Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
| ||||||||||||
Human Rights Defenders in Aceh Criminalized!- NGOs - Global policy Forum Human Rights Defenders in Aceh Criminalized!
One World
February 26, 2003
Statement by the Forum-Asia Press
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses its grave concerns regarding the ongoing criminalization of human rights defenders and NGO activists in Aceh, who merely exercising their three basic Freedom rights to peaceful assembly, association and expression as guaranteed under the agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities (COHA) signed by Indonesia and GAM on 9 December 2002.
While recognizing the overall improvement reflected in the reducing levels of violence with a sharp fall in the number of deaths between the two conflicting parties in Aceh, the Asian human rights organization is worried about the implementation of the cease fire agreement. To date, the participation of civil society in the peace process has not been truly realized. Worse, there are measures taken by the Indonesian Government to curtail peaceful activities of NGOs inside Aceh.
Recent harassment of human rights defenders and NGO activists in Aceh by Indonesia's state authorities includes;
1) In North Aceh District on 9 January, the civil society's initiative to hold a peaceful public debate to voice out their concerns regarding the future of Aceh was interrupted when the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) opened fire at villagers. Police were reportedly deployed to prevent villagers from attending the public debate. Several people were reportedly shot and injured. A leading activist, Kautsar, has also been threatened with arrest in connection with this incident.
2) On 30 January, police released statement stating that a number of Acehnese activists have been placed on the 'wanted' list. One week later, Abdullah, an activist from the Presidium of Information Centre for a Referendum in Aceh (SIRA) was arrested in Aceh Barat Daya District. He was released four days later.
3) On 5 February, an effort to exercise the rights to peaceful assembly by the Front Pidie Bersatu (FPB) in Sigli (Aceh- Pidi) was blocked by police although the organizer had earlier acquired an approval from police.
4) On 12 February, Muhammad Nazar, Chairman of the Presidium of SIRA was detained in connection with an allegation of organizing a public debate without permission in early January this year. Until today, Muhammad Nazar is still being held in police custody and Police Chief of Aceh has openly vowed to put him under jails for at least five years. Drs Bahrumsyah, Police Chief of Aceh, said on 15 February that Muhammad Nazar violated the peace agreement. He also warned on 17 February that two more Acehnese activists would be arrested allegedly for provoking unrests. The Army was asked to take part in the hunt for those Acehnese activists as well.
FORUM-ASIA stresses that activities of NGOs in Aceh are in accordance with Article 7 of COHA on Public Information and Communication, which provides for the all forms of peaceful public debate on the peace process and its implementation. Above all the participation of civil society is instrumental and necessary to ensure that COHA will genuinely "meet the aspirations of the people of Aceh to live in security with dignity, peace, prosperity and justice." In addition, Article 2F of COHA on Commitment by Both Sides to Cease Hostilities and All Acts of Violence clearly requires the two conflicting parties to "allow civil society to express without hindrance their democratic rights."
To preserve the sprit of COHA and people's confidence in the peace process, FORUM-ASIA calls on Police Chief of Aceh to immediately revoke the order to arrest Kautsar and others Acehnese activists. The Indonesian Government should also immediately release Muhammad Nazar, Chairman of the Presidium of SIRA.
Although police have power to investigate criminal activities in Peace Zones, they are required to consult with the Joint Security Council (JSC). FORUM-ASIA calls on JSC to take proactive measures to deal with the ongoing mala fide criminalization of human rights defenders and NGO activists in Aceh. The bottomline is that law enforcement activities to ensure stability in Aceh must respect human rights as well as the due process of law and justice.
FORUM-ASIA calls on the Indonesian Government to invite the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Hina Jilani, to examine
More Information on NGOs
More Information on NGOs and Government
More Information on NGOs and Social and Economic Policy
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
