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Commonwealth Attorney-General should push for inquiry into human rights abuses while in Indonesia
Human Rights Law Centre Media Release - October 23, 2012
Nicola Roxon is in Indonesia this week for a series of meetings with her Indonesian counterparts on issues of law and justice.
Ms Roxon's visit comes just a month after the ABC's 7.30 program aired evidence that an Indonesian counter-terrorism unit, which receives extensive training and support from the Australian Federal Police, has been involved in torture and extra-judicial killings in West Papua. The evidence included interviews with victims and witnesses, together with video of alleged incidents of abuse by the unit, known as Detachment 88.
"The Attorney-General should advise her Indonesian counterparts that Australia will suspend support for Detachment 88 pending a full, independent and public investigation into the alleged involvement of its members in recent human rights abuses in West Papua," said Phil Lynch, Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre.
In 2008, the US cut off assistance to Detachment 88 due to human rights concerns.
Previous allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated by members of Detachment 88 - together with Indonesia's special forces, known as Kopassus - have been verified by Human Rights Watch and brought to the attention of the Australian Government.
"While Indonesia bears primary responsibility for protecting and ensuring respect for human rights within its provinces, Australia's human rights obligations do not end at our borders," said Mr Lynch.
"Australia has a legal and moral duty to ensure that our military and security cooperation with Indonesia does not in any way aid, assist or otherwise support operations which may lead to human rights violations," he said.
According to the Human Rights Law Centre, as part of our commitment to human rights and the rule of law, Australia should develop a vetting procedure to ensure that units and members of military and security forces accused of human rights violations are precluded from receiving Australian support until those allegations are fully investigated and perpetrators held to account.
"Ms Roxon should commit to making human rights safeguards central to all policies and practices relating to Australia's police and security cooperation with Indonesia," said Mr Lynch.
"She should also commit to ensuring that human rights education is a significant and essential component of any training provided to Indonesian units and forces."
Mr Lynch said that, far from "meddling" in Indonesia affairs, such an approach would be consistent with Australia's responsibility to show principled leadership and act as a force for peace, security and stability in the region.
For further information or comments, contact Phil Lynch, Executive Director, on 0438 776 433 or phil.lynch@hrlc.org.au, or visit www.hrlc.org.au.
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