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Indonesia: Padang police torture and shoot two men to obtain confessions
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - February 24, 2014
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Padang Legal Aid Institute (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Padang) regarding the shooting, torture, and fabrication of charges of two men by the police in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Despite their injuries, the victims have been denied adequate medical treatment as of today. LBH Padang reported that the police have spread false news in the media in order to justify the shootings.
Case narrative:
According to LBH Padang, an unidentified officer took Oki Saputra (19) to Padang Selatan Sub-District Police Station at 1.30 pm of 6 February, 2014. Oki was told that the police would like to question him on the motorcycle theft complaint lodged by his family two days earlier. Yet, upon his arrival at the police station, Oki was interrogated on a bag-snatch theft case took place in January 2014. Oki was electrocuted and beaten during the interrogation, but he insisted that he had not committed the crime. (Photo: Andi (left) and Oki (right) were shot by the police despite not posing threat or attempting to escape. Courtesy of LBH Padang)
At 3 p.m. of the same day, Oki was taken to Padang District Police Station for further interrogation. He was forced to confess to be the perpetrator of the bag-snatch and to name his accomplice. The officers beat Oki on his head and chest each time he denied his involvement in the accused crime. Under duress, Oki named one of his co-workers, Andi Mulyadi, to be his accomplice.
The police arrested Andi Mulyadi at the factory where he works in the late afternoon of the same day. His arrest was witnessed by at least 15 people. One of them told LBH Padang that Andi was arrested by four police officers in civilian clothes. None of the officers provide an explanation on the reason why Andi was arrested. Andi was taken to Padang District Police Station for interrogation. As what had happened to Oki, Andi was beaten and forced to confess to be responsible for the bag-snatch.
At 11 p.m., the police took Oki and Andi to two separate places. Oki was taken to a bridge by Taman Siswa, whereas Andi was taken to an empty building at H. Agus Salim Sport Centre. Both men were shot on their legs, despite not posing any threats or not attempting to escape. The police took Oki and Andi to a police hospital at 1 am of 7 February 2014. However, Oki was again taken to an unidentified location where he was shot at least six times in his legs. LBH Padang reported that Oki and Andi had not received adequate medical treatment for their gunshot wounds. One bullet remains in Andi's leg as of today.
The police told the local media in Padang, such as Padang Ekspres and jaringnews.com that the shootings were inevitable as Andi and Oki attempted to escape during the arrest. The police also told the media that Andi and Oki were the persons responsible for the bag-snatch theft took place in January 2014, contradicting the information from witnesses that both men were at work when the crime took place.
Andi and Oki are still being detained at Padang District Police Station, putting them at the risks of further reprisals.
Additional information:
Indonesia is a state party to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (UN CAT). In spite of its ratification to the convention, torture remains widely practiced by state officials in the country, particularly by police officers. In 2010-2013, LBH Padang documented 63 cases of torture and violence in West Sumatra – one of Indonesia's 34 provinces – alone. Amongst the 63 cases, only two of them have so far resulted in the punishment of the perpetrators.
The Indonesian constitution and several laws guarantee the right of everyone to be free from torture. The Chief of the Indonesian National Police (INP) have also issued a regulation prohibiting police officers to use torture in any circumstances. Under the Chief of the INP's regulation No. 1 Year 2009, police officers can use firearms only to stop the action of a criminal suspect which pose imminent threats to life.
These sets of laws and rules, however, have been futile in eliminating the practice of torture in Indonesia. Torture as defined by the UN CAT is yet to be criminalised in the country and there is no effective and independent mechanism to monitor and to bring police officers to justice.
Suggested action:
Please write to the listed authorities below, urging them to investigate the allegation of police torture and violence as well as fabrication of charges in this case. As the victims are currently still at the police custody, please also ask the authorities to relocate them to a more safe detention facility and to provide them with adequate protection and medical treatment.
The AHRC is writing separately to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention as well as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, asking for their intervention in this matter.
To support this appeal, please click here: http://www.urgentappeals.net/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-022-2014.
