. Instead, the government is proposing that the tourism industry be obliged to abide by ‘religious principles’ and ban gambling and sex tourism in resorts. The proposal has been included in a new bill, currently being deliberated in the House of Representatives, to revise the 1990 Law on Tourism.

Increase in Religious Violence in Indonesia • Religious violence is on the rise in the world’s largest Muslim country according to a report by the Wahid Institute, which places the blame on the government for failing to crack down on radical groups. The institute, a moderate Islamic think tank founded by former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid to promote pluralism in Indonesia, reported that religious freedom-related violence had increased throughout the country, with 232 cases reported this year compared to 197 last year. “The acts of violence against religious freedom were 60 percent carried out by civilian groups and 33 percent by the state,” the report said. It said the state perpetrators included local administrations, police, legislators, courts and the Religious Affairs Ministry. Civilian perpetrators were identified as members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the Communications Forum for Religious Harmony. The institute said violations against religious freedom had come in the form of physical attacks, raids, destruction of houses of worship and accusations of apostasy and heresy. It also listed the “Monas tragedy” as the worst act of violence against pluralism in 2008, referring to an event that occurred in June of this year, in which activists from the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Belief were attacked by members of the FPI, leaving seventy people injured.

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Lack of Polls’ Watchdog in Aceh • There are fears that the absence of an election supervisory agency in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam could trigger violations in the upcoming 2009 election process and threaten stability in the area. Helmi, the leader of the Democracy Awareness Students’ Alliance, maintained that “if the state Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) fails to immediately approve the establishment of an Aceh Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), we are concerned that the elections will be illegitimate, and could even undermine the peace reached in Aceh.” His remarks came after several violent incidents, including a recent bombing and arson attack against the office and residence of the Aceh Party leader. A supervisory committee was supposed to have been established in June of this year but never happened due to disagreements between the Bawaslu and the Aceh legislature over administrative laws.

1.2 DEVELOPMENTS IN REGIONS WITH A PBI PRESENCE

Peacebuilding and Human Rights Initiatives

International Human Rights Day Events in Papua • In Sentani city in Papua's Jayapura regency, International Human Rights Day was commemorated by the civic group International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP), which held a photography exhibition on human rights abuses in Papua alongside the screening of a documentary at the Theys Eluay memorial. The exhibition included a photograph taken during the arrest of IPWP head Buchtar Tabuni (see below). According to the organisation’s secretary-general, Victor Yeimo, state repression has changed in Papua: “In the past whenever there was trouble, Papuans would immediately be killed, but now the practice is legal repression. People have been arrested and brought up on charges just for holding differing opinions. Buchtar Tabuni, for example, was arrested for expressing his opinion in public." At another event in Abepura, students from the Anti- Violence Student Alliance (AMAK) marked the day with a demonstration during which the event’s coordinator, Zakarias Horota, maintained that human rights violations are the main source of conflict in Papua: "Although Indonesia has adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights… its implementation is still weak, especially in Papua, where the threat from militarism still directly impinges on human rights in this region." Meanwhile in Wamena, Human Rights Day was marked by a gathering in front of the Papuan Legislative building (DPR-P) followed by a short march through the town. The event was organised by a committee led by PBI client organisation JAPH&HAM (Jaringan Advokasi Penegakan Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia , Advocacy Network for Upholding Law and Human Rights), and was attended by the local District Military Commander and Head of Area Police.

Message of Inter-Religious Harmony from Papuan Muslim Council • Sayid Fadhal Alhamid, the Deputy Head of the Papuan Muslim Council (MMP) and a leader of the Jayapura Customary Council, has urged Muslim Papuans to be more open to, and involved with, common issues facing the Papuan community. He reminded his fellow Muslims that they cannot continue to exist in isolation under present conditions of conflict and injustice in Papua, but must actively get involved in dialogue with members of all other faiths in Papua so as to work together to solve these common problems. Two concepts that he referred to in his announcement were habluminallah (relationship with God) and habluminannas (relationship with humanity).

