Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 10-03-2014 In
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Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 10-03-2014 •The unresolved status of Papua since its In memoriam integration into Indonesia in 1962, •Political violence and human rights abuses, Dr Muridan Satria Widjojo passed •Failed development in Papua and away •Jakarta’s inconsistent policies and marginalization Tempo, 07-03-2014 of the Papuan people. Researcher on Papua, member of the Academy of To understand Papuan issues and the real situation Sciences (LIPI), Dr Muridan Satrio Widjojo M.Si on the ground, one has to wear the Papuan passed away on Friday 7 March 2014. Muridan people’s clothes and walk in their shoes, Muridan Satrio Widjojo worked in the Centre for Political says. Research (Pusat Penelitian Politik, P2P) of the Academy of Sciences (LIPI) since 1995. Starting in The special autonomy granted by the government 2008 he led an analytical team on Papua and in in 2001 is not the same as money. Giving money 2010 he became coordinator for the Peace has worsened the socio-economic condition in Network for Papua (Jaringan Damai Papua, JDP) Papua because a large part of the annual that on a voluntary basis tried to facilitate a autonomy funds has gone directly into the pockets dialogue between the Papua communities and the of public officials, while another large portion goes government. straight back to Jakarta, he said. Prison conditions Nusakembangan: “Alcatraz” at Java’s South coast Kompas, 08-03-2014 Kompas carries a feature article on the tourism opportunities for the island of Nusakembangan for [From earlier press: The Jakarta Post, July 31 2010] the south coast of Java near the city of Cilacap. In 2004, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono There are two attractively old forts from the 19th assigned Muridan and a team of LIPI researchers to century, which have been built by prisoners as identify and research the most significant problems forced labour. The local authorities disagree on the confronting the Papuan region. With moral support possibilities of permitting tourists on the island. from informal figures and religious leaders in the The island’s prisons are often compared to the provinces of Papua and West Papua, the team “Alcatraz” for its harsh regime. The eight prisons conducted the research and engaged in public on the island have been built by the Dutch consultation with locals. The results of the research colonizers in early 20th century. They are have been published in a book titled Papua Road surrounded by electric-powered barbed wire, Map. jungle and wild animals like leopards and The book identifies four main problems in Papua: poisonous snakes. The prison is a high security prison for top-criminals convicted for murder This Amnesty International Netherlands clipping service is made for Amnesty members and others interested in the human rights developments in Indonesia – for information only – not to be quoted as Amnesty information – for more information or to be included in or deleted from the mailinglist, write to [email protected]. For back issues view http://www.marthameijer.org/page36.php 1 Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 10-03-2014 (Tommy Suharto), corruption (Bob Hasan) and will be displayed at the office,” he said. DKI 1 is a drugs related crimes. Prisoner of Conscience Johan colloquial term that means Jakarta Governor. Teterissa, convicted to 15 years imprisonment for waving a South Moluccan flag, is being held in the “Pak Jokowi’s nomination is in the hands of Bu Batu prison in Nusakembangan. Mega. Pak Prabowo’s nomination also depends on the number of votes Gerindra can garner,” Ahok added, referring to Indonesian Democratic Party of Elections 2014 Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has been given the mandate to Gerindra moving forward select PDI-P’s presidential candidate. The Jakarta Post, 07-03-2014 Freedom of Religion Deputy Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Gerindra Party member, revealed on Tuesday that he had been touted as a potential vice Amnesty campaign for Tajul Muluk presidential candidate for this year’s presidential 07-03-2014 election. Tajul Muluk, a Shi’a Muslim religious leader from “During informal luncheons, my colleagues in East Java, is currently serving a four year sentence Gerindra have said that I may be a potential for blasphemy under Article 156(a) of the running mate for [Gerindra chief patron] Pak Indonesian Criminal Code. He is a prisoner of Prabowo [Subianto],” Ahok said at City Hall, adding conscience, imprisoned solely for peacefully that “however, there was no formal decision yet”. exercising his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. At least 168 Shi’a He acknowledged that Gerindra should focus on followers from his community, including his family, grabbing as many votes as possible during the were attacked and forced out of their homes in legislative election, slated to be held on April 9. Sampang district in East Java by anti-Shi’a mobs in August 2012. They have been