- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 5, 2024
- Event Description
Indian authorities must drop the charges against journalist Santu Pan, who was arrested live on air while reporting on allegations of abuse by West Bengal officials, and investigate the earlier assault of three journalists reporting on clashes related to one of those officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday.
On Monday, police arrested Pan, who works for the privately owned news broadcaster Republic Bangla, while he was reporting from a woman’s home in the village of Sandeshkhali, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of West Bengal’s state capital, Kolkata, and remanded him in police custody for three days, according to news reports. Pan’s arrest was captured in a video by Republic World.
Pan, who was freed on bail on Thursday, was reporting on weeks of protests by local women over alleged rape and sexual assault by officials with West Bengal’s ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). One of the alleged assailants has fled, while another was arrested.
On Thursday, Calcutta High Court ordered a stay on further proceedings in the police investigation into Pan for violating multiple sections of the penal code. If charged and found guilty of criminal trespass, Pan could face imprisonment for up to three months; for house trespass, imprisonment for up to one year; for outraging the modesty of a woman, imprisonment for up to three years; for voyeurism, imprisonment for up to three years; and for criminal intimidation, imprisonment for up to two years.
The unrest in Sandeshkhali started on January 5, when hundreds of supporters of an AITC official attacked federal officials with the Enforcement Directorate who had arrived to conduct a raid on the official’s house over an alleged scam regarding government-subsidized food distribution, according to news reports. Several officials were injured, their vehicles set on fire, and their laptops and phones were looted, those sources said.
Journalist Ayan Ghoshal of the privately owned news broadcaster Zee 24 Ghanta and reporter Sandeep Sarkar and camera operator Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya of the privately owned news broadcaster ABP Ananda were stoned, beaten with sticks, and kicked, during clashes between crowds and officials in Sandeshkhali, those sources said, as well as Ghoshal. Their cameras and other equipment were stolen and broken, and their vehicles were damaged, those sources said.
Sarkar said in an interview with his outlet ABP Ananda that he was beaten by the crowd and forced to unlock his phone. When the crowd saw the photos that he had taken, Sarkar and his driver were beaten again, their car was damaged, and their video live streaming equipment was stolen, he said. The crowd also beat his colleague Chattopadhyaya and snatched and broke his camera, Sarkar added.
In an article in The Telegraph an anonymous journalist said that they were chased and beaten by people who snatched their camera and destroyed it. They are undergoing medical tests after vomiting, they added. Ghoshal told CPJ that his vehicle was the first to be targeted and damaged by the crowd with stones, bricks, and sticks.
“It is disturbing to witness the growing intolerance of press freedom in West Bengal,” said Kunāl Majumder, CPJ’s India representative. “Authorities in West Bengal must drop all charges against journalist Santu Pan, investigate the violence meted out against reporters covering unrest in Sandeshkhali, and ensure that the media can do their jobs without fear or interference.”
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 21, 2024
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 19, 2024
- Event Description
Indian authorities must drop the charges against journalist Santu Pan, who was arrested live on air while reporting on allegations of abuse by West Bengal officials, and investigate the earlier assault of three journalists reporting on clashes related to one of those officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday.
On Monday, police arrested Pan, who works for the privately owned news broadcaster Republic Bangla, while he was reporting from a woman’s home in the village of Sandeshkhali, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of West Bengal’s state capital, Kolkata, and remanded him in police custody for three days, according to news reports. Pan’s arrest was captured in a video by Republic World.
Pan, who was freed on bail on Thursday, was reporting on weeks of protests by local women over alleged rape and sexual assault by officials with West Bengal’s ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). One of the alleged assailants has fled, while another was arrested.
On Thursday, Calcutta High Court ordered a stay on further proceedings in the police investigation into Pan for violating multiple sections of the penal code. If charged and found guilty of criminal trespass, Pan could face imprisonment for up to three months; for house trespass, imprisonment for up to one year; for outraging the modesty of a woman, imprisonment for up to three years; for voyeurism, imprisonment for up to three years; and for criminal intimidation, imprisonment for up to two years.
The unrest in Sandeshkhali started on January 5, when hundreds of supporters of an AITC official attacked federal officials with the Enforcement Directorate who had arrived to conduct a raid on the official’s house over an alleged scam regarding government-subsidized food distribution, according to news reports. Several officials were injured, their vehicles set on fire, and their laptops and phones were looted, those sources said.
Journalist Ayan Ghoshal of the privately owned news broadcaster Zee 24 Ghanta and reporter Sandeep Sarkar and camera operator Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya of the privately owned news broadcaster ABP Ananda were stoned, beaten with sticks, and kicked, during clashes between crowds and officials in Sandeshkhali, those sources said, as well as Ghoshal. Their cameras and other equipment were stolen and broken, and their vehicles were damaged, those sources said.
Sarkar said in an interview with his outlet ABP Ananda that he was beaten by the crowd and forced to unlock his phone. When the crowd saw the photos that he had taken, Sarkar and his driver were beaten again, their car was damaged, and their video live streaming equipment was stolen, he said. The crowd also beat his colleague Chattopadhyaya and snatched and broke his camera, Sarkar added.
In an article in The Telegraph an anonymous journalist said that they were chased and beaten by people who snatched their camera and destroyed it. They are undergoing medical tests after vomiting, they added. Ghoshal told CPJ that his vehicle was the first to be targeted and damaged by the crowd with stones, bricks, and sticks.
“It is disturbing to witness the growing intolerance of press freedom in West Bengal,” said Kunāl Majumder, CPJ’s India representative. “Authorities in West Bengal must drop all charges against journalist Santu Pan, investigate the violence meted out against reporters covering unrest in Sandeshkhali, and ensure that the media can do their jobs without fear or interference.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 21, 2024
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2023
- Event Description
A demonstration by Papuan students in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), turned violent. Dozens of students were beaten by a mob from one of the mass organizations, then they were arrested by the police.
The demonstration of Papuan students took place on Jalan Piet A Tallo, Friday (1/12/2023). They rallied there in commemoration of the West Papua independence declaration day.
While protesting, the students were approached by a group of mass organizations Garda Flobamora and Garuda. They were told to stop protesting. Chaos ensued until they were taken to the police station.
"We are temporarily at the police station. We were dispersed and beaten by the Garuda mass organization," said the coordinator of the mass action, Yeri Wali.
Yeri explained that the incident began when two people suspected of being intelligence officers arrived using a white car to conduct monitoring at around 09.07 Wita.
Then at 09.15 Wita, around 50 people from the Garuda mass organization came to the protesters angry, argued and ended up beating them blindly, causing the clothes of a number of protesters to be torn off.
In addition, a protestor named Ririn was beaten until she fainted. Another protestor, Jek, also received a blow on his lip that broke. They were then transported to the Kupang City Police Station.
"Currently, we all have injuries and many bumps on the head, face and lips," said Yerri.
Kupang City Police Public Relations Section Head Aipda Florensi Ibrahim Lapuisaly confirmed the arrest. However, he suggested that they go directly to the Kupang City Police Headquarters.
"There is indeed information (of arrests) but I don't know how many were secured. Because I and Mr. Kapolresta still have Friday Curhat activities in Oepura Village," he said.
detikBali monitored at the Kupang City Police Station that the protesters had not been released. Meanwhile, the masses from the Garuda Kupang mass organization had already dispersed at 10:40 Wita. There has been no official statement from the Garuda organization about the riot.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 1, 2024
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 21, 2023
- Event Description
A Hong Kong court on Thursday rejected a fresh bail application for pro-democracy activist and lawyer Chow Hang-tung, whose subversion trial under a China-imposed national security law is expected to open in late 2024.
In making the latest in a series of so far unsuccessful bail applications, Chow’s lawyer, Cheung Yiu-leung, noted Chow had already served more than 2 years in detention after being arrested on suspicion of “incitement for subversion” over her ties to a group that organised an annual June 4 vigil.
High Court judge Andrew Chan, however, said he couldn’t grant bail because Chow might carry out acts that endanger national security.
A tentative trial date was provided for Chow’s case in the second half of 2024 at the West Kowloon court, Chan said. A case-management hearing was also tentatively expected to be held on Feb. 15, 2024, he added.
Chow, 38, a human-rights lawyer, was the vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, a now disbanded pro-democracy group. Despite being jailed, she has continued to defy Beijing’s campaign to subjugate the city.
Chow is charged with “incitement to subversion”, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment, alongside two former Alliance leaders Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan under the national security law (NSL).
Chow has been detained since September 2021 at a maximum security women’s prison.
Hong Kong laws usually restrict reporting of full bail application proceedings to only key details, but Justice Chan lifted these restrictions over objections from the prosecution.
“I don’t see that anything you said, or I said, cannot be published. The press are free to publish whatever,” Chan said.
Chow was recently put in solitary confinement for 18 days for possessing “too many letters” from her supporters, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Hong Kong prison authorities said they wouldn’t comment on individual cases.
Chow has already finished two sentences for unauthorised assembly in relation to the banned Tiananmen vigils in 2020 and 2021.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 1, 2024
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2023
- Event Description
The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) commemorated the independence of the Papuan nation on December 1, 1961.
The action, which was supposed to take place at Barito market in Gamalama sub-district, Ternate city, was dispersed by TNI and Polri officers in front of SMAN 3 Ternate city, Gambesi sub-district, South Ternate district, (1/12).