Impunity and Access to Justice

Buchtar Tabuni Charged with Subversion • On the 4 th December, police in Jayapura re-arrested Buchtar Tabuni for his leading role

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as organiser of the 16 th October IPWP (International Parliamentarians for West Papua) demonstration (see Monthly Bulletin October 2008). He has subsequently been charged with makar (subversion). Although police had already announced their intention to arrest Tabuni, his legal team is arguing that the arrest was not legal as police did not issue an arrest warrant. As soon as news of his arrest circulated, a number of Tabuni’s supporters protested in front of Jayapura police headquarters calling for his unconditional release. There is much disquiet at the increasing use of makar by the Indonesian authorities against those who are guilty of nothing more than trying to exercise their right to freedom of expression. A little later in the month, another IPWP leader, Sebi Sembom, was similarly arrested and charged.

Head of DAP and Sec-Gen of PDP Interrogated by Police • Just before Christmas, Forkorus Yaboisebut, Head of DAP (Papuan Customary Council), and Taha Al-Hamid, Secretary-General of the Papuan Presidium (PDP), were interrogated by police in Jayapura for two days in relation to the Buchtar Tabuni and Sebi Sembom cases (see above). A spokesperson for the Criminal Investigations Unit confirmed that the two men were questioned as witnesses to the October 16 th demonstration but went on to say that they have not yet been charged with makar themselves, seemingly implying that that remains a possibility. Upon detention by police, Yaboisebut and Al-Hamid were accompanied by several legal advisors, including Pak Hari from PBI client organisation KontraS Papua ( Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan Papua, The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence in Papua), who is also providing legal support to Buchtar Tabuni and Sebi Sembom.

Sixteen Year Old Imprisoned for Makar • In Manokwari, Silas Carlos Tevez May, a youth of sixteen years old, was found guilty of makar and sentenced to four months imprisonment and eight months probation. He was the twelfth political prisoner to be tried and convicted in connection with Morning Star flag-raisings during peaceful demonstrations in March of this year. Although earlier released on bail because he was underage, he was tried as an adult because the Child Protection Law 2002 has yet to be ratified and implemented in Papua, where it needs provincial approval.

Remembrance of Abepura Incident • On the 7 th December, an event was held in Jayapura to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Abepura incident. On that day in 2000, the local police headquarters in Jayapura was attacked; one police officer and a security guard were killed. In response, police rounded up and detained more than a hundred students from their university dormitories and subjected them to torture and maltreatment. Seven people died as a result. The event was organised by PBI client organisation BUK ( Bersatu untuk Kebenaran, United for Truth), and was attended by tens of people including members from PBI’s Jayapura sub-team. BUK called for protection and justice for victims of state- sponsored violence and demanded that the Indonesian Government fulfill the rights of victims of such violations as well as establish a Human Rights Court in Papua. They also requested that the ongoing increase of regular and non-regular armed forces in the province be halted.

Land Rights, Natural Resources and the Environment

Freeport Condemned by National Conference of Muslim Women • In Makassar, the National Conference of Muslim Women (Muslimah) released a statement condemning Freeport Indonesia for failing to help the Papuan people, despite extracting vast riches from the natural resources of Papua. The Muslimah spokesperson noted that almost half the population in Papua lives below the Indonesian poverty line while in Mimika regency itself, where Freeport operates, a majority of people live below the poverty line. Also noted was the fact that since PT McRowan-Freeport began

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operations in Papua in April 1967, it has not helped to increase the prosperity of Papuans or Indonesians, despite extracting billions of dollars from the country. This criticism of Freeport is only the latest in a long line of similar opinions which, thus far, have had little or no practical effect. However, it remains to be seen whether any positive changes take place in the future in light of the fact that, from the new year, the Papuan provincial government will assume greater responsibility for mining contracts and thereby will wrest some control away from Jakarta.