Sample letter
Dear ___________,
Indonesia: Padang police torture and shoot two men to obtain confession
I have been informed that Oki was initially interrogated by unidentified officers of Padang Selatan Sub-District Police. During the interrogation, Oki was subjected to beatings and electrocution. However, as Oki was insisting that he has not committed the crime as accused, the police moved him to Padang District Police Station. He was further tortured and, under duress, eventually named one of his co-workers, Andi Mulyadi, to be his accomplice. Andi was arrested on the same day at the factory he works in without giving any resistance. As Oki, Andi was also beaten by officers of Padang District Police who forced him to confess to be the perpetrator of the bag-snatch theft case.
According to LBH Padang, at 11 pm of the same day, Oki and Andi were taken by the police officers to two separate locations. Whereas Oki was taken to a bridge by Taman Siswa, Andi was taken to an empty building at the area of H. Agus Salim Sport Centre. The police shot Oki and Andi in their legs, although none of them posed any threat or attempted to escape. They were taken to a police hospital at 1 am of 7 February 2014. However, Oki was later taken again to an unidentified location where he was shot at least six times in his legs. Oki and Andi had not received adequate medical treatment for their gunshot wounds that one bullet remains in Andi's leg as of today.
I am disgusted to learn that the police have spread false news to the local media in Padang to justify the shootings against Oki and Andi. I note in Padang Ekspres and jaringnews.com, for instance, the police claimed that Oki and Andi were trying to escape that shooting them was inevitable. To the media, the police also stated that Oki and Andi are the persons responsible for the bag-snatch theft took place in January 2014, despite information from witnesses indicating their innocence. According to LBH Padang, there are at least three people who witnessed that Oki and Andi were at work when the crime happened.
I am aware that Indonesia has been a state party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UN CAT) since 1998. I am concerned that, despite the country's ratification to the convention, torture remains widely practised by state officials, particularly police officers. In 2010-2013, LBH Padang documented 63 cases of torture and violence in West Sumatra – one of Indonesia's 34 provinces – alone.
I wish to highlight that, under the UN CAT the failure to effectively and independently investigate torture allegations is a violation on the right not to be tortured. I therefore call you to ensure such investigation on this case to take place. The police officers who are responsible for torturing and shooting Oki and Andi should be criminally and adequately punished. Administrative punishment imposed on them should be only complementary to such criminal punishment.
I additionally urge you to ensure that the criminal investigation against Oki and Andi are conducted in accordance with the law and human rights standards. Due to the indication of fabrication of charges against them, I request you to ensure that the investigation of the bag-snatch theft case is transferred to the West Sumatra Regional Police. Oki and Andi who are currently detained at Padang District Police should also be transferred to the Regional Police in order to minimise the risk of them being further tortured and intimidated. I urge you to provide both men with adequate protection as well as medical treatment.
I look forward for your positive and swift response in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Please send your letters to:
1. Mr. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono
President of
the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No.
16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458
595
Fax: +62 21 3484
4759
2. Ms. Harkristuti
Harkrisnowo
General Director
of Human Rights
Ministry of Law
and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta
12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525
3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525
3095
3. Gen. Sutarman
Chief of the
Indonesian National Police
Jl. Trunojoyo
No. 3
Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384
8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220
669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
4. Brigadier Gen.
Noer Ali
Chief of West
Sumatra Regional Police
Jl. Sudirman
No. 55
Padang
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 751
33416
Fax: +62 751
33416
Email: poldasumbar@uppabareskrim.info
5. Mr. Djoko Suyanto
Chairperson of
National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa
VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739
2315
Fax: +62 21 739
2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id,
skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Mr. Abdul Haris
Semendawai
Chairperson of
the Witnesses and Victims Protection Agency
Gedung Proklamasi
Jl. Proklamasi
No. 56
Jakarta Pusat,
10320
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3190
7021
Fax: +62 21 3192
7881
E-mail: lpsk_ri@lpsk.go.id
7. Ms. Siti Nur
Laila
Chairperson of
the National Human Rights Commission
Jl. Latuharhary
No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392
5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392
5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals
Programme
Asian Human Rights
Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
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