Indonesia – Bali – Police – Roman Catholics – Christians
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Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: IDN33539 Country: Indonesia Date: 8 July 2008 Keywords: Indonesia – Bali – Police – Roman Catholics – Christians This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. Are there reports to indicate Bali’s Catholic population has been a particular target for criminal groups? What of Bali’s Christians generally? 2. Are there reports to indicate Bali’s Catholic population suffering mistreatment or neglect from police? What of Bali’s Christians generally? 3. What general information is available on the situation for Bali’s Catholic population? RESPONSE 1. Are there reports to indicate Bali’s Catholic population has been a particular target for criminal groups? What of Bali’s Christians generally? 2. Are there reports to indicate Bali’s Catholic population suffering mistreatment or neglect from police? What of Bali’s Christians generally? In the time in which this response was completed no reports could be located which referred to Balinese Catholics, or Balinese Christians generally, experiencing problems as a consequence of criminal targeting or police neglect. It may be of interest that Bali’s protestant centre of Blimbingsari village has claimed, in recent years, that it enjoys a zero percent crime rate (for Blimbingsari’s zero crime rate see: Talusan, L. 2008, ‘The Village that Loved Jesus’, Christian Broadcasting Network website, 18 January http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/306005.aspx – Accessed 7 July 2008 – Attachment 1; and: Mano, S. 2007, ‘Beatific Blimbingsari’, The Star, 24 March http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/3/24/lifetravel/16931543&sec=lifetravel – Accessed 7 July 2008 – Attachment 2). Reports of police being deployed to guard Christian churches in Bali may also be of interest and these are listed in response to Question 3. General information on crime and policing in Bali follows immediately below. General information on Crime and Policing in Bali In October 2006 the Bali Discovery Tours website reported on the increased effectiveness of Bali’s police force under a new chief: July 1st marked the 60th anniversary of the Indonesian police and the end of the first semester in the job as Bali’s Chief of Police for Inspector General Drs. Sunarko Danu Ardanto. The first three months as Bali’s “top cop” saw Chief Sunarko consolidate his department by means of internal audits; the creation of a shared vision of the role of the police with the people of Bali; steps to restore the Island’s image in the wake of its second terrorist attack; and the continuance of an ongoing program of cracking down on crime. During the period January-March 2006 the police under Sunarko’s command also intensified enforcement efforts against narcotics, gambling and potential terrorist threats to Bali. Particularly noteworthy during the first few months of Sunarko’s rule was a crackdown on local illegal logging mafia who were undoubtedly shocked to see Bali police seize thousands of cubic meters of lumber and a large number ships involved in carrying illicit timber. During the second quarter of 2006 Chief Sunarko undertook an evaluation of the work synergies among the Balinese police. He required all sub-district Police Chiefs and Division Heads within his Department to sign a moral contract reaffirming their commitment to their jobs and the community they serve. Sunarko closed his first six months in the job by launching a program of “Police Partners with the People” in which outreach programs with community and religious leaders are being undertaken through safari’s to all areas of the island, many heretofore seldom visited by Bali’s Chief of Police. The Bali Police Force Some interesting facts and figures regarding policing in Bali. • The Bali police force totals 11,467 officers. • Through June 2006, the Bali police solved 2,162 cases out of 3,436 criminal cases reported, • In the same period in 2005, the police solved 1,862 cases out of 3,043 criminal cases reported. • Police have increased arrests for illegal gambling in the first half of 2006 recording 200 gambling investigations. In the same periods in 2005 and 2004, the gambling cases handled by the Bali police numbered 158 and 125, respectively. • In recent months police have arrested 22 people in connection with the theft of sacred Hindu religious and ceremonial objects from 46 religious sites. • During the first half of 2006, a total of 255 Indonesian nationals and 12 foreign citizens were apprehended for narcotic violations. This compares with 459 Indonesians and 23 foreigners arrested for drug violations in the same period in 2005 (‘6 Months