Cultural and Indigenous Rights

Plan to Implant Microchips in Papuan HIV/AIDS Sufferers Dropped • Human Rights activists have welcomed the decision by Papua’s Legislative Assembly (DPR-P) to remove three controversial articles from the Papua HIV/AIDS Handling Bylaw, one of which would have allowed those sufferers of the disease deemed to be ‘sexually aggressive’ to be implanted with microchips (see Monthly Bulletin November 2008). Robert Sihombing, an HIV/AIDS activist with the Jayapura Support Group, said “it is heartening to know that the three articles have finally been dropped from the bylaw.’ However, he expressed his surprise that the amended draft bylaw, containing a further thirty-seven articles, had already been passed by the DPR-P without publicising the amendments. He said the public had become stuck on the controversial articles and was unaware of the full content of the bylaw. However, the new bylaw will see the creation of an HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases division at the Papua Health Agency in Jayapura, which will become the HIV/AIDS prevention and information centre for the province. It is hoped that this initiative will make the allocation of funds for HIV/AIDS prevention more transparent and that information concerned with prevention will become more widespread in an effort to reach all groups in society.

Other

Thousands Celebrate December 1 st Across Papua • December 1 st , considered by Papuans as their Day of Independence, witnessed various commemorations and demonstrations in both provinces. About two thousand demonstrators marched through the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari calling for Papua’s separation from Indonesia. One man was arrested and allegedly hit repeatedly by police for carrying the banned Morning Star flag. In Nabire, up to ten thousand people gathered for a prayer meeting, which was closely monitored by police. In Sentani, Jayapura, Forkorus Yaboisebut, leader of the Papuan Customary Council (DAP), and Markus Haluk, leader of student organisation AMPTPI ( Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pegunungan Tengah Papua Indonesia, The Central Highlands Student Association of Papua Indonesia), led a memorial service at the grave of Theys Eluay. Security officials prevented reporters from entering the site and appealed to them not to take pictures. Hundreds of protesters waved small Morning Star flags, which were confiscated by police. Following a prayer service, a Declaration of (West Papuan) Independence – signed by Yaboisebut and Tom Beanal (Head of the Papua Presidium) – was read out to the assembled crowd.

ESCR Violations Nearly Half of Total HR Violations in Papua • According to a report published by LBH ( Lembaga Bantuan Hukum, Legal Aid Foundation), the number of violations against Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) in Papua accounts for around 47% of the total number of Human Rights violations in the province. In a discussion forum held to coincide with the report’s release, the Director of LBH, Paskalis Letsoin, bemoaned the fact that traditionally there is a greater focus upon Civil and Political Rights but acknowledged how much harder it can be to try violators of ESC rights. LBH claims that, currently in Papua, some of the key problems include lack of access of education and malnutrition among poorer sections of the community.

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Election Tensions in Nabire Continue • Government offices in Nabire were blockaded and local government effectively shut down for a couple of days during the middle of the month due to mass non-violent action, which was organised by KMPP ( Koalisi Masyarakat Peduli Pilkada, Community Coalition for Attention to Local Elections). The protest took place in response to a statement by the Head of the Papuan Elections Commission in Jayapura, Benny Swenny, in which he said that the elections in Nabire would have to be postponed until July 2009. Swenny maintained that, according to Electoral Law 23/2004, October was the deadline for elections to be held and that consequently, if they were to take place in December, they would not be legal. His statement defied calls by the local Nabire Elections Commission, which had been in favour of elections taking place this year. This has done nothing to calm a situation that was already tense; it has only added to people’s grievances with a process that has been plagued with problems, such as allegations of corruption, vote- buying and political gamesmanship. The tenure of the current Regent (Bupati) in Nabire is due to expire on the 10 th January, after which time the Papua Governor, Barnabas Suebu, will appoint a ‘caretaker’ Bupati until elections take place.

1.3 EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

ASEAN Charter Enters into Force • The ASEAN Charter entered into force this month, ushering in a new era in which new law-empowered bodies will seek to integrate the member countries and uphold democracy. The signing was officiated in Jakarta during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers a month after Thailand became the last member to ratify the charter. The document, signed by ASEAN leaders last year, stipulates rules for its members and unites the regional bloc of ten countries, and half a billion people, into a legalized body that can threaten its members with sanctions. The charter seeks to integrate the region’s security forces, economies and socio-cultures by 2015. Critics of the charter, however, have emphasised the absence of non-consensus decision-making mechanisms and for the vagueness of stipulated sanctions for non-compliance, which state only that any impasse will be brought to the summit of ASEAN leaders. Doubts have also been raised over the proposed ASEAN Human Rights body, which is expected to lack powers of prosecution. The charter had been planned to be officiated during a summit in Thailand this month, but the meeting was rescheduled due to the political crisis in Bangkok. A new summit has been scheduled to be held in Thailand from the 24-26 February.

