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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public statement AI Index: ASA 21/017/2010, 19 August 2010
INDONESIA: End criminalization of peaceful political activities in Maluku
The decision to charge at least 22 political activists in Maluku for “rebellion” once again highlights the failure of the Indonesian government to distinguish between armed groups and peaceful political activists. Amnesty International urges the Indonesian government to release immediately and unconditionally the activists, who are all men, if they have been arrested solely for their peaceful political activities. On 13 August 2010 the Maluku police announced that they were planning to charge the political activists with “rebellion” against the state (makar) under Articles 106 and 110 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code (KUHP, Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana). The police pointed to evidence which included possession of dozens of “Benang Raja” flags, a symbol of the South Maluku independence; Republic of South Maluku (RMS) membership cards; and photos and stickers of the independence flag. According to local sources, the activists were planning to use the visit of Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to Maluku in early August as an opportunity to disseminate materials related to alleged human rights violations there, including posters calling for the release of political prisoners in Maluku arrested for their peaceful political activism. Amnesty International is also concerned about their safety in custody, as detained political activists are known to have been tortured and ill-treated in Maluku. The authorities must ensure that the men are allowed access to legal counsel of their choosing, their families and any medical treatment that they may require. |
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Ill-Treatment of Political Prisoners in Earlier Episodes Raises Grave Concerns August 10, 2010 (New York) - The Indonesian authorities should immediately release the activists for Moluccan independence arrested in Ambon at the beginning of August 2010, Human Rights Watch said today. The activists were allegedly planning to float banned Moluccan independence flags attached to balloons to protest an August 3 visit by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. | ...Sadly, free speech in Indonesia is about as sturdy as the detained activists’ balloons. The Indonesian government publicly claims that it respects freedom of expression, so it should live up to its word and free these peaceful protesters immediately... | | Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch |
Local sources reported that between 7 and 15 activists were arrested in connection with balloon launch plans to express political opposition to Indonesian rule in the Moluccas Islands. The police reportedly confiscated as evidence 133 posters that read "Free Alifuru and Papua Political Prisoners," two copies of the June 2010 Human Rights Watch report "Prosecuting Political Aspiration," 17 separatist Southern Moluccas Republic (Republik Maluku Selatan or RMS) flags, and one 12-pound gas cylinder to be used to fill the balloons. Yudhoyono was in Ambon to open the "Sail Banda" event, organized by the Tourism Ministry and the Moluccas Islands government to promote tourism in the Banda Sea. "Sadly, free speech in Indonesia is about as sturdy as the detained activists' balloons," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Indonesian government publicly claims that it respects freedom of expression, so it should live up to its word and free these peaceful protesters immediately." Human Rights Watch expressed grave concern that past torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners in Ambon puts the recently detained activists at serious risk. The detainees should have immediate access to family members and legal counsel, Human Rights Watch said. |
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URGENT ACTION ! DETAINED POLITICAL ACTIVISTS AT RISK OF TORTURE At least ten political activists in detention in the Indonesian province of Maluku are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. They were arrested for planning peaceful political activities. At least ten political activists (Benney Sinay, Izak Sapulete, Andy Maruanaya, Ongen Krikof, Marven Bremer, Steven Siahaya, Ong Siahaya, Nomo Andries, Charly Souisa, Glenn Wattimury) were arrested on 2 August 2010, in the province of Maluku. The police anti-terrorist unit, Detachment 88, arrested them for alleged links to the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) movement, a day before the visit of Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to the province. At least eight of the men are currently being detained at the Tantui police station in Ambon. Amnesty International is concerned about their safety, as detained political activists have previously been tortured and ill-treated in Maluku. According to local sources, the activists were planning to use the visit of the President as an opportunity to disseminate posters, books and other materials related to alleged human rights violations in Maluku and posters calling for the release of political prisoners who were arrested in Maluku for their peaceful political activism. Families of political activists in Maluku are frightened as Detachment 88 officers are also reportedly conducting searches in their houses looking for other activists. |
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