News on the human rights and conflict situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
A military trial against five members of the Brigif R20/IJK/3 Timika Military Command has been launched at the III-19 Military Court in Jayapura on 12 December 2022.
Military trial in Mutilation Case launched in Jayapura without informing relatives Read More »
In 2022, the Jokowi administration took initiative to address past human rights violations, these efforts were poorly planned, monitored, and implemented. Both the trial of the 2014 Panai Case and the presidential decree for the non-judicial settlement of past serious human rights violations gave the impression that the government wants to burnish its human rights image among the international community instead of making a serious effort to establish justice and eradicate impunity.
Police officers arrested twelve indigenous Papuans in the town of Kaimana, Kaimana Regency, on 27 November 2022. Also in Manokwari fifteen protesters were arrested and taken into custody.
On 16 November 2022., Papuan students in Jayapura and Denpasar were attacked while peacefully protesting against the G20 summit in Bali 2022
On 4 June 2022, a military member shot dead 16-year-old civilian, Rafael Ivan Balaweling in the Prafi District of Manokwari Regency, Papua Barat Province. The shooting occurred during a wedding ceremony in the Aimasi village. According to the military spokesperson, General Tatang Subarna, the shooting was triggered by an argument between Staff Sergeant AFTJ and Rafael Ivan Balaweling. A military tribunal in Manokwari later found Staff Seargeant AFTJ guilty. He was sentenced to ten years imprisonment with the recommendation to dishonourably dismiss the perpetrator from military service.
Military tribunal sentence army member to ten years for killing civilian Read More »
On 19 October 2022, a member of the Indonesian Navy with the initials HS shot dead a civilian at the Permata Indah Residential Area in Abepura, Jayapura City
Navy member kills civilian before committing suicide in Jayapura Read More »
Thirty-nine Trenggalek People’s Alliance representatives arrived in Jakarta on 23 October 2022. They travelled from Trenggelek district in East Java province to Jakarta to convey the residents’ rejection of the PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN) gold mine due to environmental considerations and disasters, especially floods that are getting worse in Trenggalek. Most of the water comes from the mining area.
On 7 November 2022, joint forces of Manado City Police and North Sulawesi Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) forcibly evicted the people of Kalasey Village, Mandolang District, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province. The eviction was carried out under the escort of at least 100 members of Manado Police consisting of Sabhara, Polwan, Brimob and Resmob units, and at least 40 members of North Sulawesi Satpol PP.
On 12 May 2022, ten demonstrators who were members of the Monta Student Alliance were allegedly arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Bima Resort Police (Polres). The protest, which lasted for four days, demanded repairing roads in Waro village, Monta district, in the southern coastal area of Bima Regency. The first protest took place on 9 May, and it caused no reaction from the government regarding road reparations. Therefore, the students protested on 10,11 and 12 May. On the last day, the demonstration was more significant, and police and TNI were present to forcibly dispersed the crowd.
Bima Polres arrest 10 students who were protesting and demanding a road repair Read More »
On 21 October 2022, around 40 indigenous peoples of Pantai Raja Village, Kampar Regency, Riau, went to Jakarta with the blessing of the Malay Customary Institution of Riau Province (LAM Riau) to fight for their land, which has been controlled by the state-owned enterprise PTP Nusantara V (PTPN V) since 1984. PTPN V seized 1013 hectares of indigenous people’s land.
The Communication Forum for Victims and Families of Victims of the Simpang KKA Tragedy (FK3T-SP.KKA), supported by Persatuan Pemuda Simpang KAA (the Simpang KKA Youth Association) and Lembaga El Mansur Peduli (the El Mansur Care Institute) commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the Simpang KKA (Junction KKA) Tragedy in Dewantara District, North Aceh Regency, Aceh Province on 3 May 2022. In addition to the grave pilgrimage of the martyrs of the Simpang KKA tragedy, they stood in silence at the Simpang KKA monument. A joint prayer was also held at the Ta’lim Assembly Hall in Simpang KKA Hamlet, Paloh Lada.
On 8 February 2022, around 250 joint military and police officers surrounded Wadas Village, Bener District, Purworejo Regency, Central Java Province. Wadas is currently a controversial spot since the government has mining plans in the village, which the villagers oppose. The joint, military and police action soon led to a violent clash with the residents. The authorities ill-treated and arbitrarily arrested dozens. They were detained at the Purworejo Resort Police Station until 9 February.
On 9 March 2022, the Pasangkayu Police arrested five peasants who belong to the Kaili Tado indigenous community in Kabuyu Hamlet, Martasari Village, Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi. The five peasants were previously reported by a truck driver of PT Mamuang, Andi Alamsyah, in a case of alleged criminal threats.
In October 2022, the company PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (PTPN III), represented by 300 people and 500 police officers, tried to evict 250 peasant families with a land area of 126 hectares in Gurila Village, Siantar Sitalasari District, Pamatangsiantar City, North Sumatra Province. From 2004 until 2020, PTPN III abandoned its concession land. Peasants who are members of the Forum Tani Sejahtera Indonesia (FUTASI), which is a member of the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA), have been reclaiming the former HGU (right to cultivate) land of PTPN III since 2004.
On 14 November 2022, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) published in a press release the success of a joint humanitarian pause in certain areas of Papua. The
West Papua: Agreement of conflict parties over humanitarian pause Read More »
The existence of a human cage in the Regent of Langkat, Terbit Rencana Perangin Angin, was revealed to the public when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on 19 January 2022 raided the Regent’s house in connection with an alleged bribery case. During the raid, the KPK discovered the existence of a human cage and saw people in the cages. There were 65 people detained in human cages. Some had been there for one year, some for more years. The longest time was five years. All of them had their hair shaved off. Some of them were injured.
On 9 November 2022, Indonesia passed the periodic monitoring of the promotion of human rights at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Civil Society Coalition for UPR Reporting consisting of Amnesty International Indonesia, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, KontraS, KIKA, FreeToBeMe Coalition (FTBM) Indonesia, SAFEnet, and Transmen Indonesia, held a press conference to share their joint analysis and monitoring of the Indonesian government’s report in the UPR session.
On 27 September 2022, dozens of people in Sibanggor Julu Village, Puncak Sorik Marapi District, Mandailing Natal Regency (Madina), North Sumatra Province, were again poisoned with Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) gas due to the activities of the company PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (PT SMGP). The Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) reported that up to 28 September 2022, 87 victims were hospitalised. This is the second mass poisoning in a month and the sixth incident since 2021. Since 2021, at least 214 people have been poisoned, and five have died consequently.
Dozens poisoned with hydrogen sulfide gas due to PT SMGP’s operations in North Sumatra Read More »
On 20 October 2022, the East Nusa Tenggara provincial government evicted the residents of 19 Pabubu Basipae indigenous community houses in Linamutu village, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (Nusa Tenggara Timur – NTT). The area in question is known as the Basipae area. The Head of Assets, accompanied by POL PP, BRIMOB and policed from POLRES Kab. TTS led the eviction. The 19 houses that were demolished included 12 that the NTT Provincial Government had built for the community as compensation for evictions in 2020.
Five Minangkabau indigenous farmers in Nagari Aia Gadang (Aia Gadang Village), Pasaman District, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra Province, were sentenced to prison by the West Pasaman District Court on 19 September 2022. The court found them guilty of mistreating employees of the oil palm plantation company PT Anam Koto, as referred to in Article 351 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code. The court sentenced Ms Wisnawati, 32, to one month and 15 days. The other four, Mr Idamri, 39, Mr Safridin, 41, Mr Rudi, 31, and Mr Jasman, 45, were sentenced to two months and 15 days in prison.
