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Indonesia: Environmental activist attacked and stabbed to death by Indonesian navy personnel
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal – June 29, 2015
Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the brutal murder of Mr. Jopi Teguh Lasmana Peranginangin (39), an environmental activist who used to work with the Indigenous People's Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN). He was kicked, beaten, and stabbed to death by Indonesian navy personnel on 23 May 2015 at the Venue Bar and Lounge, Jalan Kemang Selatan No. 2, South Jakarta, Indonesia.
Case narrative:
On 23 May 2015, Jopi and seven of his friends visited Venue Bar and Lounge, Jalan Kemang Selatan No. 2, South Jakarta, Indonesia. There, they met some civilian clothed persons, who they learnt were navy personnel from the Venue Bar's security officers.
At 4:00 a.m., the live music in the Venue Bar finished, and all the patrons immediately left the bar. One of the plain-clothed navy personnel came to Jopi's seat and started to intimidate Jopi and his friends. He then hit Jopi and dragged him out from the Bar. At the same time, the other plain-clothed navy officers were trying to separate Jopi from his friends.
Suddenly, one of the perpetrators opened his bag, took out a bayonet knife and loudly said, "I am a soldier!" Mr. Amar, one of Jopi's friends, tried to fend off the knife, wounding his left hand as a result. Considering the circumstances, Jopi's friends then encouraged him to run to the car in the parking lot.
As Jopi ran, he was chased by the perpetrators, and finally in the parking lot, Jopi was beaten by the suspects. Shortly thereafter, his friends heard him scream, "What's wrong with me?", but as he was surrounded by the perpetrators, Jopi's friends could not see what had happened to him. After the perpetrators left, Jopi's friends found that Jopi's mouth was bleeding and that he had been stabbed.
They immediately took Jopi to a hospital, where the doctor said Jopi's condition was very critical due to heavy bleeding and infection. Unfortunately, while the doctor was trying to give treatment, Jopi died.
A few days after the murder, the Chief Commander of Navy acknowledged that navy personnel attacked and killed Jopi in Venue Bar, namely Private-in-Charge (Prajurit Kepala) Joko Lestanto. Although the Navy is trying to suggest that Joko was the only one involved in Jopi's murder, CCTV footage and Jopi's friends indicate that more than one person are responsible.
On 11 June 2015, the Police and Navy conducted a reconstruction (field examination conducted by an investigator with both suspects and witnesses) in the Venue Bar as well as in front of the Habbibie Center, where the murder took place. Five witnesses and one suspect were present.
Jopi's lawyers expressed their concern that the reconstruction was not adequate, because the Navy Military Police (POM AL) was reluctant to delve into the alleged involvement of other Navy personnel apart from Joko. Moreover, the Navy does not clearly explain and open access to the investigation process. The South Jakarta Police Resort (POLRES) has submitted Jopi's case to POM AL, because according to Law No. 31 of 1997 on the Military Court, all crimes conducted by military personnel (navy, army, or air force) will be investigated by the Military Police and if the crimes violate the military criminal code, the personnel will be tried in Military Court.
Additional information:
In Indonesia, human rights defenders (HRD) continue to face serious threats, with human rights violations against them occurring widely. Despite many such cases of abuse, the Government of Indonesia has yet to seriously protect them. Although the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has established a special desk for HRD protection, it does not function effectively, with the Commission hardly focusing on the real problems faced by HRD.
The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (UUD 1945) guarantees the right to life. Likewise Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights also guarantees the right to life. Indonesia is also a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) with the enactment of the Law No. 12 of 2005, which also guarantees the right to life of every human being.
The AHRC also notes that the UN Human Rights Committee in its concluding observations on the initial report of Indonesia's compliance with the ICCPR on 21 August 2013, stated that "the State party should take practical steps to put an end to impunity for its security personnel regarding arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, and should take appropriate measures to protect the rights of political dissidents and human rights defenders."