The field coordinator when confirmed, said that after the mass transportation vehicle left the gathering point to the action point, soldiers in full uniform about 7 people immediately blocked the action truck. Meanwhile, a soldier forced the truck driver to stop the car and forced the driver to get off and confiscate the truck keys.
"The truck left the gathering point, and was immediately blocked and sabotaged by soldiers in full uniform, totaling around 7 people. And a lot of plainclothes police," concluded Nando.
In addition, one of the Papuan Alliance Students said that the purpose of this action was to convey to the entire community that the Papuan nation is an independent nation and has been recognized de facto de jure.
"On December 1, everything was carried out. The declaration and submission of a political manifesto as a concrete form of the establishment of the West Papua state," he said.
He also said that the declaration of independence of the Papuan nation is clear evidence that the formation of the state was purely carried out by the Papuan people.
"It is not a country made by the Dutch, but it is a pure country founded by the people of the west Papuan nation," he said.
He also conveyed that the current situation in Papua is very concerning. Because the Indonesian state colonized and annexed an independent nation, this then led to various kinds of human rights violations that were increasing and massive, so this needs to be conveyed objectively what is happening in Papua.
"Many human rights violations and their escalation are always increasing and massive from year to year. And it leads to genocide of systematic racial extermination, so that today the indigenous Papuans are on the verge of racial extinction," he said.
Meanwhile, Lipantara, when confirmed, said that the forced dispersal carried out by the security forces was an act of suppression of democratic space, where restrictions on expressing opinions in public were carried out openly by the state through the power of the TNI / Polri apparatus.
Whereas the very nature of democracy is to provide the freedom to express opinions in public in full, without any restrictions.
"Because the freedom to express opinions is precisely the heart of democracy, if it is stifled then democracy will slowly die," he said.
Until now, the protesters are still securing themselves from the TNI / Polri sweep.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 1, 2024
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 7, 2023
- Event Description
Chairperson of the University of Indonesia (UI) Student Executive Board (BEM) Melki Sedek Huang admitted that he received intimidation, including his family in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. He suspects that the intimidation is related to the student movement about the Constitutional Court (MK) decision regarding the minimum age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Since the beginning of the management of BEM UI in 2023, Melki admitted that he and a number of other students often received digital attacks and terror in various forms.
However, the intensity has increased since the frenzy of the Constitutional Court decision led by President Joko Widodo's brother-in-law, Anwar Usman.
"I don't know what the motive is, but I have confidence that this is quite closely related to the socio-political conditions that are currently in the air, one of which is about the frenzy of the Constitutional Court's decision," Melki said when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (8/11).
Melki said his family in Pontianak, West Kalimantan was also visited by a number of parties claiming to be security forces a few weeks ago. Melki said the party did not mention the origin of the unit. They only claimed to be officers.
"The worst thing was that my mother was at home in Pontianak, visited by people in TNI and police uniforms. They asked about Melki's habits at home, what he used to do, what my mother did when she came back home, whether she came back at night or at what time. Yes, asking about the habits of people at home," he said.
In addition, Melki also admitted that he received news from his teacher at SMA Negeri 1 Pontianak that someone had asked about his habits while attending school. Until now, Melki has not reported the terror incident to the police.
"Until now, we are still waiting and seeing," he added.
The terror, said Melki, has been discussed within BEM UI.
CNNIndonesia.com has attempted to contact West Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Pipit Rismanto regarding Melki's claim. However, until this news was published, he had not yet responded.
Kapendam XII Tanjungpura Colonel Inf Ade Rizal Muharram admitted that he had not received information about the alleged terror of the authorities against Melki's family in Pontianak. He said he would immediately inform you if he received information about the alleged incident.
"I'll find out first," Ade told CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday night.
The Constitutional Court has ruled on the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, which was originally 40 years old, to be 40 years old or have / are currently holding positions elected through elections, including regional elections.
The decision finally opened the door for Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is still 40 years old, to run in the 2024 presidential election. It is known that Gibran is the eldest son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as well as the nephew of Anwar Usman, who at that time served as Chairman of the Constitutional Court.
The decision reaped pros and cons. There were a total of 21 reports of alleged violations of the ethics of constitutional judges filed by a number of parties. Anwar was the most reported party, namely 15 reports.
The Constitutional Court Honor Council (MKMK) finally declared Anwar proven to have violated serious ethics related to conflicts of interest in the Constitutional Court's decision on the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Then, Anwar was sanctioned with the dismissal of Anwar Usman from the position of Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court. The verdict was read out by MKMK Chairman Jimly Ashhiddiqie at the MK Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (7/11) evening.
Jimly said this decision was made after MKMK conducted an examination of Anwar and collected facts and a defense from Anwar. Among the nine MK judges, Anwar was examined twice by MKMK in this alleged ethical violation.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Online, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 4, 2024
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 25, 2023
- Event Description
Violence against journalists has occurred again. This time it happened to a senior journalist in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province named Ichsan Mokoginta.
According to the official statement from the press organization Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Pangkalpinang City, the violent incident happened to Ichsan Mokoginta who is a journalist from Trasberita.com.
The attack from an unknown person befell Ichsan at his residence on Jalan Kampung Baru, Petaling Banjar Village, West Mendo District, Bangka Regency on Saturday (25/11/2023, around 13.30 WIB.
When confirmed by AJI Pangkalpinang City, Ichsan explained the chronology of the attack he experienced. The incident began when he was approached by an unknown person wearing a black helmet, dark jacket and white and red checkered long-sleeved shirt.
"The perpetrator used language with a Palembang accent and asked about the house of someone named Mamad, to which I answered that I didn't know. However, the question about Mamad's house kept being repeated," said Ichsan, Sunday (26/11/2023).
Ichsan, who received the uninvited person, felt suspicious and then chose to keep his distance by going deeper into the living room of his house. Ichsan's actions were apparently followed by the perpetrator who also entered the house.
The perpetrator then took out a bottle similar to a vinegar bottle from his pocket and then, using both hands, immediately sprayed the liquid in the bottle at Ichsan.
"The perpetrator then fled on a motorbike after I shouted," he said.
The liquid spray, which was thought to be acid, did not cause significant injuries to Ichsan's body. It's just that the liquid spray made the skin around Ichsan's face, neck and stomach feel hot.
"I suspect that this incident is related to my reporting about the existence of illegal tin mining in Penagan Waters, West Mendo Village. I have been aggressively reporting on the mine. I even reported it when fishermen who rejected the mine sent a report to TNI Headquarters about the involvement of individuals in the mine," explained Ichsan.
Currently, said Ichsan, this incident has been reported to the authorities, namely the West Mendo Sector Police (Polsek), which investigators have followed up by visiting the crime scene (TKP) and asking for information.
"A few days before the physical attack, I was invited to meet by one of the individuals and asked me not to report on the Penagan mine. The day before, I found that I was being followed by people who then monitored activities around my house," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Raid, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 4, 2024
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 18, 2023
- Event Description
The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH) has urged the Papua Police Chief to immediately order the Merauke Police Chief to release 20 participants of the Ampera South Papua (PS) peace rally. LBH Papua Director Emanuel Gobay said the arrests made by the Merauke Police occurred on Saturday (18/11) morning, when they were preparing for the Ampera PS peace rally.
Emanuel confirmed that his party had also sent a letter of notification of the peaceful action plan with the topic 'The Law is Dead for Awyu Indigenous Peoples in Boven Digoel' to the Merauke Police.
"The Merauke Police, who had received a peaceful action notification letter, instead came to the gathering point and dispersed the Ampera PS protesters and arrested 20 AMPERA PS protesters," he said in a written statement.
Emanuel said that of the total 20 peaceful protesters who were arrested and taken to the Merauke Police Station, one of them was a woman.
He also criticized the arrest steps which were considered arbitrary.
The reason is, the protesters have given a notification letter to the Merauke Police. Therefore, he called the arrest a form of violation of the right to freedom of speech stipulated in the Law.
On the other hand, Emanuel said that the Merauke Police Chief and his staff had also violated the existing authority as stipulated in Article 6 letter q of Government Regulation Number 2 of 2003 concerning Discipline of the Indonesian National Police.
"Evidence that the Police Chief and his staff have silenced democratic space and clearly violated National Police Chief Regulation Number 8 of 2009 concerning the Implementation of Human Rights Standards and Principles in the Duties of the Indonesian National Police," he explained.
Therefore, he urged the Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri and the Governor of South Papua to immediately order the Merauke Police Chief to release all the protesters who had been arrested.
"Immediately release the 20 people of the AMPERA PS Action Period because the dissolution and arrest are contrary to the Principles of Perkap Number 8 of 2009 concerning the Implementation of Human Rights Standards and Principles in Police Duties," he said.
CNNIndonesia.com has attempted to contact Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri and Head of Papua Police Public Relations Commissioner Ignatius Benny Prabowo. However, until this news was published, both of them had not yet responded.
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 4, 2024
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 15, 2023
- Event Description
At least 20 people were wounded when police used batons, water cannon and tear gas to disperse hundreds of people who joined rallies in Indonesia’s West Papua region on the 61st anniversary of an agreement that made the territory part of Indonesia, news agencies report.
The US-brokered 1962 New York Agreement allowed Indonesia to annex the Christian-majority region after the end of Dutch colonial rule, according to a report in the UCA News.