Indonesia Hosts Regional Democracy Forum • President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened a forum on Asian democracy, entitled Building and Consolidating Democracy: A Strategic Agenda for Asia . The forum, which ran from the 10 th to the 12 th December in Bali, was organised by the Foreign Ministry and was attended by representatives of ASEAN member states and other Asian countries including Timor Leste, China and Japan, as well as representatives and observers from non-Asian countries including Italy, Austria, Sweden and Canada. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd acted as co-chairs. In his opening speech, President SBY explained that the purpose of the forum was to strengthen democratic systems in the region. "This forum is a platform for dialogue and discussion on developments in democracy. Many Asian countries have adopted democracy, adapting it with Eastern values. This region will be very dynamic in the future, especially in terms of politics, culture, economy and technology,” SBY said, describing the region as a melting pot for various civilizations. “Indonesia itself is in the process of a transformation to build a better democracy and create harmony among its plural society.” As the forum ended, the assembled ministers and heads of state agreed to hold similar gatherings on an annual basis and, in the future, besides the main

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conference, there are plans to have seminars, workshops, roundtables and research presentations. According to Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, this forum was an historic moment because it was the first time representatives from Asian countries assembled to talk about democracy, a topic that has historically proved to be sensitive in the region.

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2.1 SUMMARY OF TEAM STATUS PBI currently maintains three sub-teams within Indonesia, one based in Jakarta and two in Papua: Jayapura and Wamena .

Jakarta Sub-Team: Max Baroni (Italy), Roggie Cale (USA), Lynda Mills (United Kingdom), Hanna Senft (Germany), Arthur Van Witzenburg (Netherlands), Johanna Wolf (Germany). Jayapura Sub-Team: Chris Chaplin (United Kingdom), Sophie Crocker (United Kingdom), Gerrit Meyer (Germany), Frank Tool (USA). Wamena Sub-Team: Esther Cann (United Kingdom), Masha Kardashevskaya (Russia), Jacob Nerenberg (Canada), Harold Passage (Netherlands), Meriam Passage Smith (Netherlands).

2.2 MEETINGS WITH AUTHORITIES AND DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Meetings with the authorities and diplomatic corps are essential in order to socialize the work of PBI as well as enable such work to be carried out. These meetings also provide room for PBI to express concerns about current issues and situations of which we have first-hand knowledge due to the field work carried out by the teams. The following meetings were held during December :

Indonesian Authorities

• 01/12/2008 District Police Intelligence (Intel Polres), Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 01/12/2008 Information Department, Regional Military Command (Kapendam Kodam), Jayapura (Jayapura team). • 02/12/2008 Head of District Police (Kapolres), Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 03/12/2008 Commander of Brimob ( Brigade Mobil, Special Police Unit), Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 03/12/2008 Head of Naval Base, Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 04/12/2008 Governor of West Papua province, Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 04/12/2008 Deputy Regent (Wakil Bupati), Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 04/12/2008 BIN ( Badan Intelijen Negara, National Intelligence Agency), Manokwari (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 08/12/2008 SIPRI Office, Area Police (Polda), Jayapura (Jayapura team). • 09/12/2008 Infantry Battalion 756, Wimane Sili, Wamena (Jakarta and Wamena teams). • 09/12/2008 Deputy Head of District Police (Wakapolres), Yahukimo regency, Papua (Jakarta and Wamena teams). • 09/12/2008 Regent of Yahukimo (Bupati), Yahukimo regency, Papua (Jakarta and Wamena teams). • 09/12/2008 Commander of Sub-District Military (Danramil), Yahukimo (Jakarta and Wamena team).

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• 16/12/2008 Commander of District Military (Dandim), Jayapura (Jakarta and Jayapura teams). • 18/12/2008 Commander of Sub-District Military (Danramil) and Commander of Military Unit 511, Banda, Keerom regency (Jakarta and Jayapura teams).

