Hon Murray McCully
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
7 November, 2009
Dear Mr McCully,
I am forwarding on to you a copy of an open letter written on behalf of Amnesty International United Kingdom and a number of other important UK based human rights organisations. This letter is addressed to the new Minister for Justice and Human Rights in Indonesia, Mr Patrialis Akbar ,and concerns recent attacks on Indonesian human rights defenders, in particular Mr Usman Hamid the Co-ordinator of Kontras (the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence).
Human rights colleagues have requested me to forward this letter to you for your information and action.
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee shares in the international concern for the situation of Usman Hamid who is facing a criminal defamation charge because of his leading role in the campaign for justice for his predecessor, the late Munir Said Thalib. As you will see from the enclosed letter, Usman Hamid is far from the only human rights defender to be facing criminal defamation charges because of his human rights work.
It is deeply regrettable that Indonesia still retains provisions in its Criminal Code that mean that those who criticise government officials can be held to be guilty of ‘defamation’ and risk a prison term. We believe these legal provisions are not in line with international law and the United Declaration of Human Rights which upholds the universal right to freedom of expression.
Closer to home, the Indonesia Human Rights Committee is also currently very concerned about the situation of young human rights activists in West Papua.
The Sorong Secretary of the Papua Traditional Council (Dewan Adat Papua) Yoab Syatfle has also been the focus of attention for international human rights groups as he has received anonymous but explicit death threats in late October on his mobile phone. One message warned: “you are one of the people we are looking for, we remember you, if you leave your house yard one more time, you will be killed”.
Mr Syatfle has campaigned for a peaceful internationally mediated solution to the political problems in Papua as Secretary of the Papua National Consensus Team.
We are also concerned about Victor Yeimo another West Papuan political activist, who was arrested in a police operation ion the 21st October in Jayapura. We understand that the reason for his arrest is solely because he was involved in organising a number of peaceful demonstrations earlier this year. Victor Yeimo has always advocated a peaceful solution to West Papua’s future.
The above examples of intimidation and unjust treatment of human rights defenders illustrate Indonesia’s failure to honour the precepts of the 1998 UN Declaration on the rights of human rights defenders. As you know the declaration enjoins us all as individuals as well as nations to act to protect human rights and freedoms.
You will also be aware that the treatment of human rights defenders is in strong contrast to the situation of impunity which prevails for the former and current Indonesian Generals who should be facing up to their documented crimes against humanity in Timor-Leste.
New Zealand and Indonesia have important bilateral ties. We urge you to use this positive relationship to prevail on Indonesia to take strong measures protect all those engaged in legitimate human rights work, and to pursue justice for those responsible for crimes including killing, torture and threats against human rights defenders.
We look forward to your response to these urgent matters,
Yours sincerely,
Maire Leadbeater
(for the Indonesia Human Rights Committee)
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