Amnesty International Reports Torture and Abuse by Indonesian Police

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Amnesty International is reporting that Indonesian police regularly torture and abuse suspects held for questioning, in addition to taking bribes in the form of money and sex.

Amnesty International’s report entitled, "Unfinished Business: Police Accountability in Indonesia," found that the most marginalized people in Indonesian society receive the worst treatment.

The organization’s Asia Pacific deputy director, Donna Guest said that, "Amnesty International's report shows how widespread the culture of abuse is among the Indonesian police force." She added, "The police's primary role is to enforce the law and protect human rights, yet all too often many police officers behave as if they are above the law."

Rebecca Emery, deputy director for Amnesty International, says that some of these marginalized people are from the Papua region. Papuans have long reported abuse by Indonesian police, and have struggled to gain independence from Indonesia.

“Since the national Indonesian police separated from the military in 1999, it has undertaken significant reforms, even though these reforms have been undertaken, the actual practice with regards to policing haven’t reflected human rights improvements. There’re a lot of violations and abuses, which are still deeply rooted in Indonesian policing,” Ms. Emery said.

The most vulnerable groups include women, drug addicts, and sex workers.

Ms. Emery added that the Indonesian government must recognize these human rights violations and work to stop them.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International - Amnesty reports serious abuse by Indonesian police - 25 June 2009

BBC News - Indonesia police abuse 'ongoing' - 24 June 2009

AFP - Torture 'widespread' in Indonesia: Amnesty - 24 June 2009

Comments

[The resident asked for the LBH protection]

The resident asked for the LBH protection

JAYAPURA WEST PAPUA REPORT was related to the existence of the summons by the Military Police (Military Police) against the witness on the occurrence of the shooting towards the Psakor Sobbing (16) the resident of the Kibai village the area of the border of RP-PNG that was done by the member the Task Force TNI Yonif 406 that was assigned in Bewani. Five residents of the PNG-RI border that lived in the Kibai village namely casualties's full sibling, Wens Psakor, of Roberth, Frans Psakor (the village head Kibai) and the Priest Jhon (the religious figure) visited the Legal Aid Service (LBH) Jayapura, on last Wednesday (24/6). Their arrival to LBH Jayapura to ask LBH to accompany them in the inspection as the witness by the Regional Military Command Military Police of XVII/Cenderawasih, at the same time to accompany them asked for justice to headed by the TNI post the shooting towards the Psakor Sobbing (16) this.

LBH Jayapura Chairman, Paskalis Letsoin,SH welcomed the arrival of the five Kibai residents, even LBH said was ready to accompany the resident of the PNG-RI border in the inspection as the witness that will be done by Military Police Regional Military Command XVII/ cenderawsih.

Where Wens and Frans Psakor (the Village Head Kibai) accepted the invitation to be checked as the witness by the Military Police (Military Police) because often happened wrong the perception on the incident that happened, so as sometimes the community felt the community did not receive justice when being carried out by the inspection. “ I and friends were ready to accompany casualties and the resident of the Kibay village was related to this case. Because of could have the accusation if this resident was part of the movement sparatis in Papua,” he said.
He also really regretted if the TNI always expressed as the protective noble of the people, but even was the reverse that did only should not take the form of the slogan ,” he stressed.

In the inspection of this witness, added Harry Maturbongs,SH with Iwan Iode,SH his side will do assistance from the beginning to the end of the inspection and will research each question that was sent to them. We will research each question that was put forward to witnesses future in accordance with the law.

On that occasion, Wens Psakor (the Older Brother casualties) in a detailed manner tell about chronological the incident, where at that time, on Monday (22/6) around struck 14,00 WIT he with his wife, his child of Margaretha (2), the Psakor Sobbing (casualties) and Robert just came from the side of (PNG) headed the Kibai village. When passing by around metre 500 of the Satgas posts, they were attacked by the dog belonging The border Task Force, because their fear was climbing the tree, at the time rained luxuriant so as during climbing the tree at once slipped because the tree trunk has been wet by rain. Along with the condition canned be heard 2 gunfire times and suddenly the Psakor Sobbing fell, afterwards the dog ran came home. Saw Isak Psakor fell then, Wens Psakor and Robert helped him evidently bada him has been smeared with blood and was seen one of the laxatives nested didada left-hand casualties. Wens with Roberth afterwards brought casualties entered in the small time around the location of the incident to avoid the dog chase. Afterwards wrapped casualties's wound, Robert and the Wens wife as well as his child

I did not see from where the arrival of the shooting, in fact did not know that the shooter wore the uniform or not obviously Wens that also was justified by Robert. Now the Village Head Kibai, Frans Psakor said that the community's side and the TNI Task Force carried out the agreement on the local resident, the TNI Member will not disturb the community member of the border-crosser. Because the community was still having the family's relations with the resident of the Skouwcau village (PNG) and many that sought a living there, but the resident that would to the side of will report in the TNI Post and was given the travel permit.

Moreover this village head acknowledged if the Task Force's TNI side has informed, if the border-crosser's community was pursued by the dog then immediately escaped in a climbing manner the tree or entered in the small time available around this location, then carried out the intensity to ask for help, then the soldier who was assigned to pacify these dogs. “ the commander of the Task Force agree to have to not dismiss the shooting to the community, but last Monday was carried out by them

BY : DANIEL GOBAY