Diplomatic Corps

• 10/12/2008 Portuguese Embassy (Jakarta team). • 11/12/2008 US Embassy (Jakarta team).

2.3 MEETINGS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

PBI Indonesia Project maintains regular contact within Indonesian civil society through regular meetings with civil society organizations. By doing so, we are able to gather and exchange information, monitor the current Human Rights situation and develop an in-depth analysis of the internal political situation. The following meetings were held during December:

Meetings carried out by Jakarta sub-team

• 01/12/2008, 02/12/2008 & 04/12/2008 LP3BH (Lembaga Penelitian, Pengkajian dan Pengembangan Bantuan Hukum , Institute of Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid), Manokwari. • 01/12/2008 YALHIMO, Manokwari. • 02/12/2008 JaSoil ( Jaringan Sosial Lingkungan , Social Environment Network), Manokwari. • 03/12/2008 PERDU, Manokwari. • 03/12/2008 British Petroleum (BP), Manokwari. • 05/12/2008 AMAN (Asian Muslim Action Network) Indonesia, Jakarta. • 08/12/2008 GIDI Church, Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Papua. • 09/12/2008 IDR (International Disaster Relief), Jakarta. • 09/12/2008 Sanggar Seni (Artists’ Collective), Wamena. • 09/12/2008 Yasumet, Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Papua. • 10/12/2008 FPP ( Forum Pelayanan Papua, Service Forum Papua), Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Papua. • 10/12/2008 Imparsial (attended Yap Thiam Hien Award 2008 ceremony), Jakarta. • 17/12/2008 AMPTPI ( Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pegunungan Tengah Papua Indonesia, The Central Highlands Students Association of Papua Indonesia), Jakarta. • 18/12/2008 Deacon John Djonga, Arso, Keerom regency, Papua. • 18/12/2008 Pastor Silas, Catholic Church, Banda, Keerom regency, Papua. • 19/12/2008 KontraS Papua (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan, The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence), Jayapura.

Meetings carried out by Jayapura sub-team

• 01/12/2008, 02/12/2008 & 04/12/2008 LP3BH (Lembaga Penelitian, Pengkajian dan Pengembangan Bantuan Hukum , Institute of Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid), Manokwari. • 01/12/2008 YALHIMO, Manokwari.

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• 02/12/2008 JaSoil ( Jaringan Sosial Lingkungan , Social Environment Network), Manokwari. • 03/12/2008 PERDU, Manokwari. • 03/12/2008 British Petroleum (BP), Manokwari. • 04/12/2008 & 08/12/2008 BUK (Bersatu untuk Kebenaran, United for Truth), Jayapura. • 04/12/2008, 11/12/2008, 19/12/2008 & 31/12/2008 KontraS Papua (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan, The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence), Jayapura. • 15/12/2008 UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), Jayapura. • 18/12/2008 Deacon John Djonga, Arso, Keerom regency. • 18/12/2008 Pastor Silas, Catholic Church, Banda, Keerom regency. • 27/12/2008 & 30/12/2008 JAPH&HAM (Jaringan Advokasi Penegakan Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia, Advocacy Network for Upholding Law and Human Rights), Jayapura. • 31/12/2008 JAPH&HAM, Wamena.

Meetings carried out by Wamena sub-team

• 01/12/2008, 08/12/2008, 12/12/2008, 24/12/2008 & 29/12/2008 YSBA (Yayasan Silimo Bina Adat, Space for Local Culture Foundation), Wamena. • 02/12/2008, 04/12/2008, 08/12/2008, 10/12/2008, 15/12/2008, 26/12/2008, 30/12/2008 (Jayapura) & 31/12/2008 JAPH&HAM (Jaringan Advokasi Penegakan Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia, Advocacy Network for Upholding Law and Human Rights), Wamena. • 02/12/2008 Yadupa/Lapago Customary Council, Wamena. • 03/12/2008 KK Wamena (Komunitas Korban Wamena, Victims’ Community Wamena), Wamena. • 04/12/2008 ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), Wamena. • 08/12/2008 GIDI Church, Dekai, Yahukimo regency. • 09/12/2008 Yasumet, Dekai, Yahukimo regency. • 09/12/2008 Sanggar Seni (Artists’ Collective), Wamena. • 10/12/2008 FPP ( Forum Pelayanan Papua, Service Forum Papua), Dekai, Yahukimo regency. • 17/12/2008 Oikonomos, Wamena. • 20/12/2008 WWF (World Wide Fund), Wamena. • 22/12/2008, 23/12/2008 & 31/12/2008 KontraS Papua (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan, The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence), Wamena. • 31/12/2008 Community leader Ibele, Wamena.