Riot police attacked peaceful demonstrators in three locations near the provincial capital Jayapura yesterday, alleged Emmanuel Gobay, a Catholic and an official of the Papua Legal Aid Institute.
The demonstrators called on the international community to review the agreement and take action to end ongoing violence and repression in the region, said the report.
“In fact, they only held peaceful demonstrations,” said Gobay, who joined one of the rallies.
He stated that more than 20 people were beaten, with one of them later being treated in hospital.
“One person was seriously injured and was immediately transported to the hospital for treatment,” he said.
Listening to speeches Videos and photos obtained by UCA News showed police attacked with water canons and fired tear gas while people were listening to speeches from leaders of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), the protest organiser.
Gobay said that although the authorities viewed the KNPB as a “separatist — pro-independence — group “they should have the right to express their opinion” as guaranteed in the nation’s constitution.
“Moreover, they submitted an official letter notifying police about the programme beforehand,” he added.
He condemned the use of water cannon and tear gas on demonstrators.
These should only be for anarchic demonstrations — “not peaceful demonstrations,” he said.
Gobay alleged that police committed criminal offences by torturing and beating protesters, and called on the Papuan police chief to immediately prosecute the perpetrators so that there was a deterrent effect, said the UCA News report.
Father Bernard Baru from the Jayapura Diocese’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission said that this repressive action was a repetition of the discriminatory treatment of Papuans by the state.
Brutal police action ‘normal’ “In Papua, police actions like this are considered normal. This only deepens discrimination against Papuans,” he said.
Police officials were not available for comment.
KNPB spokesman Ones Sahuniap issued a statement to condemn the police brutality and claimed those who were beaten suffered serious head injuries and bled profusely.
Suhuniap said the police used rattan and batons to beat and break up the demonstration.
The KNPB simultaneously held demonstrations in Papua and in other parts of Indonesia, asking the United Nations to review the 1962 New York Agreement.
During the rallies, KNPB leaders called the New York Agreement “a violation of human rights of Papuans” sponsored by Indonesia, the Netherlands and the United States and the United Nations.
Not party to agreement As per the agreement, later added to the agenda of UN General Assembly, the Netherlands agreed to transfer the control of West Papua New Guinea to Indonesia, pending an UN-administered referendum.
The Papuans were not party to the agreement and it paved the way for the 1969 Act of Free Choice, an independence referendum favoring Indonesian rule in Papua whuch was largely regarded as a sham.
Indonesia’s annexation of Papua and use to force to crush dissent sparked an armed pto-indeoendence movement.
Thousands of civilians, soldiers and rebels have been killed and tens of thousands have been displaced due to the conflict in the easternmost region in the past decades.
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 19, 2023
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Nov 15, 2023
- Event Description
On November 15, PCIJ, the Filipino non-profit and independent media agencyspecialising in investigative journalism, reported an active cyber-attack on its website which prompted it to take the site down temporarily to assess the incident and prevent further breaches. The hacking attacks began on November 13 and escalated around noon on November 15.
According to the PCIJ, the incident is the most serious cyber-attack in recent years. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, however a number of recent reports of breaches and cyberattacks on Filipino government websites and databases have been recently been recorded. At the time of publication, the PCIJ website remains inaccessible.
PCIJ's recent stories have included include a report on online communities of Filipinos who have been amplifying and supporting pro-Beijing narratives, which include the claims of the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea. The PCIJ has also published articles on the alleged sale of votes in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid, and the issue of excessive profits at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
The IFJ has documented an increase in cyberattacks against media outlets in the Philippines, and across South East Asia, in recent years. In February 27, 2022, the website of CNN Philippines was hit by a cyberattack that made the site inaccessible to users while the network was hosting a presidential debate ahead of the country’s May 2022 election. In December 2021, news outlets including ABS-CBN, Rappler, Vera Files, and Philstar, were targeted by Distribution Denial of Services (DDos) attacks.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Media freedom, Freedom of expression Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 19, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 13, 2023
- Event Description
On November 13, 2023, during a hearing at the East Jakarta District Court, the Public Prosecutor requested Fatia Maulidiyanti, former Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), FIDH Vice-President, and OMCT General Assembly member, be sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a fine of 500,000 Rupiah (30 Euros), and Haris Azhar, Executive Director of Lokataru, be sentenced to four years in prison and a fine of one million Rupiah (60 Euros).
The Observatory recalls that a defamation case against Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar was initiated in August 2021, after Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, and retired army general, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, sent them a subpoena in relation to a talk show video posted on Haris Azhar’s YouTube channel, in which the two human rights defenders alleged the Minister was involved in controversial gold mining activities in Papua Province.
As Ms Maulidiyanti and Mr Azhar refused to apologise, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan filed a police report on September 22, 2021, against the two human rights defenders alleging that both violated criminal defamation provisions, namely “attacking someone’s honour or reputation with accusations” and “defamation” (Articles 310 and 311 of the Criminal Code, respectively) and Article 45(3) of the amended Electronic Information and Transaction (EIT) Law. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked for 300 billion rupiah (approximately 18 million Euros) in compensation. The trial of Ms Maulidiyanti and Mr Azhar began on April 3, 2023, before the East Jakarta District Court and 28 hearings have taken place since then. On November 27, 2023, the two human rights defenders are scheduled to submit their defence at the East Jakarta District Court.
The Observatory denounces the ongoing judicial harassment against Fatia Maulidiyanti and Harris Azhar, which seems to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities and for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression, enshrined in international human right law, and particularly in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Indonesia is a state party.
The Observatory urges the Indonesian authorities to dismiss the case against Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar, and to put an end to any acts of harassment – including at the judicial level – against them and all other human rights defenders in the country, and to ensure that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without any hindrance or fear of reprisal.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Indonesia: NGO workers picked up by police for interrogation (Update), Indonesia: two defenders named suspects as judicial harassment continues (Update)
- Date added
- Dec 19, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 5, 2023
- Event Description
Several police officers dressed casually are suspected of intimidating and using violence against journalists while covering the forced return of protesters at the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra in Padang, West Sumatra. Three journalist organizations condemn the obstruction of journalistic work.
Chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Padang Aidil Ichlas, Sunday (6/8/2023), said that at least four journalists were victims of intimidation or violence by the apparatus. The four journalists are Nandito Putra (Tribunnews), Fachri Hamzah (Tempo), Dasril (Padang TV), and Zulia Yandani (Classy FM).
"We condemn such actions. In fact, a female journalist has also become a victim. Some of the journalists who tried to break up and release their colleague who was about to be lifted were also threatened and their shirt collars were grabbed," said Aidil.
Tribunnews journalist, Nandito Putra, in a press statement, explained that he was grabbed by plainclothes police officers while recording the return of protesters and doing a live broadcast for his media on Saturday afternoon. Prior to that, he was also prohibited from taking photos and his cellphone was about to be confiscated by the authorities.
According to Nandito, around 3:30 pm, he was broadcasting live on Facebook Tibunpadang.com to record the situation of West Pasaman residents who were rejecting the national strategic project (PSN) in the courtyard of the West Sumatra Grand Mosque. After recording the condition of the residents for two minutes, he directed the camera towards the police who were pulling a woman.
“I followed the crowd to a distance of about 3 meters. However, when I was recording, suddenly some plainclothes people came and grabbed me. My cellphone was taken by force. Then the apparatus asked me what my purpose was and I explained that I was reporting," said Nandito.
Nandito was only released after two journalists protested against the police officer's actions. However, in that effort, the security forces also lifted Fachri Hamzah's shirt collar, a Tempo journalist, and made threats. The same officer also threatened Aidil Ichlas, Chairman of AJI Padang, who at that time was also trying to release Nandito.
The incident ended a few minutes later after several officers from the Padang City Resort Police intervened and apologized to Nandito, Fachri, and Aidil for the incident.
On another occasion, Dasril, a journalist from Padang TV, also experienced intimidation by police officers. At the time, Dasril was recording the arrest of a member of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Padang who was accompanying the protesters.
Suddenly, a police officer obstructed Dasril's camera from recording. "That's enough, don't record anymore," said the officer. However, Dasril continued to do his job.
Meanwhile, Zulia Yandani, a female journalist from Classy FM, also experienced violence during the chaotic mass repatriation incident. At that time, Zulia had just finished praying and heard the commotion on the first floor of Masjid Raya Sumbar.
Seeing the tense situation, Zulia then recorded the incident, but was approached by a number of police officers who then took her phone. "I have explained that I am a journalist, but they still pulled me and lifted both of my legs. They were going to take me to the car," she said.
Due to the police's act of intimidation and violence towards journalists, three journalist organizations in West Sumatra, namely AJI Padang, Pewarta Foto Indonesia (PFI) Padang, and Ikatan Jurnalis Televisi Indonesia (IJTI) Sumbar, issued a joint statement through a press release.
These three journalist organizations are of the opinion that the actions taken by the police have violated press freedom. However, Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press has clearly regulated matters related to journalistic work.
Such intimidation action also violates Article 18 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 40 Year 1999. The article states, "Any person who unlawfully and intentionally performs actions resulting in obstructing or impeding the implementation of the provisions of Article 4 paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of 2 years or a maximum fine of IDR 500 million."
