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Indonesia: Investigation needed into the two week detainment and ill-treatment of a Papuan man

Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - September 17, 2009 (see sample letter below)

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-121-2009

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of the abduction, ill treatment and two-week detention of a Papuan man, during which he was interrogated about a fire that destroyed property owned by former Indonesian president Suharto. The incident is similar to past cases of abduction by army personnel and we are concerned that the matter will not be thoroughly investigated by local officials.

Case details:

According to the victim's family, and the KPKC Sinode Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Papua, Mr. Oktavianus Bukuap was abducted by unidentified men in civilian clothing on 1 August 2009. He had been on his way from Warombaim to Nimbokrang II and was forced into a car, blindfolded and anesthetized until he blacked out.

He woke in a dark room which he believed was underground, and over the following two weeks was kept there, fed once a day and forced to urinate and defecate in the corner of the room. He was questioned about his involvement in a fire that took place at Hanurata Coy Inc twenty three years ago. Since he wasn't aware of the case, there was no information he could give.

Hanurata Coy, Inc. is a timber corporation owned by the family of former president Suharto, and some of the shares are believed to be held by army personnel. The corporation holds the rights to Forestry Management (HPH) of a 188.500 hectare forest in Keerom regency, Jayapura.

He was released on August 13 at 4AM, and dropped into Kodam Baru Polimak IV Street while blindfolded with his hands and legs tied.

Suggested action:

Please send your letters to the authorities listed below to urge a complete and thorough investigation by the authorities. To support this appeal please click here.

Sample letter:

Dear _______________,

Indonesia: Investigation needed into the two week detainment and ill-treatment of a Papuan man

Name of the victim: Oktavianus Bukuap, 34 years old.
Name of the alleged perpetrators: Unidentified
Date of incident: 1 August 2009 until 13 August 2009
Place of incident: West Papua

I am writing to urge a thorough investigation into the abduction, ill treatment and interrogation of Mr. Oktavianus Bukuap. Based on information I have, Mr. Bukuap was abducted by a group of unidentified men and locked up in an underground room from August 1 until August 13, 2009, during which he was given just one meal a day and had to urinate and defecate in the same place where he slept and ate. Though Mr. Bukuap doesn’t know the reason for his abduction he was questioned about a fire at Hanurata Coy, Inc. which took place in the mid 1980s.

It is clearly stated in Article 9 paragraph (1) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that everyone has the right to liberty and security of person and no one should be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law. Thus, any form of detention committed unlawfully is a crime under Article 328 of Indonesia Penal Code.

I wish to remind you that as a state party to the ICCPR and as a country who guarantees the right to liberty in its Constitution, the government of Indonesia is obliged to take any necessary steps to protect, to respect, and to fulfill the right to liberty of any individuals in its territory. It must also ensure that victims of human rights violations have access to judicial remedy.

Therefore, I request that you make sure that all necessary steps are taken to find and punish the perpetrators of this crime in accordance to the law. Impunity must be avoided at all costs.

Yours sincerely,

Please send your letters to:

1. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Republic of Indonesia
Presidential Palace,
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara Jakarta Pusat 10010
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 5627, ext. 1003
Fax: +52 21 231 4138, 345 2685, 345 7782
Email: presiden@ri.go.id

2. Mr. Hendarman Supandji
Attorney General
Kejaksaan Agung RI
Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin No. 1
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 7221337, 7397602
Fax: + 62 21 7250213

3. General Bambang Hendarso Danuri
National Head of Police
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 721 8012
Fax: +62 21 720 7277
Email: polri@polri.go.id

4. Ms. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo
General Director of Human Rights
Department of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.6-7 Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889, 526 4280
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
Email: harkristuti_harkrisnowo@yahoo.com

5. Mr. Ifdhal Kasim
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission (KOMNAS HAM)
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4B Menteng
Jakarta Pusat 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3925230
Fax: +62 21 3151042/3925227
Email: info@komnasham.or.id

6. Irjen Polisi Drs. F.X. Bagus Ekodanto
Chief of the Papuan Regional Police
Kepolisian Daerah Papua
Jl. Dr. Sam Ratulangi No. 8
Jayapura
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 967 33317/31835

See also:

West Papua Links

Statements/press releases on West Papua

News services on Indonesia

Indonesia News Digest

Reports & articles on Indonesia

ASIET Publications & videos on Indonesia

Statements & press releases on Indonesia

Indonesia links