2.4 PROTECTIVE SERVICES/PARTICIPATORY PEACE EDUCATION

Jakarta sub-team As the Muchdi trial (see National Developments above) entered its final stages, the Jakarta sub-team attended all the court sessions to monitor proceedings. Following the verdict on December 31 st , members of the team monitored a spontaneous peaceful demonstration which took place in the front of the Presidential Palace in the centre of Jakarta. Most of the Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Munir supporters who had attended at the court earlier in the day were present at the demonstration to express their disdain at Muchdi’s acquittal.

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In addition, two members of the Jakarta sub-team were in Papua for the first half of the month on the final leg of their visit to the province and the sub-teams there (see Monthly Bulletin November 2008 and below).

On 16 th December, the team held an open-house event in Jakarta to present the Indonesia Project’s current work and activities, which was attended by representatives from the local NGO community and embassies. In addition to being a good networking opportunity, the Jakarta sub-team screened the Aceh documentary (a film produced by PBI detailing PBI’s work in the province from 2001 to 2008), and gave a presentation about team members’ experiences during their recent field-trip to Papua.

Jayapura sub-team From November 30 th to December 5 th , a joint team from the Jakarta and Jayapura sub- teams undertook a field-trip to Manokwari, the capital of West Papua province. While there, the field team met with PBI client organisation LP3BH (Lembaga Penelitian, Pengkajian dan Pengembangan Bantuan Hukum , Institute of Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid) and renewed the client contract. PBI also took the opportunity to socialise the client relationship with local authorities and security forces. The field team also met several other local NGOs.

On December 14 th , the Jayapura sub-team held an event at the PBI house for clients and other HRDs to celebrate the opening of an in-house Peace Library, which will be open to the general public once a week.

On December 18 th , two team members carried out a field-trip to Arso and the village of Banda in Keerom regency, west of Jayapura and near the border with Papua New Guinea. They met with client Deacon John Djonga in Arso, while in Banda they met with military personnel from both regular and special forces in order to socialise the presence of PBI in the area as well as PBI’s relationship with Deacon John.

Wamena sub-team In early December, the Wamena sub-team – along with one member of the Jakarta sub- team – carried out a four-day field-trip to Dekai, which is situated in Yahukimo regency. The purpose of the trip was to increase the effectiveness of PBI’s presence in the area, given that Yahukimo is where the Director of the team’s client organisation JAPH&HAM (Jaringan Advokasi Penegakan Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia, Advocacy Network for Upholding Law and Human Rights), comes from and it is also an area where a number of Human Rights violations have taken place.

On 29 th November 2008, the Wamena sub-team took part in organising a Peace Discussion facilitated by PBI partner organisation YSBA ( Yayasan Silimo Bina Adat , Space for Local Culture Foundation). There were ten participants, including individual activists and representatives from local NGOs. The participants analysed the current situation in the Central Highlands and identified major problems faced by local communities. This discussion proved very popular and there has been a request made to the team from YSBA to help plan a follow-up discussion and a possible workshop.

On 10 th December 2008, the team attended an event organised by PBI client JAPH&HAM to mark International Human Rights Day. The event consisted of public speeches about the importance of preventing Human Rights violations and a parade through the streets of Wamena. This event was also attended by local authorities and civil society actors.

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Bahasa Indonesia • Shoreamanis Panggabean, Meicky, Kebenarian Bernama Munir: Mengenal Sisi-sisi Personal Munir, Mizan Pubs., December 2008 (A book about Munir, detailing the private man behind the public image). http://www.dinamikaebooks.com