Therefore, AJI Padang, PFI Padang, and IJTI Sumbar condemn the acts of intimidation and violence by the police towards journalists on duty at the Grand Mosque of Sumbar. The three associations also urge the Chief of West Sumatra Regional Police to apologize for the incident of intimidation and violence.
The Chief of Police of West Sumatra is urged to process his members who intimidate and use violence against journalists in accordance with regulations. In addition, the Chief of Police of West Sumatra is requested to ensure that standard operating procedures for handling demonstrations always prioritize professionalism, persuasion, and respect for press freedom.
On the other hand, AJI Padang, PFI Padang, and IJTI Sumbar appreciate the actions taken by several police officers from Polresta Padang who prevented violence against several journalists and immediately apologized. Finally, the three journalistic organizations also urged journalists to continue to adhere to the journalistic code of ethics while working.
On Saturday afternoon, at the Masjid Raya Sumbar, one of the journalists who became a victim, Zulia Yandani, reported the issue to the Inspector General of Sumbar, Suharyono. Initially, Suharyono responded jokingly to the alleged behavior of his member who is suspected of being intel. "So the intel is still fond of you, Mom," he said.
However, after Zulia convinced that the police officer's actions were serious, Suharyono summoned the Director of Intelligence of the West Sumatra Provincial Police, Commissioner Sunarya, to apologize directly to Zulia for the incident.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 18, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 27, 2023
- Event Description
Church bodies have joined advocacy groups to complain against alleged use of intimidatory measures by Indonesian police against villagers protesting a geothermal project in a Christian-majority province.
In a complaint submitted to the National Human Rights Commission in Jakarta on Oct. 20, they accused police of carrying out "intimidation and criminalization" against residents opposing the power project led by State’s Electricity Company (PT PLN) at Poco Leok in East Nusa Tenggara province.
The organizations, including Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPIC) of the Franciscans and Divine Word, pointed out that the summons issued to seven residents earlier this month and 12 others this week were “an arbitrary act by the Manggarai Police.”
"The Poco Leok indigenous community does not know the reason why the police carried out this summons which was completely unreasonable," they said.
The Manggarai Police in the summons, a copy of which was obtained by UCA News, accused the residents of committing a crime "by deliberately obstructing or impeding the development of a geothermal business and by using violence against officials who were carrying out their legitimate duties."
Manggarai Police spokesman I Made Budiarsa said residents were "randomly summoned to ask for clarification regarding police officers' information reports” about an incident on Sept. 27.
Around 30 police and military personnel had gone to Poco Leok on that day to escort officers from the state-owned Electricity Company on a visit to the geothermal project site.
Syamsul Alam Agus, chairman of the executive board of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago said it is the duty of police to protect vulnerable people.
“Unfortunately, the police protect individuals or companies who come to destroy the land of indigenous peoples," he added.
Valens Dulmin, a lawyer from Franciscans’ JPIC Commission said the police action violated the 1945 Constitution which assures “equal treatment before the law.”
Meanwhile, Melky Nahar, coordinator of the Mining Advocacy Network, said that "in the name of a national strategic project that was created without prior consultation, small people are being evicted from their territory."
Hari Kurniawan, a commissioner at the National Human Rights Commission said they would convene a joint meeting before arriving at a decision on the complaint.
The Poco Leok geothermal project is an expansion of the Ulumbu Geothermal Power Plant, about 3 kilometers west of Poco Leok, which has been operational since 2012.
The government aims to hike the project capacity to 40 megawatts from the current 10 megawatts through the expansion.
However, the project funded by the Germany-based Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) continues to face opposition from local residents who fear it will take away their ancestral land and livelihoods across 10 villages.
Most of the affected residents, who are farmers and also raise livestock, are Catholics under the Ruteng diocese.
Flores Island was designed as a geothermal spot by a 2017 government decision.
It has a total geothermal potential of 902 megawatts, or 65 percent of the total capacity in East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 14, 2023
- Event Description
The conflict between the people of Nagari Bidar Alam and the people of Nagari Ranah Pantai Cermin with PT Ranah Andalas Plantation (PT RAP) in South Solok Regency led to the criminalization of 6 residents. All six were named as suspects by South Solok Police. The summoning of the six people in Bidar alam originated from police report Number LP/168/IX/2020/SPKT related to the crime of theft on September 14, 2020, which was reported by the company.
Responding to the criminalization of residents, Diki Rafiqi, Coordinator of the Advocacy Division of LBH Padang said that LBH Padang and Walhi West Sumatra West Sumatra made three demands. First, urging the South Solok Police to stop the criminalization of the Bidar Alam community. Second, urging the Regent of South Solok to revoke PT RAP's license. Third, the South Solok Police should investigate PT RAP's criminal allegations, including gardening without a permit, embezzlement of community revenue sharing money, and taxation crimes.
Diki explained that the problem stems from agrarian conflicts that are still unresolved in South Solok Regency. Even though PT RAP, which allegedly reported the community, no longer has any legality. "This is reinforced by the Decree of the South Solok Regent which revoked PT RAP's location permit on July 29, 2008. In addition, PT RAP also does not have Business Use Rights (HGU) in Nagari Bidar Alam and Nagari Ranah Pantai Cermin," he said in an official statement Monday, September 25, 2023.
Initially, said Diki, PT RAP was present due to an agreement between the ninik mamak and PT RAP that there would be a 60 percent - 40 percent profit sharing since the construction of the plantation, but until now the community has not received their rights at all from PT RAP. "Decades of people waiting for good faith from PT RAP to provide 40 percent profit sharing from the harvest have never been obtained," he said.
The impact of the 60 percent to 40 percent agreement, PT RAP has broken its promise to the community. In mid-2020, the community took over their land by harvesting on their own land. In addition, there is also no clarity on conflict resolution by the Regent of South Solok until now. The choice to reclaim rights by the community is based on the situation of economic needs that the company used to promise to prosper.
However, the South Solok Police responded to the reclaiming of land rights by naming a suspect in the alleged crime of theft. This condition certainly intensified the conflict in Nagari Bidar Alam and Nagari Ranah Pantai Cermin.
According to Diki, this is clearly one of the criminalization efforts carried out by the police that can silence the struggle for rights carried out by the community. This criminalization also gives fear to the community so that the company can regain control of the community's land. If the police read the agreements between the community and PT RAP in partnership to build oil palm plantations, it can be concluded that the oil palm plantations belong to the community and the company.
"Then how can a person who owns be accused of stealing on his own land and oil palm trees that are 40% capitalized by the landowning community. Don't think that the plantation was only built by the company because the mechanism built between the company and the community is a partnership and profit sharing," he said.
Before the South Solok Police accepted PT RAP's report, said Diki, the police should have questioned the legality of the company, because the company no longer has legal legality there. In addition, PT RAP not only harms the community but also harms the state by not paying taxes. The state should take action against things like this instead of punishing people who have long been cheated. "In addition, the issue of PT RAP and the landowners is not a criminal issue but a civil issue," said Diki.
Tommy, Head of Advocacy of Walhi West Sumatera, stated that the oil palm plantation cultivation activities carried out by PT RAP without having land rights and business licenses are illegal. Because, plantation cultivation business activities and / or plantation product processing businesses can only be carried out by plantation companies if they have obtained land rights and fulfill business licenses related to plantations from the central government (article 42 paragraph (1).
Furthermore, said Tommy, article 55 of Law 39 of 2014 concerning Plantations as amended by Law Number 06 of 2023 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law also emphasizes norms that prohibit everyone (including companies) from unlawfully working on, using, occupying, and / or controlling plantation land (including on customary land), harvesting or collecting plantation products.
With the illegality of the activities of working on, using, occupying, and/or controlling plantation land by PT RAP, it does not have land rights and does not have a business license.
So, said Tommy, PT RAP can be subject to plantation crime, regulated in article 107 of Law 39 of 2014 concerning Plantations as amended by Law Number 06 of 2023 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulations. Substitute for Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law which emphasizes that every person who unlawfully works, uses, occupies, and controls plantation land, community land or customary land rights of indigenous peoples.
"With the intention of the plantation business, cutting plants in the plantation area; harvesting or collecting plantation products as referred to in Article 55, shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 4 (four) years or a maximum fine of Rp. 4,000,000,000," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Corporation Agricultural business
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2023
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 23, 2023
- Event Description
Over the past weeks, innumerable protests – some impromptu, many by Muslim organisations and a few by rights organisations – have been organised across many big and small cities in India. These protests, largely peaceful, have raised citizen’s voices against what is seen as Israel’s siege and relentless bombing of Gaza. Indian law enforcement authorities from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh (UP) to Delhi have however, in many cases taken “action.”
The issue at stake is the denial of permissions to several groups countrywide who have expressed a desire to protest this issue. Starting with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the violence in West Asia has so far claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis and over 5,100 Palestinians. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, about 40% of the Palestinians killed are children. And like in the rest of the world, Indians in several cities have been wanting to protest but have been denied the right. Where they have, in many instances, the protest has been criminalised.
