Groups Urge Any New Government of Indonesia to Pursue Justice and Respect Rights

Read the Statement to the next government of Indonesia on human rights

Media Release

Groups Urge Any New Government of Indonesia to Pursue Justice and Respect Rights

June 30, 2014 - In a statement released today human rights groups urged the next government of Indonesia "to break with the past [and] fully and meaningfully address the legacy of impunity for past human rights violations," adding that "the continued lack of accountability for past and ongoing violations of human rights threatens lasting progress."

The statement, coordinated by the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and signed by 32 organizations based in a dozen countries, urged the Indonesia government to “provide meaningful reparations for the victims, survivors and their families of egregious human rights crimes.” It also called on the next government to bring the military “fully under civilian control and the rule of law.”

Read the rest here. 

Bahasa Indonesia: Kelompok-kelompok yang Mendesak Pemerintah Baru Indonesia untuk Mengejar Keadilan dan Menghormati Hak Asasi

Prabowo on Santa Cruz massacre, being a fascist dictator

Journalist Allan Nairn writes up his notes from a conversation with former Kopassus head Prabowo Subianto, now candidate for Indonesian president. Bahasa Indonesia version of article: "Apa saya cukup punya nyali," tanya Prabowo, "apa saya siap jika disebut 'diktator fasis'?"

Nairn writes that "Prabowo talked about fascism, democracy, army massacre policy, and his long, close relationship with the Pentagon and US intelligence."

Some excerpts:

On November 11, 1991 Santa Cruz massacre in Dili, Timor-Leste:

"Prabowo's complaint was not with the fact that the army had murdered civilians, but rather that they had done so in front of me and other witnesses who were then able to report the massacre and mobilize the outside world.

"'Santa Cruz killed us politically!,' Prabowo exclaimed. 'It was the defeat!' 

"'You don't massacre civilians in front of the world press,'" General Prabowo said. 'Maybe commanders do it in villages where no one will ever know, but not in the provincial capital'!"

On Leadership:

"He mentioned Pakistan's General Pervez Musharraf.

"Musharraf had arrested his country's civilian prime minister and imposed dictatorship. 

"Prabowo said he admired him greatly.

"Prabowo ruminated on whether he could measure up, whether he could be an Indonesian Musharraf.

"'Do I have the guts,' Prabowo asked, 'am I ready to be called a fascist dictator?'"

Just out: West Papua Report June 2014: West Papua Report June 2014: Poverty and Discrimination, land rights, calls for UN action, Police training, more

Read issue here

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE by renowned human rights campaigner Carmel Budiardjo provides a succinct overview of the history of Indonesian repression of West Papua and includes a focus on the special challenges facing Papuan women.

UPDATE highlights the intention of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission to focus on the plight of indigenous peoples, notably in West Papua. The Asian Human Rights Commission draws attention to police shooting of three Papuans in Nabire. The online activist network "Anonymous" has announced that it will focus on the plight of Papuans. A Pacific regional UN forum on decolonization was urged to consider the situation in West Papua. Indonesian President Yudhoyono's planned visit to Fiji illustrates Jakarta's efforts to undercut the broad appeal of the Papuan cause in the region. Religious activists are focusing on the exploitation of workers and their families by the oil palm plantation run by Sinar Mas. A New Zealand police training program in West Papua has been cancelled. The Australian government is urged to mitigate culpability for rights violations abroad.

CHRONICLE highlights "West Papua: No-One's Colony" by the Pacific Network on Globalization and May 14comments before the UN by Julianus Septer Manufandu, of the Papua Customary Council. A new illustrated, interactive eBook tells Papuan stories. Australian TV journalist broadcasts program on human rights in West Papua.

Freeport Mine 

Timor-Leste President TMR Urged to Veto Bad Media Law

Read more here.


On 6 May, after only three hours of specific debate, Timor-Leste's Parliament passed a law which would severely restrict Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and of the press. More than three weeks later, they have not yet sent the law to President Taur Matan Ruak. The President will have 30 days in which to sign or veto the law after he receives it.

Yesterday, La'o Hamutuk and other organizations wrote a letter urging the President to veto the law, "because it will harm democracy and human rights, restrict many people's rights to freedom of expression, and give power to a single group to issue a few licenses while limiting other people's rights to share information. We believe this violates Timor-Leste’s Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

The letter is online at www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/LHLeiImprensa29MaiuTe.pdf , 
with an English translation at www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/LHLeiImprensa29MaiuEn.pdf . 
More information and analysis, including texts and translations of versions of the law, are at http://www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/14MediaLaw.htm .

ETAN supports the letter, and Lao Hamutuk welcomes additional endorsements for this letter, especially from organizations, and will provide a supplemental list to the President next week. Write us and we will forward the endorsements.

Timorese Journalist José Belo protests media law at a seminar in Dili.
Photo: Jornal Independente

The May 2014 West Papua Report is now out!

Read it here

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE by Dr. Budi Hernawan examines Vanuatu's efforts to place West Papua on the international human rights agenda. 

In UPDATE, Indonesia was questioned by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Indonesian military want to purchase additional U.S. assault helicopters. New violence creates tension on the PNG border near Vanimo; more arrests and torture of peaceful Papuan student protesters; the anniversary of transfer of West Papua to UN control in 1963; the establishment of a new Free West Papua office in Perth, and the sentencing of the former Merauke District chief for graft.

In CHRONICLE: A photo project by Rohn Radheya draws attention to West Papuans struggle for respect of their political and other human rights. David Robie questions why South Pacific nations have not supported Vanuatu's efforts to draw international attention to Indonesia's human rights violations in West Papua. Craig Harris highlights Papuans criticism of mining giant Freeport McMoRan at a U.S. environmental conference. Oil palm plantations in West Papua and elsewhere face growing scrutiny.

Photo by Rohan Radheya.