Amnesty International, Amnesty International Annual Report 2013 - Indonesia, 23 May 2013, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/519f519624.html [accessed 10 June 2013]
Head of state and government: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
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| UNHCR |
Background
In May, Indonesia's human rights record was assessed under the UN
Universal Periodic Review. The government rejected key recommendations
to review specific laws and decrees which restrict the rights to freedom
of expression and thought, conscience and religion. In July, Indonesia
reported to the CEDAW Committee. In November, Indonesia adopted the
ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, despite serious concerns that it fell
short of international standards.
Indonesia's legislative framework remained inadequate to deal with
allegations of torture and other ill-treatment. Caning continued to be
used as a form of judicial punishment in Aceh province for Shari'a
offences. At least 45 people were caned during the year for gambling,
and being alone with someone of the opposite sex who was not a marriage
partner or relative (khalwat).
Police and security forces
Police were repeatedly accused of human rights violations, including
excessive use of force and firearms, and torture and other
ill-treatment. Internal and external police accountability mechanisms
failed to adequately deal with cases of abuses committed by police, and
investigations into human rights violations were rare.
- In March, 17 men from East Nusa Tenggara province were arbitrarily arrested for the murder of a policeman. They were allegedly stripped, handcuffed and beaten in detention for 12 days by the West Sabu sub-district police. Some suffered stab wounds and broken bones. Some were reportedly forced by police to drink their own urine. They were released without charge at the end of June due to lack of evidence.
Indonesian security forces, including police and military personnel,
were accused of human rights violations in Papua. Torture and other
ill-treatment, excessive use of force and firearms and possible unlawful
killings were reported. In most cases, the perpetrators were not
brought to justice and victims did not receive reparations.
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In June, Mako Tabuni, a Papuan political activist and deputy chair of
the pro-independence National Committee for West Papua, was shot dead
by police officers in Waena, near Jayapura, Papua province. Police
alleged he was resisting arrest. There was no impartial or independent
investigation into the killing.
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Also in June, soldiers attacked a village in Wamena, Papua province,
in retaliation for the death and injury of two of their personnel. They
reportedly opened fire arbitrarily, stabbed dozens of people with
bayonets – resulting in one death – and burned a number of houses,
buildings and vehicles.
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In August, police and military personnel in Yapen island, Papua
province, forcibly dispersed a peaceful demonstration commemorating the
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Security forces
fired their guns into the air and arbitrarily arrested at least six
protesters. Some were reportedly beaten during their arrest.
- Also in August, police personnel from the Jayawijaya District in Papua province arbitrarily arrested and allegedly slapped, punched and kicked five men in an attempt to force them to confess to a murder. No investigation into the abuse was carried out.
Freedom of expression
The authorities continued to use repressive legislation to
criminalize peaceful political activists. At least 70 people from the
regions of Papua and Maluku were in prison for peacefully expressing
their views.
- In March, five Papuan political activists charged with "rebellion" under Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code were imprisoned for three years for their involvement in the Third Papuan Peoples' Congress, a peaceful gathering in Abepura in October 2011.
Full Report UNHCR : Amnesty International Annual Report 2013 - Indonesia