October 23, 2023, Delhi
The Telegraph reported that students from JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Delhi University detained as they try to hold protest near Israeli embassy and police had erected barricades to stop them from reaching the embassy at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road. The report detailed that scores of students from JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Delhi University had gathered to take part in the protest. Police had erected barricades to stop them from reaching the embassy at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road. When some of the students tried to march towards the embassy, they were detained as they did not have the required permission to hold the protest, said a police officer, adding that “no one was allowed to violate law and order”. All India Students Association (AISA) Delhi unit president Abhigyan said several students were detained and taken to a police station.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2023
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 9, 2023
- Event Description
First, in response to the Israel-Gaza war, several students of the Aligarh Muslim University took out a rally on October 9. This peaceful rally, organised as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians, saw four students in trouble as the police booked them under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language, etc.), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), and 505(statements inducing public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The state chief minister, Ajay Bisht aka Yogi Adityanath, soon after the AMU protest, directed the police to take “stern action” against actions or social media posts in support of Palestine. According to a report in the Deccan Herald, senior district police officials have been told to speak to the Muslim clerics and make it clear that “any attempt to incite passion on social media or a similar call from the religious places will not be tolerated”.
A cop, belonging to the Muslim community, posted in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, had merely shared a pro-Palestine post on social media. Within days, he was suspended from duty and an additional superintendent of police rank officer was appointed to carry out an inquiry about the constable and “his political inclination”.
In similar incidents, the police in Kanpur booked two young Muslim clerics, Suhail Ansari and Atif Chowdhary, for posting content in support of Palestine on social media. While Ansari was arrested, the police raided Chowdhary’s residence.
Background
Irrespective of which parties dominate the government is in power and what the political party’s stand has been on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, protestors in many states are facing criminal action for acts of “unlawful assembly” to promote “enmity between two groups”. India’s position on West Asia – reiterated by the Narendra Modi government – on the Israel-Palestine conflict is that it supports a “negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, within secure and recognised borders, at peace beside Israel as endorsed in the relevant UNSC and UNGA Resolutions”.
It is the right to protest peacefully however which is guaranteed but appears in many instances to have been denied.
Ironically even in Congress-ruled Karnataka, the police’s actions were no different than UP, Delhi or Mumbai.
The police from the Cubbon Park jurisdiction in Bengaluru booked 11 persons, including a member of the Bahutva Karnataka (a citizen’s group), and other unnamed people for holding a solidarity gathering in support of Palestine on MG Road. While the police haven’t booked them for “promoting enmity”, the sections applied are largely for gathering without permission and for “public nuisance”.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 26, 2023
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 12, 2023
- Event Description
A mainland Chinese student was imprisoned in Hong Kong for six months for “sedition” charges. Authorities recently released her on October 12th, when the Hong Kong government deported her to mainland China.
SEDITION 23-year-old Zeng Yuxuan was originally a PhD student studying law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Zeng Yuxuan is the first mainland Chinese student to be imprisoned in Hong Kong over a sedition charge.
On January 1st this year, Zeng was accused of displaying a sketch of ‘The July 1 stabbing Incident’ suspect Leung Kin-fai outside the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Police charged her with ‘committing acts with seditious intent’ for placing candles and flowers on the ground in mourning.
ARRESTED AGAIN After being granted bail, Zeng Yuxuan was arrested again on the eve of this year’s “June 4th.” She intended to unveil a giant banner featuring the “Pillar of Shame.” However, before the event, she was arrested and charged with “attempting to do an act with seditious intent.” The West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court sentenced her to six months.
PILLAR OF SHAME The “Pillar of Shame” depicts several twisted and tragic figures, symbolizing the casualties of the 1989 Tiananmen Square bloody crackdown. This copper statue was removed in 2021. Traditionally, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China would send people yearly to clean the “Pillar of Shame” on the eve of the June 4th massacre. The leadership of the alliance was arrested in 2021 as well.
Ms. Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, a jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and former leader of the Alliance said, “When the court says that displaying the Pillar of Shame is a crime, it is nailing itself on the pillar of shame.”
ZENG YUXUAN’S ACTIVISM Zeng Yuxuan once expressed her wish to “make a little change” for Hong Kong, claiming that “it’s our duty” to participate in the protests. She also held up white papers at Victoria Park in Hong Kong, in response to the “White Paper Movement/A4 Revolution” launched in Mainland China in opposition to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
On October 12, Zeng Yuxuan was released after serving her sentence, and the Hong Kong government deported her to China declaring her “persona non grata.”
HONG KONG WATCH The London-based human rights organization “Hong Kong Watch” expressed deep concern about Ms. Zeng’s circumstances upon her arrival in mainland China.
Hong Kong Watch’s statement indicates that the expulsion of Zeng Yuxuan reflects Beijing’s increasing control over Hong Kong. With Hong Kong’s judicial independence steadily declining, Hong Kong authorities are seen as following Beijing’s demands to execute their political agenda, with little regard for the rule of law. The rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong are deteriorating.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Deportation
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- China: defender sentenced in Hong Kong
- Date added
- Nov 24, 2023
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Oct 23, 2023
- Event Description
Dozens of residents from a fishing area in north-central Vietnam this week have protested the building of a port project, despite police launching a criminal investigation of them for disturbing public order, demonstrators said.
On Wednesday, Thanh Hoa provincial authorities mobilized dozens of police officers to force protesting fisherfolk — mostly women — to leave the construction site where a dock is being built, one of the sources said. Though they stayed, police did not take any measures against them and left the area at noon.
About 300 residents of Hai Ha commune first took to the streets on the morning of Oct. 23 with banners and placards to show their opposition to the Long Son Container Port project, which they say will adversely affect their livelihoods and living environment.
“We don’t want the Long Son Container Port project because it is located in the coastal area we inherited from our ancestors, and it has been passed down from generation to generation,” said a villager on Wednesday who declined to be named out of fear of reprisal by authorities.
Fishing provides the only income to cover her family’s expenditures, including her children’s education expenses, she said.
“If the port is built, residents like us will be adversely affected by pollution, and there will be no places for our boats to anchor and no places for us to trade seafood,” she said.
Generating income
Long Son Ltd. Co. is investing more than US$30 million to build the 15-hectare (37-acre) project, which will have a 250-meter (820-foot) dock. It is expected to be operational in 2025.
The project will play a crucial role in the development of the first dedicated container port area at Nghi Son Port, according to state-run Vietnam News Agency. Once Dock No. 3 is built, it will serve as a dike against waves and winds and create a 10-hectare (33-foot) water area for local fishermen to safely anchor their boats.
The port is expected to generate revenue and jobs in Thanh Hoa province, including Hai Ha commune.
State media reported that Thanh Hoa provincial authorities conducted thorough studies and environmental assessments as well as consulted local people on the project. But the woman said representatives of the authorities only went around to people’s homes to try to persuade them not to oppose the project and its implementation.
The protest on Oct. 23 prompted Nghi Son town police to file charges against them for obstructing traffic and causing a kilometer-long (0.6 mile) vehicle backup.
Police at the scene took photos of the protesters, recorded videos and collected other information, some villagers involved in the demonstration said.
Police also issued an order requiring Hai Ha residents to adhere to the law and not to gather in groups to disrupt public order, incite others, or be enticed to obstruct the construction of Dock No. 3 of the Long Son Container Port project.
Threatened with arrest
Police threatened them with arrest for disrupting public order — which carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison — if they continued.
Hai Ha commune includes nearly 3,000 households with about 11,000 inhabitants, most of whom rely on fishing to make a living. The villagers say they fear that port officials will cut off their access to the waters where they fish and prohibit them from anchoring their boats.
Villagers ignored the police order and continued their protest on Tuesday and Wednesday, hoping to prevent the dock’s construction.
The woman quoted above said that the villagers are not afraid of going to jail because they don’t want to lose their home beach.
But if they have to relocate as a result of a loss of livelihoods, villagers will expect satisfactory compensation and a new living area with spaces to safely anchor their boats, she said.
“We staged a march and did not offend anyone or did not cause any harm,” she said. “None of us offended the police. We followed the traffic law, [and] we walked on the roadside and stayed in rows.”
The port will join four other industrial projects surrounding the 1,200-hectare (2,965-acre) commune. The others are a cement factory, a port for coal transportation in the north, a thermal power plant in the west, and a steel factory in the south.
Though the projects have created jobs for locals, they have also created serious environmental pollution, negatively affecting residents’ lives, a second woman said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 24, 2023
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 29, 2023
- Event Description
Hui Muslim poet Cui Haoxin, formerly a vocal critic of Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs and Hui Muslims, has been severely beaten by an unidentified man after lying low for nearly three years, according to an associate and an account of the attack posted to his personal blog.
The reports emerged after Cui, who lives in Shandong and goes by the pen name An Ran, disappeared from social media for nearly three years after being warned off speaking out publicly or talking to journalists – on pain of a prison sentence, Radio Free Asia has learned.
Cui was attacked by the man at around 4.00 p.m. local time on Oct. 29 after he went downstairs to pick up a parcel near the gates of his residential compound, a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals told RFA Mandarin.
"This man, whom An Ran had never seen before, was waiting for him on a motorbike near the shelves in his residential community," the person said.
"He didn't say anything but shoved An Ran to one side and started shuffling through all of the packages ... then he asked if he could move over [so An Ran could look for his package], and the guy immediately started yelling and cursing at him," they said.
According to Cui's blog post, the man then knocked him to the ground and started beating him.
"He was hitting so fast and so hard that I couldn't fight back – I just tried to block the blows," he said. "The punches hit home, and now my temples, eyes and the back of my head are swollen and painful."
Cui, 44, tried to get up after his attacker fell over, but the man started beating him again "knocking me to the ground, and not stopping until he was tired," he wrote, adding that his eyesight is now "significantly reduced."