Suggested action:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to effectively investigate the murder of Mr. Jopi Teguh Lasmana Peranginangin without undue delay. The government must ensure the investigation is conducted in accordance to fair trial principles, without distinction and discrimination. Furthermore, all those responsible must be prosecuted and punished accordingly.
The AHRC has written separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions calling for their intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: http://203.86.237.28/web28/web/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-080-2015
Sample letter:
Dear ....................,
Indonesia: Environmental activist attacked and stabbed to death by Indonesian navy personnel
I have learnt that at 4 a.m., the live music in the Venue Bar finished, and all the patrons immediately left the bar. One of the plain-clothed navy personnel came to Jopi's seat and started to intimidate Jopi and his friends. He then hit Jopi and dragged him out from the Bar. At the same time, the other plain-clothed navy officers were trying to separate Jopi from his friends.
Suddenly, one of the perpetrators opened his bag, took out a bayonet knife and loudly said, "I am a soldier!" Mr. Amar, one of Jopi's friends, tried to fend off the knife, wounding his left hand as a result. Considering the circumstances, Jopi's friends encouraged him to run to the car in the parking lot.
As Jopi ran, he was chased by the perpetrators, and finally in the parking lot, Jopi was beaten by the suspects. Shortly thereafter, his friends heard him scream, "What's wrong with me?", but as he was surrounded by the perpetrators, Jopi's friends could not see what had happened to him. After the perpetrators left, Jopi's friends found that Jopi's mouth was bleeding and he had been stabbed.
They immediately took Jopi to a hospital, where the doctor said Jopi's condition was very critical due to heavy bleeding and infection. Unfortunately, while the doctor was trying to give further treatment, Jopi died.
A few days after the murder, the Chief Commander of Navy acknowledged that navy personnel attacked and killed Jopi in Venue Bar, namely Private-in-Charge (Prajurit Kepala) Joko Lestanto. It has come to my attention that the Navy is trying to suggest that Joko was the only one involved in Jopi's murder, despite CCTV footage and Jopi's friends indicating otherwise.
The South Jakarta Police Resort (POLRES) has submitted Jopi's case to POM AL, because according to Law No. 31 of 1997 on the Military Court, all crimes conducted by military personnel (navy, army or air force) will be investigated by the Military Police and if the crimes violate the military criminal code, the personnel will be tried through the military court.
I therefore urge you to ensure that the National Police and Navy Military Police conduct an effective and transparent investigation into this case, and look into all the suspects involved. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should also monitor the investigation and make relevant recommendations to avoid impunity.
I further urge you to take up with the relevant authorities the need to restart the drafting process on the bill of HRD protection, and the revision of Law No. 31 of 1997 on the Military Court, to end impunity and bring military personnel who kill civilians to the public court.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
...................
Please send your letters to:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of
the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No.
16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458
595
Fax: +62 21 3484
4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna
Laoly
Minister of Law
and Human Rights; and
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. Dr. Mualimin
Abdi SH., MH
Director General
of Human Rights
Office of the
Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav. 6 -- 7
Kuningan, Jakarta
12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Moeldoko
Chief of Indonesian
Military
Mabes TNI Cilangkap
Jakarta Timur
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 84595576,
+62 21 8459-5326
Fax: + 62 21
84591193
Email: ppidtni@puspen.tni.mil.id
5. Mr. Danang
Girindrawardana
Chairperson of
Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna
Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
6. Mr. Mahfudz
Siddiq
Chairperson of
the Commission one of the House of Representative [DPR]
Gedung Nusantara
II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal
Gatot Subroto, Jakarta
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5715.520,
+62 21 5715.518/581
Fax: +62 21 5715.
328/+62 21 571 5687
Email: bag_pengaduan@dpr.go.id
7. Commissioner
General Badroedin Haiti
Deputy National
Police Chief
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
8. Mr. Tedjo Edhy
Purdijatno
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
9. Mr. Nur Kholis
Chairperson
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)
Source: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-080-2015.
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