prevented from “Without gaining more than 20 percent of the returning to their village by local authorities and seats at the House of Representatives, how can currently live in a refugee facility in Sidoarjo, East Gerindra nominate its own presidential Java. candidate?” he said. Despite no formal arrangement from Gerindra, Ahok hinted that he Tajul Muluk set up religious boarding school in would not refuse the offer. Nangkrenang village, Sampang, Madura island, East Java in 2004 and was the principal of the “If I am asked by my party to run [for vice school. In 2006, Sunni Muslims leaders in the president], I’ll certainly accept the request. village and religious authorities began to object to Whether it is to run for governor or president, I’m his Shi’a teachings which they considered ‘deviant’. prepared to serve my party,” he cited. After this there were numerous incidents of When asked whom he would choose if both threats and intimidation against him and other Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo ask Shi’a followers. him to be their running mate, he declined to On 29 December 2011, Tajul Muluk was forcibly answer and instead responded with a joke. “I’ll just evicted with over 300 other Shi’a villagers, when ask to stay at City Hall and be DKI 1 so my picture an anti-Shi’a mob of some 500 people attacked This Amnesty International Netherlands clipping service is made for Amnesty members and others interested in the human rights developments in Indonesia – for information only – not to be quoted as Amnesty information – for more information or to be included in or deleted from the mailinglist, write to [email protected]. For back issues view http://www.marthameijer.org/page36.php 2 Weekly Update Human Rights in Indonesia – 10-03-2014 and burned houses, a boarding school and a Shi’a The Shi’a community from Sampang district in East place of worship in Nangkrenang village. Java which Tajul Muluk belongs to was attacked and displaced by anti-Shi’a mobs in August 2012 Afterwards, Tajul Muluk and about 20 other and at least 168 of them (56 men, 61 women, 19 villagers, including his family, were prevented from children and 32 babies) were forced to live in a returning to the village by the police, and by the temporary shelter at a sports complex in Sampang attackers, who reportedly threatened to kill them if until 20 June 2012. They were then again forcibly they returned. evicted and taken to a refugee facility in Sidoarjo, East Java, around four hours by road. Since then, On 1 January 2012 a religious decree (fatwa) was they have been at risk of forced eviction from this issued by the Sampang branch of the Indonesia temporary shelter, and have been prevented from Ulema Council (MUI) about what was described as returning to their homes. The community have also Tajul Muluk’s “deviant teachings” and on 16 been intimidated and pressured by local March, the East Java regional police charged Tajul government officials to convert to Sunni Islam if Muluk with blasphemy under Article 156(a) of the they wanted to return to their homes. Indonesian Criminal Code. In July and August 2013, President Susilo Bambang On 12 July 2012 he was sentenced to two years’ Yudhoyono met with members of the Shi’a imprisonment for blasphemy by the Sampang community and promised to return them to their District Court. In particular, the court found him village and to rebuild homes and buildings that guilty for saying the Koran that Muslims were using were destroyed. A reconciliation team was formed was not the original text. Tajul Muluk has denied after the meeting in July. However, the community these allegations. are still waiting for tangible results and remain in His sentence was increased on appeal to four years limbo, uncertain of their future. on 10 September 2012 by the Surabaya High Court. There have been increasing levels of harassment, The reason given for the sentence increase was so intimidation and attacks against religious minority that it has a “deterrent effect” and because Tajul groups in Indonesia, including Ahmadiyya, Shi’a Muluk had caused “disharmony among Muslims”. and Christians. These include the closure, attacks On 17 January 2013 his appeal was rejected by the and burning by mobs of places of worship and Supreme Court, meaning he has no other legal homes, at times leading to the displacement of avenues through which to appeal. communities belonging to these groups, with little Human rights groups and legal experts have raised or no intervention from the police. a number of concerns about his arrest and trial. Further Article 156(a) of the Indonesian Criminal According to them, the Indonesian authorities had Code, which used against Tajul Muluk, was created failed to issue a warning to Tajul Muluk, as by the “Law Number 1/PNPS/1965 concerning the required by law, before arresting and prosecuting prevention of religious abuse and/or defamation” him and that police had taken statements from imposes a prison sentence “for whosoever in witnesses to his teachings, who did not understand public intentionally expresses their views or Indonesian, without an interpreter.