Critical posts
The attack came nearly three years after Cui was held in criminal detention by police in January 2020 for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" after he made posts to Twitter criticizing China’s treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang.
Cui dropped off the radar of the overseas media and international activists after that, and made no more posts to his former social media accounts.
A friend of his told Radio Free Asia on Nov. 1 that he was actually released on "bail, pending trial" on Feb. 21, 2020, and warned off posting anything to social media or talking to foreign journalists.
"An Ran's father came to take him home, and from that point on, they lived in a situation where they were continually followed, warned and intimidated by the police," she said.
"The state security police warned his family that he would be sent to prison if he gave interviews to foreign journalists," the friend said. "That would have left An Ran's parents without anyone to take care of them, so An Ran said nothing for three years, not even a comment or a picture."
"He was depressed and almost at the point of mental collapse when he got out [from detention]," the friend said.
‘Big prison’
U.S.-based activist Sulaiman Gu said the blog post is the first news anyone has had from Cui in three years.
"An Ran really did disappear completely over the past three years," he said. "Nobody knew what had happened to him."
"All I know is that he had been warned many times and held for short periods of time prior to his detention [in 2021], and tricked into going for 'red' education in Jinggangshan," Gu said.
"He was in great danger at that time, but then he was released into the big prison," he said, referring to the tight surveillance and restrictions that are frequently imposed by Chinese police on former political prisoners long after their release from detention or prison.
"At least he's not in the small prison," Gu said.
Prior to his detention Cui was an outspoken critic of China's mass incarceration of Uyghurs and other Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where authorities have placed as many as 1.8 million people accused of harboring “strong religious views” and “politically incorrect” ideas in a network of internment camps since April 2017.
He had also been detained and questioned by state security police in 2018 over critical tweets, and warned not to use overseas social media or to become a "tool" of hostile foreign forces.
In April 2018, Cui was sent on a week-long ideological "re-education" course in eastern China and was briefly detained in connection with his poetry and other writings that reference Xinjiang.
In one article published at the time, Cui describes Xinjiang as having left a "planet-sized impression" on him.
"Xinjiang, that massive presence that defies expression, left a planet-sized impression on me that is ineradicable," Cui wrote in an article that also referenced the Syrian conflict and the Arab Spring.
"This is a land of poetry and song ... when I headed out west to the Central Asian city of Kashgar, no sooner had I arrived than I made straight for the tomb of an ancient poet, and raised my hands in prayer for him beside the dusty tomb swathed in green silk."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 19, 2023
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Aug 31, 2023
- Event Description
Pakistan authorities must cease harassing journalists Fayaz Zafar and Amjad Ali Sahaab and immediately and impartially investigate Zafar’s detention and allegations that he was abused by police, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
On August 30, police arrested Zafar, a reporter for the U.S.-Congress-funded Pashto-language broadcaster Voice of America Deewa and Daily Mashriq newspaper, in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Swat District, according to news reports and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ.
Earlier that day, magistrate Irfan Ullah Khan ordered Zafar to be held in preventive detention for 30 days under the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. The order, which CPJ reviewed, accused him of using social media to spread “fake, offensive and hatred contents to defame and incite the public” against the government and law enforcement agencies.
Zafar said he was taken to Swat police chief Shafiullah Gandapur’s home, where six officers beat him for about 15 minutes with their guns and fists despite his telling them he had a heart condition. The journalist also said police brought his car to Gandapur’s home, damaged its doors and hood with their rifle butts, and held the vehicle until September 5. Zafar said Gandapur pressured him to sign an affidavit that he would stop his critical reporting about the police, but he refused and was taken to jail.
On August 31, Khan issued an order for Zafar to be released from jail, following requests from the District Bar Association and a local tribal assembly, and withdrew the previous day’s detention order. Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi told CPJ that he asked local authorities to release the journalist and ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to investigate the incident.
In the case of Sahaab, editor of the local Urdu newspaper Daily Azadi Swat and the online blog Lafzuna, police in Swat District’s Mingora city opened an investigation on August 31, accusing the journalist of inciting violence against state institutions via social media and posting criticism of the district administration, according to a report by Radio Mashaal and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ.
Sahaab told CPJ that a dozen police officers came to raid his home on August 31 but did not enter because his brother said the journalist was not there and women were inside. Sahaab said he approached a local court on September 1 and secured pre-arrest bail to protect himself from detention in relation to the case until the next hearing on September 9.
The police report, reviewed by CPJ, accused Sahaab of defamation and intentional insult with intent to breach the peace in violation of the penal code, and causing annoyance or intimidation in violation of the The Telegraph Act, 1885.
“Pakistani authorities must swiftly and transparently investigate the arrest of Fayaz Zafar and the abuse he allegedly endured at the hands of the police, and hold the perpetrators to account,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “Police must also drop their investigation into Amjad Ali Sahaab and allow both journalists to report on matters of public interest in Swat District without interference.”
Zafar told CPJ that he feared for his life after the detention and beatings and received medical treatment for the injuries caused to his head, back, shoulders, legs, and right hand.
The journalist said he believed that he was targeted for his recent reporting and commentary on social media, including a video, which he said showed a student being abducted near a police station, and photographs, which he said were of militants patrolling in Swat after attacking a police post.
Sahaab also told CPJ that he believed he was being investigated because of his critical work that he posts to social media, including Lafzuna’s YouTube discussions about the alleged failure of local authorities to stop rising militancy and arrests of activists, as well as blogs on insecurity.
Police chief Gandapur told CPJ via messaging app on September 1 that Zafar’s allegations of abuse were “fake” and that the journalist was directly taken to jail following his arrest.
Gandapur did not respond to CPJ’s follow up queries about the investigation into Sahaab. CPJ’s calls and messages to magistrate Khan requesting comment did not receive any replies.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 14, 2023
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Aug 30, 2023
- Event Description
Pakistan authorities must cease harassing journalists Fayaz Zafar and Amjad Ali Sahaab and immediately and impartially investigate Zafar’s detention and allegations that he was abused by police, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
On August 30, police arrested Zafar, a reporter for the U.S.-Congress-funded Pashto-language broadcaster Voice of America Deewa and Daily Mashriq newspaper, in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Swat District, according to news reports and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ.
Earlier that day, magistrate Irfan Ullah Khan ordered Zafar to be held in preventive detention for 30 days under the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. The order, which CPJ reviewed, accused him of using social media to spread “fake, offensive and hatred contents to defame and incite the public” against the government and law enforcement agencies.
Zafar said he was taken to Swat police chief Shafiullah Gandapur’s home, where six officers beat him for about 15 minutes with their guns and fists despite his telling them he had a heart condition. The journalist also said police brought his car to Gandapur’s home, damaged its doors and hood with their rifle butts, and held the vehicle until September 5. Zafar said Gandapur pressured him to sign an affidavit that he would stop his critical reporting about the police, but he refused and was taken to jail.
On August 31, Khan issued an order for Zafar to be released from jail, following requests from the District Bar Association and a local tribal assembly, and withdrew the previous day’s detention order. Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi told CPJ that he asked local authorities to release the journalist and ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to investigate the incident.
In the case of Sahaab, editor of the local Urdu newspaper Daily Azadi Swat and the online blog Lafzuna, police in Swat District’s Mingora city opened an investigation on August 31, accusing the journalist of inciting violence against state institutions via social media and posting criticism of the district administration, according to a report by Radio Mashaal and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ.
Sahaab told CPJ that a dozen police officers came to raid his home on August 31 but did not enter because his brother said the journalist was not there and women were inside. Sahaab said he approached a local court on September 1 and secured pre-arrest bail to protect himself from detention in relation to the case until the next hearing on September 9.
The police report, reviewed by CPJ, accused Sahaab of defamation and intentional insult with intent to breach the peace in violation of the penal code, and causing annoyance or intimidation in violation of the The Telegraph Act, 1885.
“Pakistani authorities must swiftly and transparently investigate the arrest of Fayaz Zafar and the abuse he allegedly endured at the hands of the police, and hold the perpetrators to account,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “Police must also drop their investigation into Amjad Ali Sahaab and allow both journalists to report on matters of public interest in Swat District without interference.”
Zafar told CPJ that he feared for his life after the detention and beatings and received medical treatment for the injuries caused to his head, back, shoulders, legs, and right hand.
The journalist said he believed that he was targeted for his recent reporting and commentary on social media, including a video, which he said showed a student being abducted near a police station, and photographs, which he said were of militants patrolling in Swat after attacking a police post.
Sahaab also told CPJ that he believed he was being investigated because of his critical work that he posts to social media, including Lafzuna’s YouTube discussions about the alleged failure of local authorities to stop rising militancy and arrests of activists, as well as blogs on insecurity.
Police chief Gandapur told CPJ via messaging app on September 1 that Zafar’s allegations of abuse were “fake” and that the journalist was directly taken to jail following his arrest.
Gandapur did not respond to CPJ’s follow up queries about the investigation into Sahaab. CPJ’s calls and messages to magistrate Khan requesting comment did not receive any replies.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 14, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 11, 2023
- Event Description
Press organizations in Papua, including the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Jayapura City, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of Papua, and the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) of Papua, lambasted what was reported to be intimidation against Abdel Gamel Naser, a journalist from Cenderawasih Pos. The incident occurred while he was covering the case of mangrove forest destruction in the Youtefa Bay Nature Park conservation area in Jayapura City on Tuesday (11/7/2023). Gamel, as he is commonly known, allegedly faced intimidation from two police officers who were present near the location. The officers approached Gamel and questioned his reasons for photographing the area. Despite explaining that he was a journalist, the officers insisted on deleting the photos, resulting in Gamel deleting three images from his reporting.
