Solidarity Message on the 12th Anniversary of IKOHI from Gabriella Citroni

Dear friends,

I am honoured to have the opportunity to express my solidarity and appreciation to the outstanding work carried out over the past 12 years by the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI).

On the occasion of your anniversary, you will have the chance to celebrate the many successes accomplished in your struggle so far: sometime, they may seem little, but I am deeply convinced that they are a great contribution to the realization of the right to justice, to know the truth and to obtain integral reparation of the relatives of the disappeared in Indonesia and, ultimately, all over the world.

The very existence of your association is of capital importance to hundreds of relatives of disappeared: you represent a venue they can turn to in search of support and understanding. Your tireless and brave work is the best possible answer to those who would pretend to make simply “disappear” someone from the earth, to erase someone’s existence and then to enjoy impunity for such a tremendous crime, and to finally sweep under the carpet this “shameful” past. The existence of IKOHI and its struggle concretely avoid oblivion and injustice. This is why you shall be proud of the goals already reached and to be positive when looking at the challenges ahead.

In fact, Indonesian authorities shall take concrete steps to fulfil their international obligations and to show a genuine commitment towards human rights: first, it is of the utmost importance that all cases of enforced disappearance occurred are thoroughly investigated without any further delay and that those responsible for these crimes are identified, judged and sanctioned. Second, relatives of disappeared people throughout Indonesia shall be guaranteed their right to know the truth, as well as to obtain adequate and fair compensation for the harm suffered and integral reparation. Third, it is crucial to take all necessary steps to prevent potential new cases of enforced disappearance and grave human rights violations. In this sense, a concrete sign of good will be the prompt signature and ratification by Indonesia of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as well as the recognition of the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearance thereby established.

I am positive that IKOHI will be there to call on the Indonesian government to take these steps and, as it has done over the past 12 years, it will cautiously monitor the respect of human rights in the country, acting as a powerful bulwark against impunity and as a source of hope and inspiration for relatives of disappeared people. Be reassured that you will not be alone in carrying out this difficult and extremely important task: your example goes beyond the boundaries of Indonesia and worldwide you have friends and colleagues ready to support you when you have to face obstacles and to share with you the joy of the goals accomplished.



In solidarity,

Gabriella Citroni

Researcher in International Law and Professor of International Human Rights Law – University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy)

International Legal Consultant of the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared People (FEDEFAM)

IKOHI Berdiri, Prabowo ke MAHMIL

Komandan Pusat Polisi Militer ABRI: PRABOWO AKAN DIAJUKAN KE MAHKAMAH MILITER
Sumber: KOMPAS Tanggal:19 Sep 1998


Jakarta, Kompas
Ketua Tim Pencari Fakta (TPF) ABRI Mayjen TNI Sjamsu Djalaludin menegaskan, mantan komandan Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) Letjen TNI (Purn) Prabowo Subianto akan diajukan ke Mahkamah Militer (Mahmil). Dengan mengakui telah memerintahkan penculikan sejumlah aktivis, Prabowo telah melakukan tindak pidana.

Hal itu disampaikan Sjamsu yang juga Komandan Pusat Polisi Militer (Dan Puspom) ABRI, Jumat (18/9), ketika bertemu dengan tiga korban penculikan, yaitu Feisol Reza, Andi Arief, dan Aan Rusdianto, serta beberapa keluarga korban penculikan di Puspom ABRI, Jakarta.

"Sudah jelas Prabowo itu melakukan tindak pidana, jelas akan berhadapan dengan pengadilan militer. Tetapi, ada kesan juga takut mengadili. Lho negara kita kan negara hukum, tidak ada yang kebal hukum," ucapnya. Tidak dirinci kapan berkas perkara Prabowo diajukan ke pengadilan.

Masih dicari
Mengenai orang yang masih hilang, Sjamsu menjelaskan, TPF masih terus mencari keberadaan mereka dengan mengirimkan tim ke berbagai tempat, antara lain ke pulau Untung Jawa di Kepulauan Seribu dan Tasikmalaya.

"Begitu kami dengar ada sentilan bahwa mereka disuntik morfin, maka kami cari juga ke Tasik dengan bantuan Kyai Anom (Pimpinan Pondok Pesantren Suralaya). Memang ada Pondok Pesantren mirip, tetapi setelah kami periksa kami tidak berani juga. Sama juga dengan Davao. Itu saya yang pertama kali tahu tetapi saya tidak berani enyampaikannya karena saya harus cek dulu, ternyata benar saja yang bersangkutan bukan Herman yang kita cari-cari. Sampai ke ujung apa pun kita akan cari. Untuk apa kami menutup-nutupi," tegasnya.

