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Activists question Hartomo's promotion

Jakarta Post - September 24, 2016

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Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Less than month after promoting former members of the Army's "Tim Mawar" (Rose Team), Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has generated more controversy by appointing divisive figure Maj. Gen. Hartomo to lead the military's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).

Hartomo was sentenced to over three years in prison by a military court in Surabaya, East Java, in 2003 for killing renowned Papuan separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay. It is unclear if his verdict has been overturned by High Military Court and the Supreme Court.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Tatang Suleiman, who confirmed Hartomo's promotion, declined to answer The Jakarta Post's questions about the legal process of Hartomo's case. But he said the selection process was accountable.

Hartomo was a leader of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) Tribuana X assigned to Papua when Theys was murdered. Besides Hartomo, six other Kopassus officers were also charged with Theys' murder on National Heroes Day in 2001.

Tatang explained that Hartomo was one of 15 middle-ranking officers who had been promoted to a higher position, a decision that was made according to a proper selection process implemented by the military.

"The decision was made after careful assessment by Wanjakti [Rank and Promotion Council for High-Ranking Officers] and was directly supported by the TNI Commander," Tatang told The Jakarta Post.

Hartomo's promotion has sparked protest from civil society organizations over a lack of reform in the military.

"The recent promotion in the military contradicts the President's promise to protect and uphold human rights as formulated in the Nawacita," executive director for Institute for Defense and Security Studies (IDSS), Mufti Makarim told the press on Thursday.

The Nawacita refers to nine political goals introduced to the public by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Jusuf Kalla during their campaign in the 2014 presidential election. Nawacita champions a commitment to upholding human rights in the country by resolving human rights violations, including cases that occurred in the past.

However, civil society groups have criticized Jokowi and his administration because many government policies do not reflect a commitment to human rights. "How can we hope for the protection of human rights if we keep seeing violators gain positions in the government?" Mufti said.

The TNI also generated criticism earlier this month after Gatot decided to promote former members of Tim Mawar who were implicated in notorious cases of forced disappearance during the 1998 riots.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/09/24/activists-question-hartomo-s-promotion.html.