“To avoid further conflict so I can continue my reporting elsewhere, I deleted the photos. As I was leaving the location, they issued further threats,” Gamel stated in a press release issued by the press organizations on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
Gamel was among a group of approximately a dozen journalists who were covering the halt of logging and material stockpiling in the mangrove forest area of Youtefa Bay Nature Tourism Park. The halt was carried out by the Papua Forestry and Environment Service, the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center, and the Papua Police Special Crimes Unit.
According to Gamel, the intimidation occurred while he was capturing images near a location where police lines had been established, and several police personnel happened to be present nearby.
Lucky Ireeuw, chairman of the AJI Jayapura, strongly condemned the alleged intimidation faced by Gamel during his work. Such repressive actions hinder the exercise of press freedom in Papua.
“The intimidation suffered by Gamel obstructs press freedom and violates Law No. 40/1999 on Press,” Ireeuw asserted.
He further called on the Papua Police to take decisive action against the officers implicated in the alleged intimidation.
“We urge the police to ensure press freedom in Papua,” Ireeuw added.
Meanwhile, PWI Papua deputy, Ridwan Madubun strongly condemned the display of arrogance that resulted in the alleged intimidation of his fellow journalist Gamel. Madubun believes such actions are unjustifiable, especially when they occur while journalists are carrying out their responsibilities in the public domain.
He also expressed dismay at the ongoing repressive acts against journalists in Papua. It is important to note that journalists are safeguarded by the law in carrying out their coverage duties to inform the public.
Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ignatius Beny Ady Prabowo mentioned that efforts have been made within the police institution to educate police personnel about press freedom since their training at the National Police School.
“I have just been made aware of the alleged intimidation against Gamel. Journalists who encounter such incidents can report them to our Internal Division,” Prabowo added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 1, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 10, 2023
- Event Description
Security threats from conservative Islamic groups in Indonesia have forced organizers of a Southeast Asian LGBT event to move it from Jakarta to an undisclosed location.
The Indonesian capital was to host the five-day ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Queer Advocacy Week conference from July 17.
However, the organizing committee which received death threats from conservative groups decided to move the venue citing "security reasons after monitoring the situation very closely, including the anti-LGBT wave on social media.”
“The decision was made to ensure the safety and security of the participants and the committee,” the committee said in a statement.
Arus Pelangi, a Jakarta-based LGBT rights advocacy outfit and the local organizer, claimed in a July 16 statement that they received a barrage of death threats via social media like Twitter and Instagram.
Personal accounts of its activists and the identity of the organizers were disclosed on social media to tarnish its image, Arus Pelangi further claimed.
Hendrika Mayora Victoria, 35, a Catholic transgender and coordinator of Fajar Sikka, a same-sex advocacy group, said, "Indonesia is not ready to accept diversity and is increasingly homophobic."
This latest case was a worrying signal, Victoria added.
"What's sad is that hate speech, under the pretext of certain religious teachings, continues to be echoed," Victoria told UCA News.
"The event actually aims to unify the vision of an inclusive ASEAN region and strive for a safe space for civil society."
The Journalists Union for Diversity and the Alliance of Independent Journalists in a July 16 joint statement lamented local and national media coverage which fueled persecution of same-sex couples.
Most online media reports contain more statements from politicians, police, Ulema (religious) councils, and government officials calling for anti-LGBTQ laws “to increase hostility, hatred, discrimination and persecution against the group," they said.
The Human Rights Working Group, a coalition of NGOs, with the Secretariat for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Franciscans as one of its members, urged the police to investigate and take action against perpetrators of hate speech.
Daniel Awigra, the group’s executive director, said the cancellation of the event in Jakarta was "a form of powerlessness and failure of the state in its constitutional obligation to guarantee a sense of security for everyone without exception to express and assemble peacefully."
"The state should actually take action against the perpetrators who have been spreading incitement and hatred," he said.
Same-sex couples are vulnerable to discrimination in Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation in the world.
Earlier this month, Garut district in West Java province passed a regulation criminalizing same-sex activities.
In December last year, a visit by US special LGBTQ envoy Jessica Stern was canceled after resistance from Islamic groups.
In December 2021, Bogor, a city in West Java province passed a regulation to prevent sexually deviant behavior.
Between 2006 and 2017, Arus Pelangi recorded 172 cases of persecution in Indonesia, including intimidation, physical and verbal abuse, and maltreatment against same-sex couples.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- LGBTQ+/ Non-Binary, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy, SOGI rights
- HRD
- NGO, NGO staff, SOGI rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 13, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 5, 2023
- Event Description
Police officials have forcibly returned more than a thousand residents of Pasaman Barat who had been demonstrating at the West Sumatra Governor's Office since Monday (31/7/2023). The process was marked by turmoil and the arrest of several residents, students, and non-governmental organization members who were accused of being provocateurs.
The forced repatriation of residents of Nagari Air Bangis, West Pasaman, consisting of adult men and women, children, and elderly residents, occurred at the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra, in the city of Padang, on Saturday (5/8/2023) afternoon. The incident took place while approximately 20 representatives of the masses were in a dialogue with the Governor of West Sumatra and members of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) at the Governor's Office of West Sumatra.
During the incident, the crowd who had been using the first floor of the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra as a place to stay during the demonstration were reciting prayers while waiting for the results of the dialogue with their representatives. However, the police dispersed the residents and some of them were lifted onto buses to be sent to Pasaman Barat.
"We were forced to leave the mosque. Our belongings were scattered. We didn't want to leave, but we were dragged away. As women, we are not strong enough to resist," said Rismawati (40), one of the protesters who were forced to leave by the authorities, while waiting for a bus in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque of Sumatra Barat, on Saturday afternoon."
Rismawati, who is a resident of Jorong Pigogah Patibubur, Nagari Air Bangis, explained that actually she and her husband have been participating in the protest since Monday and will not go home until their demands are met. However, their family cannot do anything.
"I don't know what will happen next," said Rismawati resignedly. This family is threatened with losing a hectare of oil palm land because it is affected by the 30,000 hectare oil and petrochemical refinery national strategic project (PSN) that has been proposed by the Governor of West Sumatra to the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment since 2021.
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of remaining residents gathered in the courtyard of the Masjid Raya Sumbar. They were waiting for buses to take them back to their hometowns. Hundreds of police officers were guarding and overseeing the process of mass repatriation.
Samsul (35), a resident of Jorong Pigogah Patibubur, expressed the same thing. "We were forcibly sent home without any negotiation, while our friends were still in dialogue at the governor's office. Some residents were immediately put on the bus, how could we resist," he said.
Previously, around 1,500 residents of Nagari Air Bangis accompanied by students and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) held a demonstration in front of the West Sumatra Governor's Office since last Monday. The residents demanded that the national strategic project proposal be revoked as it encompasses their managed area.
The masses also demanded that the land they had managed for generations be removed from production forest status. They also demanded that members of the Mobile Brigade guarding the community plantation forest (HTR) program managed by the multi-business cooperative (KSU) in the area be withdrawn. HTR locations also overlap with community land.
In addition, the crowd also demands that two people detained by the West Sumatra Regional Police for purchasing farmers' harvest be released. They were detained for allegedly buying palm oil plantation products located in forest areas without permission.
Not only did the police forcefully return the residents, they also arrested dozens of citizens, students, and NGO members who accompanied the crowd. They were accused of being provocateurs who held the crowd back from returning to Pasaman Barat.
Director of Legal Aid Institution (LBH) Padang, Indira Suryani, in a written statement, stated that there were 4 citizens, 3 students, and 7 legal assistants who were arrested and forcibly taken to the West Sumatra Regional Police Office.
"The police's actions constitute an abuse of power and a violation of human rights as their use of force clearly violates the guarantee of protection and respect for freedom of expression in public, as regulated by the 1945 Constitution, the Human Rights Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Freedom of Expression in Public Act, and the Human Rights Law," he said.
Separately, the Head of the Operational Bureau of the West Sumatera Regional Police, Chief Commissioner Djadjuli, stated that there were indeed several individuals who were taken by the authorities, but he did not know the exact number. "Several are suspected of inciting residents to persist, so we detained them for questioning," he said.
Regarding the forced repatriation of protesters, Djadjuli explained that the authorities had previously invited and urged citizens to go home. Some citizens agreed, while some did not, and some provoked others to not leave. "We took those who provoked us, and those who did not want to go, we transported them (to Pasaman Barat)," he said.
According to Djadjuli, law enforcement officers cannot wait for the crowd to be sent home after the dialogue process is completed. Because it is feared that after the dialogue, the crowd will still remain at the Masjid Raya Sumbar and Padang City. "This is a place of worship and it disturbs the activities of other communities," he said.
Djadjuli added that during the last 5-6 days of holding protests, the residents also did not have permits. The mass action on Jenderal Sudirman Street in front of the West Sumatra Governor's Office disrupted traffic. "We are helping these Air Bangis residents to return home, so that they can continue their activities. Children can go to school, parents can work," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, Land rights defender, NGO staff, Student, WHRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 13, 2023
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jul 28, 2023
- Event Description
Regime forces tortured and killed three leading members of a local student union in Sagaing Region’s Budalin Township last Friday, according to activist sources.