Sjamsu menambahkan, pihaknya pun sudah memeriksa tersangka, namun juga adalah hak dari tersangka untuk tidak mengaku. "Biar nanti pengadilan yang membukanya, dan dari hasil pemeriksaan korban 'kan semuanya sudah ketahuan. Kami belum bisa berbicara karena belum ada bukti faktanya. Memang keterangan saksi korban sudah ada, pernah berkomunikasi dalam tahanan memang ada tapi untuk pengadilan 'kan perlu bukti," elasnya.

Bertemu tersangka
Menanggapi penjelasan Sjamsu, Andi Arief mewakili korban penculikan yang kemudian baru mengetahui dari penjelasan Sjamsu bahwa mereka diundang ke Puspom untuk menandatangani Berita Acara Pemeriksaan (BAP), mengungkapkan, dia dan korban penculikan lainnya siap untuk menandatangani BAP dengan satu syarat.

Syarat yang diajukan Andi adalah permintaan agar korban, keluarga korban dan bila memungkinkan disertai wartawan, bisa bertemu dengan tersangka penculik. Upaya tersebut, bukan untuk kepentingan korban dan keluarga korban melainkan juga untuk membantu Puspom ABRI dalam mengungkap keberadaan 14 korban yang masih hilang.

"Saya tahu mereka orang yang beragama. Ketika menculik saya mereka shalat di mobil. Mungkin saja mereka akan luluh hatinya begitu melihat para orangtua sehingga bisa berkata jujur. Kami ingin bertemu dan berbicara dari hati ke hati dengan penculik, bahkan bila mereka berkata sejujurnya kami rela mereka tidak diadili, yang penting di mana ke-14 orang itu sehingga bisa dikeluarkan," ungkap Andi.

Menanggapi permintaan Andi, Sjamsu berucap: "Itu bagus, hanya saya tidak bisa memenuhi pada saat ini juga. Soalnya ada hak tersangka juga. Saran Andi Arief untuk dipertemukan akan kita sampaikan. Saya tidak bisa memutuskan karena harus berbicara dengan pengacara mereka dahulu."

Sementara itu, usai pertemuan, keluarga korban penculikan mendeklarasikan berdirinya Ikatan Keluarga Orang Hilang Indonesia (Ikohi) yang sementara ini beranggotakan 14 keluarga orang hilang yang belum kembali. Ketua Ikohi DT Utomo Rahardjo (orangtua Petrus Bima (Anugerah) juga menyampaikan hasil sementara pengumpulan uang dari Kemah Keprihatinan selama tiga hari, sebesar Rp 4.172.900.

Dengan dana yang ada itu, diputuskan wakil keluarga akan memberangkatkan satu orang ke Geneva untuk mengikuti pertemuan organisasi orang hilang dunia dan kelompok kerja Penyiksaan dan Penghilangan Paksa Komisi Tinggi HAM PBB. Menurut Koordinator Badan Pekerja Kontras, Munir, rombongan keluarga korban yang akan didampingi satu orang korban dan satu wakil Kontras berangkat 24 September mendatang. (oki)

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Statement on the 6th Anniversary of Munir’s Murder
7 September 2010

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

The six-year delay in rendering justice for the murder of Indonesia's then leading human rights defender, Munir Said Thalib is nothing short of a denial of justice. It is but a shame for a state which tries to project itself before the international community as a country ruled by law, committed to the protection and respect of human rights and in transition to democracy. While the direct perpetrator has been found guilty and now imprisoned, those who plotted and ordered Munir’s murder remain free and unaccountable. This case hereby makes the long and highly politicized judicial process a mockery of justice as it reflects the pervasive climate of impunity for human rights violations.

Munir’s murder by arsenic poisoning on Garuda flight 974 from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore has brutally deprived the international human rights community of his brilliance and commitment. Moreover, it also creates a chilling atmosphere aimed at stifling dissent and preventing genuine reforms of a system that perpetuates impunity to those, especially in the security forces, guilty of human rights violations including torture, murder, enforced disappearances, etc.

Worse still, the Indonesian legal system is now being manipulated to intimidate human rights advocates such as the case of Mr. Usman Hamid, Coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), who is charged of criminal defamation for testifying against Ret. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, former Chief of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) in Munir’s murder case.

