Aceh Kita - January 12, 2006

Tedi Hikmah, Jakarta - A non-government organisation
concerned with upholding human rights, Indonesian
Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), believes the
government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has
taken a selective approach and has not supported
efforts to uphold human rights. Moreover, excessive
violence that violates the basic rights of citizens
continues to take place.

"The upholding of human rights has been subordinated
by prioritising an excessive security approach
accompanied with the tight control of citizens, it
is precisely this that has worsened efforts to
uphold human rights", said the executive director of
Imparsial, Rachland Nasidik, at a press conference
on the human rights situation in Indonesia in 2005
at the Imparsial officers in Jakarta on Wednesday
January 11.

In 2005, Imparsial recorded as many as 281 cases of
civilians who were victims of violence committed by
the police, military, civil service police and
others. Moreover, members of the police force
committed the highest number of violations. Out of
241 cases of violence that occurred, almost half
were committed by police officers. Over the same
period, as many as 165 activists also experienced
violence.

According to Nasidik, the treatment of terrorism and
the state’s obligation to deal with it has resulted
in the prioritisation of the security approach that
is excessive as a pragmatic solution. This has also
been caused by the lack of a strong commitment by
the Yudhoyono government to promote the upholding of
human rights.

"This has been worsened by the performance of
security forces and corrupt law enforcement
institutions. As has occurred with the national
police and the Attorney General. It is making it
increasingly difficult to upholding human rights,
especially in the agenda to properly uphold human
rights in the courts", he explained.

He said the government continues to apply policies
that threaten civilian freedoms, perpetuate
impunity, violate religious freedom and limit the
public’s rights to obtain information, it also
continues the use of the death penalty. In addition
to this the government has also taken a half-hearted
attitude in solving the murder of Munir. Even the
National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the TNI
(Indonesian Military) have politicised and taken
advantage of the issue of terrorism along with
calling for the reactivation of the military’s
territorial commands.

Imparsial believes that this selective application
of democracy will continue in 2006. A security
approach will of course still be the priority for
the Yudhoyono government in maintaining control. It
will even continue the tendency to accommodate the
demands of the TNI and BIN. [dzie]

Perpetrators of violence in 2005

1. Police officers - 175 cases
2. TNI members - 21 cases
3. Combined (Detachment 88, Mobile Brigade, Buser,
Intelligence officers) - 1 case
4. Civil service police - 2 cases
5. Forestry Monitoring Teams - 3 cases
6. State Courts - 11 cases
7. Government Departments - 1 case
8. Regents - 1 case
9. Regional House of Representatives - 1 case
10. Local governments-provincial offices of the General Elections Commission - 2 cases
11. Unidentified individuals - 25 cases

Total - 241 cases

Source: Imparsial

[Translated by James Balowski.]

The INDOLEFT news service is produced by the
Indonesian Centre for Reform and Social
Emancipation (INCREASE) and Action in Solidarity
with Asia and the Pacific.

INDOLEFT News Service
Jl. Tebet Timur Dalam VIII No. 6A
Jakarta Selatan 12820
Indonesia

Phone: 6221 830 7235
E-mail: jamesbalowski yahoo.com