|
Four lawyers and three human rights defenders
involved in the trials of 23 men arrested following violence in March in
Papua province have been intimidated and have received death threats. Amnesty
International is concerned that they may be in danger.
The seven lawyers and human rights defenders
include Johnson Panjaitan, Ecoline Situmorang and David Sitorus from the
Indonesia Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (Perhimpunan Bantuan Hukum
dan Hak Asasi Manusia Indonesia, PBHI), Aloysius Renwarin and Adolf Stef
Waramory from the Institute For Human Right Studies and Advocacy in Papua
(Lembaga Studi, Advokasi dan Hak Asasi Manusia, ElsHAM Papua) and Frederika
Korain and Yustina Haluk from the Secretariat for Justice and Peace
(Sekretariat Keadilan dan Perdamaian, SPK). They have reportedly been
followed and have received intimidating text (SMS) messages on their mobile
phones. On 1 September, Ecoline Situmorang, David Sitorus and Aloysius
Renwarin all received text messages saying : "You and your family
will not see the sunlight again, because you are provocateurs. Satan is waiting
for you." On the same day, stones were thrown at the home of Aloysius
Renwarin.
The prosecutor’s office at the Jayapura
Police Station has filed a complaint against the seven lawyers and human
rights defenders, accusing them of insulting the state, in violation of
sections 311 and 335 of the Indonesian Penal Code. This follows a plea that
the seven made on behalf of the seven defendants on 12 July. During this
court hearing, the lawyers stated that the violence on 15 and 16 March in
Abepura had been initiated by the police, and therefore that the defendants
were themselves victims of violence.
On 31 August, the state prosecution office ordered the transfer of the seven
detainees who are currently on trial from Abepura prison to the Jayapura
Police Station (the provincial headquarters of the police force). Serious
concerns were raised for their safety if the transfer went ahead, after
Nelson Rumbiak, who has already been convicted in relation to the same
violence, was reportedly beaten by police following a court appearance on 28
August. Pastors, students and other groups sat peacefully in front of the
prison all night to prevent the transfer of the detainees to the Jayapura
Police station. On 1 September, an agreement was reached between the seven defendants
and the chief prosecutor. It was agreed that their trial would resume on 6
September, that staff from the prosecutor’s office would accompany the
defendants to the court and back to the prison without police presence, and
that the defendants would not be transferred to the Jayapura Police Station.
Nelson Rumbiak and 15 other men imprisoned
after an unfair trial continue to be held in Abepura prison. All 23 detainees
remain at risk of torture or ill-treatment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as
possible, in Bahasa Indonesia, English or your own language :
- expressing concern for the safety
of seven lawyers and human rights defenders (naming them), who are
defending those accused of involvement in violent events of 15-16 March
in Papua ;
- calling on the authorities to
investigate allegations that Ecoline Situmorang, David Sitorus and
Aloysius Renwarin received a death threat via text message on 1
September, and that members of the legal team have been followed, and
calling for those responsible for the threats and intimidation to be
brought to justice ;
- urging the authorities to take
immediate, concrete measures to guarantee the safety of the detainees’
legal team as well as the safety of other human rights activists in
Papua ;
- calling upon the authorities to
guarantee that the 16 men already convicted and the seven detainees
currently on trial will not be subjected to torture or ill-treatment,
and that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that they do not
face reprisals from security forces personnel ;
- urging the authorities to conduct
an independent investigation into allegations of torture and
ill-treatment during interrogation of the detainees, and into
allegations that Nelson Rumbiak was attacked after leaving court on 28
August ;
- calling for the authorities to
ensure that all members of the police and military are made aware of the
legitimate role of human rights defenders and their responsibility to
protect human rights defenders under the UN Declaration on the Right and
Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote
and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms.
APPEALS TO : (Please note that fax numbers may be switched off outside
office hours, 7 hours ahead of GMT. Please keep trying).
Head of Police District
Jl. Jend A. Yani,
Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia
Fax : + 62 96 7531027
Salutation : Dear Kapolres
Head of Police [Papua Province]
Jl. R. Samratulangi
No.8, Jayapura, Papua , Indonesia
Fax : +62 967 537211
Salutation : Dear Kapolda
Prosecutor’s office Papua
Jl. Anggrek
No.6 , Base G Pasir II Tanjung Ria, Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia
Fax : + 62 967 541140
Salutation : Dear Sir
National Police Chief
General Sutanto, Jl. Trunojoyo
3, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Fax : + 62 21 720 1402
Salutation : Dear General Sutanto
COPIES TO :
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
Istana Merdeka, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia
Fax : + 62 21 345 2685 / 526 8726
|