This proves that impunity begets even more wickedness. It does not only allow the perpetrators of human rights violations to escape prosecution and accountability but it also provides them with the legal weapon to strip the human rights defenders of the legitimacy of their cause.

The unresolved murder of Munir raises public concerns about the Indonesian government’s human rights position. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who promised in his first term of office in 2007 to put Munir’s murder case at the top of his agenda, did little, if at all, to ferret out the truth and to equally apply the rule of law by bringing those responsible, including the mastermind, to justice. For this reason, human rights activists and families of victims of human rights violations persistently rally outside the Parliament in Jakarta every Thursday to demand that Pres. Yudhoyono fulfills his promise.

After his re-election in October 2009, any little hope for the final resolution of Munir’s murder seems to vanish into thin air. The Indonesian government has never shown serious efforts to take necessary steps to resolve other past human rights cases particularly in accounting for persons who disappeared and in prosecuting those responsible. This is so despite the recommendations of the then Special Committee of the Indonesian Parliament for the President to establish an ad hoc Human Rights Court in relation to the disappeared students of 1997-1998; to take appropriate steps to immediately locate the whereabouts of the 13 students cited as still missing by Komnas HAM; to facilitate the rehabilitation and satisfactory compensation to victims and/or the families of the disappeared; and to immediately ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.

The fact that Munir’s murder involved agents of the state, the Indonesian government can never elude responsibility. It is an inherent obligation of the state not to guarantee and protect people’s civil liberties and fundamental freedom. Any efforts towards Indonesia’s democratization are rendered meaningless and sheer pretense unless a successful resolution of the Munir case is made. Such a resolution will require the full support of Indonesian government in the continuing struggle of victims and their families for truth, justice and redress.

On the 6th anniversary of the murder of our former Chairperson, we reverberate our deafening cry: Justice for Munir! Justice for All!


Signed and authenticated by:


MUGIYANTO MARY AILEEN BACALSO
Chairperson Secretary-General

Families fight against ‘politics of amnesia’

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 09/01/2010 8:50 AM | National
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Far from the glamor connected to international commemorations, families of victims of forced disappearances and gross human rights violations gathered to mark the International Day of Forced Disappearances on Aug. 30 with the resolute reminder that they refuse to have their history swept under the carpet by government inaction.

Yati Andriyani, an activist from the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had employed “politics of amnesia” to avoid taking action against gross human rights violations committed in the past.

The President has not yet implemented four recommendations made by the House of Representatives in September 2009 regarding the forced disappearance of 13 activists and other people during the period before the House’s historic 1998 plenary assembly.

“This is done by discreetly refusing to follow up on investigation findings collected by the National Commission on Human Rights,” Yati said, adding the commission had concluded investigations on several human right violations such as the 1998 Semanggi and Trisakti tragedies, and the May 1998 riots.

The commission concluded the cases, including the forced disappearance of the 13, as gross human rights violation.

The House, she added, had not yet fulfilled their mandate by recommending the formation of an ad hoc human rights court for all cases investigated by the commission, besides the one for the kidnapping and forced disappearances of the 13.

The President has also not yet enacted recommendations regarding the forced disappearances and coordinate the work between the Attorney General’s Office and the human rights commission in solving all cases, she said. “These are outcomes of the politics of amnesia,” she told The Jakarta Post.

Mugiyanto, an activist from the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI), further added that the scrapping of the 2004 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Law “expressed the President’s political view of shunning past cases”.

The Constitutional Court ruled the law unconstitutional in 2006, therefore disbanding the commission. Mugiyanto added the court had recommended the drafting of a new truth and reconciliation law, which the government has not yet acted on.

“This shows the government’s feeble political will in acting on past cases of human rights violations,” he told the Post.

The offering of compensation to victims and families of human rights violations and forced disappearances devoid of initiative to unveil the truth, he added, acted as a “negative shortcut”.

“They don’t want to be accountable by saying that it would set off political mayhem,” he said.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar previously said the government was focusing more on providing compensation to the victims of the May 1998 riots, rather than finding the perpetrators.

At least 1,200 people died amid widespread looting and arson in the racially spurred May riots.

According to Mugiyanto, public pressure to deal with the cases was needless if the government truly placed value on human rights.

“The state must be responsible in safeguarding and enforcing human rights,” he said, adding that the responsibility was part of the Constitution. (gzl)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/09/01/families-fight-against-%E2%80%98politics-amnesia%E2%80%99.html