Into the Job as Bali’s Chief of Police’ 2006, Bali Discovery Tours website, 7 October http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=3283 – Accessed 7 July 2008 – Attachment 3). In June 2005 it was reported that Bali’s police were concerned by those “involved in ‘organized crime’ in Bali’s night-life areas” following an incident of gang violence at a Kuta night spot: An incident involving gang violence at Fuel Bar on Jalan Legian in Kuta in the early hours of Sunday, June 6, 2005, has evoke a strong response from community leaders, police and civic leaders concerned at the deteriorating security situation in Kuta and calling for tough action against law-breakers. According to local press reports, altercations between local youth gangs and security guards, that began on Friday, June 3rd, came to a head in the early hours of Sunday morning a group of young thugs carrying sharp weapons and bottles attacked the up-market bar and music lounge. Fighting reportedly erupted both in the bar and the surrounding streets causing an entire platoon of riot police to respond and close the street while they brought the situation under control. A number of people were injured in the melee, including a security guard from Fuel who was hospitalized with serious cuts and contusions. Police Chief Pastika Responds Clearly angered at the arrogance of those involved in “organized crime” in Bali’s night-life areas, Bali’s Chief of Police Irjen. Drs. Made Mangku Pastika was quoted in the local press on the Monday following the fracas, saying, “I have heard the those causing the unrest at Fuel Bar numbered 60 people. Catch them all, throw them into jail cells, and show them no toleration!” At the same time, the Police Chief warned his subordinates not to treat those causing the unrest lightly, eventually letting them go without formal charges being laid against them. Bali’s top law enforcement officer said that weakness on the part of the Police feeds the conceit of gang members and becomes a point of reference for other gangs. Saying gang and organized crime was now beyond tolerable limits, Chief Pastika said, “(Even) uniformed law enforcement members are being targeted. They have gone overboard, arrest them all!” Need for Special Tourism Security Teams Bali’s Chief of Police, Made Mangku Pastika, is calling for the creation of “SATPAM Pariwisata” or special tourism security guards as a necessary step to improve security in Kuta and surrounding areas. Most Balinese businesses already have private security guard services or “SATPAM,” who Chief Pastika would now like to see given special training. Ideally, these guards would be recruited from the local community youth who are currently unemployed, trained in the systems of community policing and taught how to handle public order situations. Comments by Tourism and Community Leader I Nyoman Rutha Ady, a local community leader and Head of the local chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurnant Association (PHRI-Badung), called on the people of Kuta to be open and honest in reviewing the security situation in their neighborhoods. Urging the police, local government, local citizens and businesspeople to cooperate in creating a wide-ranging and effective approach to security, Rutha Ady pointed to an underlying situation of of poor security running rampant in Kuta. Admitting that the incident at Fuel Bar was unfortunate and unacceptable, he suggested the security problem may be deeper rooted, pointing to the growing boldness of illegal money changers and the inability of law enforcement to end such activities. He asked: “Why can’t we (even) stop such open fraud, expecially when the trend shows (illegal money changers) are becoming more aggressive and bold enough to practice their crimes in public places?” Arrests Made In the week following the unrest in Kuta, police authorities have confirmed that eight individuals have been formally named as suspects in the incident with one, named Gadjah, now formally listed as “wanted” and sought by police. A police spokesman did not rule out the possibility of further arrests being made as their investigation of the incident continues (‘Kuta’s Security Under the Spotlight’ 2005, Bali Discovery Tours website, 13 June http://www.balidiscovery.com/update/update457.asp – Accessed 7 July 2008 – Attachment 4) The Fugly Bali website is devoted to promoting awareness of claims that Bali’s police force is seriously affected by corruption and that it is prone to cooperating with criminals for financial gain and to engaging in extortion. Much of the website is concerned with this problem as it affects more wealthy tourists rather than locals but claims are also made about a general level of lawlessness affecting local Balinese.