The three victims, who were all in their late teens, were captured during an early-morning raid on the village of Nyaung Kan, located some 10km west of the town of Budalin, the sources said.
“Their hands were tied behind their backs and they were stabbed in the chest with knives. After they were tortured, they were put to death,” a member of the Budalin Township branch of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) told Myanmar Now.
The victims were identified as student union chair Kyaw Win Thant, 18, vice-chair Kyal Sin Nyein Chan, 19, and information officer Thuta Nay, 19.
At least two other people, including a member of a local resistance team, were also killed, the ABFSU member added, citing villagers who had escaped the raid.
Student unions have played a leading role in organising anti-junta protests in the township. The unions represent not only university students, but also primary and secondary students.
According to pro-regime Telegram channels, a commando force recently overran and razed a camp run by “terrorists” in the township.
Some 150 regime troops based in Budalin have been attacking villages west of the town since July 25. Ywarthar, a village near Nyaung Kan, was also targeted on Friday. Both villages lost a number of houses to arson attacks, according to locals.
The junta has not released any information about its operations in Budalin, which is less 40km north of Monywa, Sagaing’s capital and largest city, where the headquarters of the Northwestern Regional Military Command is also located.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Killing, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 13, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 9, 2023
- Event Description
The arrest on treason charges of dozens of political activists in Papua will only add to the long list of human rights violations in the region, activists say. However, the police said it was in accordance with the law.
The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) claims there was no declaration of 'Free Papua' in its organisational activities in Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua.
Meanwhile, the police said they had two pieces of evidence related to three KNPB members in Tambrauw as treason suspects with a life sentence or a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The police denied that this was part of the suppression of civil and political rights.
On the other hand, a number of groups consider that the arrest of three KNPB members on treason charges will only add to the long list of civil and political rights violations in Papua.
KNPB's version of the arrest chronology
In a statement to BBC News Indonesia, KNPB national spokesperson Ones Suhuniap said, "There was no declaration whatsoever."
This refers to the arrest of 19 KNPB members in Tambrauw, Southwest Papua on Friday (09/06).
"There, the KNPB has a sector management, in this case, the community environment in the countryside. They were there to inaugurate the sector management," said Ones.
After the inauguration activities were completed and the participants were "sitting eating and drinking coffee" suddenly the police came with complete weapons, and made arrests.
"The activity did not interfere with residents' activities... It did not interfere with anything. Disrupting public activities, and disturbing other people, that doesn't exist," Ones continued.
He also dismissed allegations that his organisation was affiliated with TPNPB-OPM.
"Has the KNPB ever held a gun and killed the police? Did the KNPB shoot civilians, be it indigenous Papuans or non-Papuans in Papua?" Ones wondered.
According to Ones, the activities carried out by the KNPB are guaranteed in Law No. 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom of Expression in Public.
He urged the release of the three members because "There is no legal basis for detaining them."
According to Ones, his organisation still "exists", because the problems in Papua are "getting murkier".
Even though for more than a decade, the four roots of the Papuan problem have been clearly raised in the research, he said.
However, they have not been resolved, making the conflict in Papua protracted, Ones added.
He then explained what he called the "four roots of the Papua problem".
These are, among others, the issue of the history and political status of Papua's integration into Indonesia, and protracted military operations that only create collective wounds.
Then, what he called the "marginalisation of Papuans from the modernisation process, and the failure of Papuan development".
The Indonesian government under President Joko Widodo is trying to boost development in Papua, which consists of Papua Province and West Papua Province, mainly through infrastructure projects.
Since 2001, the central government has also implemented a special autonomy policy in Papua, which is characterised by, among other things, the disbursement of funds for the benefit of the Papuan people.
This special autonomy policy is claimed to be evidence of Jakarta's seriousness in solving problems in Papua, however, some experts say the funds have failed to be utilised properly and have been misused several times.
Police claim to have two pieces of evidence
Of the 19 arrested, three KNPB members were named as treason suspects. A total of 16 others have been released, police said.
It is said that the three suspects with the initials UK, YY and WY are threatened with life imprisonment or a maximum imprisonment of 20 years.
Tambrauw Police Chief, AKBP Bendot Dwi Prasetyo, said his party had pocketed two sufficient evidences.
"Here, we have obtained these evidence tools, witness statements that the suspects have committed the act," he said.
In addition, the KNPB's activities are under police supervision because the organisation is "not registered" with the National Unity and Politics Agency (Kesbangpol). In a report by the Antara news agency, a number of KNPB members were also suspected of carrying out an attack on Posramil Kisor in 2021.
"So, that is what grounds us that the KNPB is a banned organisation," said AKBP Bendot Dwi Prasetyo.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 9, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jun 25, 2023
- Event Description
On 25 June 2023, human rights defender and union leader Shahidul Islam was attacked by a group of men at the Prince Jacquard Sweaters factory in Gazipur while resolving a worker payment dispute. He died the same day from the fatal inuries sustained during the attack. Shahidul Islam was the president of the Gazipur unit of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers’ Federation (BGIWF). He advocated for workers’ rights throughout his 25-year-long career as an organiser. As a former garment worker, Shahidul Islam noticed the lack of transparency regarding workers’ rights and began working as an organiser and later a union leader. From 1999 to 2002, he worked with the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers’ Union Federation (BIGUF). From 2003 to 2006, the human rights defender worked for the civil society organisations Nari Uddog Kendro and Bangladesh Krishi Federation. In 2006, he joined the Bangladesh Centre for Workers’ Solidarity (BCWS) as a senior organiser and worked there until 2012. In the same year, he became a senior organiser at the BGIWF, and later became president of the Gazipur district committee. Throughout his career, Shahidul Islam successfully mobilised thousands of workers and factory-level leaders to join trade unions. He also supported thousands of workers to receive arrears and severance pay that they had been wrongfully denied by their employers. Shahidul Islam’s work and contributions to the labour movement were significant in raising awareness about the human rights situation of factory workers in Bangladesh. Shahidul Islam died after sustaining fatal injuries in an attack that took place outside the Prince Jacquard Sweaters factory in Gazipur on 25 June 2023. The human rights defender and his colleagues were resolving a dispute over salaries and the Eid bonus owed to the factory workers, when a group of men arrived and began violently beating them. Three other union leaders were severely injured in the attack which left Shahidul Islam unconsious. He was later taken to Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The human rigths defender is survived by his wife and two sons. He was the sole breadwinner of his family. His wife is a former organiser battling cancer and her husband’s killing has added to their already challenging circumstances. On 26 June 2023, Kalpona Akter, president of the BGIWF, filed a case with the Tongi West Police Station, alleging that the attack was carried out on the orders of the factory owner. According to sources, the officer in charge stated that the police had already arrested the key suspect in the case, adding that the killing stemmed from a feud with another labour organisation. The killing of Shahidul Islam is indicative of the violations and unjust treatment faced by garment workers in Bangladesh. His death also reflects on the vulnerability and dangers faced by human rights defenders who raise their voices on the lack of transparency regarding workers’ rights and work to safeguard labour rights in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders condemns the killing of human rights defender and union leader Shahidul Islam as it believes it is directly related to his work in defence of human rights, especially labour rights of people in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned about the mistreatment and threats facing human rights defenders working to improve the labour conditions of garment workers in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders is also seriously concerned about the physical and psychological wellbeing of the human rights defender’s family and colleagues.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 14, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 7, 2023
- Event Description
A demonstration by Papuan students commemorating 56 years of PT Freeport Indonesia in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on April 7 was broken up by the Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI) and a biker gang as the protesters were marching towards the Mandala Monument.
Around 30 students from the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) initially took turns giving speeches in front of the Papua student dormitory on Jalan Lanto Daeng Pasewang.
They conveyed a number of demands aimed at the central government while they unfurled a banner with the message "Close PT Freeport Indonesia and all foreign companies in the land of Papua. Withdraw the military from the land of Papua. Papua is not an empty land. Stop land theft".
"Give [us] the right to self-determination as a democratic solution for the nation of West Papua", said action coordinator Miku on Friday.
The students also demanded that the revised Special Autonomy Law been revoked immediately and the cancellation of the recently created provinces of Southwest Papua, Central Papua, the Papua Highlands and South Papua.
"Then open up the widest possible access to both foreign as well as national journalists in West Papua. Withdraw all organic and non-organic military in West Papua", they demanded.
They also asked the Indonesian government to immediately and unconditionally release all West Papuan political prisoners.
"Close PT Freeport, BP, LNG Tangguh as well as reject the development of the Wabu Block and exploitation by PT Antam in the Bintang Highlands. Then arrest, try and imprison the human rights violating generals", said Miku.
After giving speeches, the demonstrators then moved off from the dormitory towards the Mandala or West Iran Liberation Monument on Jalan Jendral Sudirman under the close guard of police.
Half way through the march to the monument however, members of the BMI and a gang of bikers suddenly attacked the students using sticks.
Finding themselves under pressure by the BMI and biker gang, the Papuan students chose to disband and return to their dormitory.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 13, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 11, 2023
- Event Description
The demonstrators who were members of the Papuan People's Solidarity Against Racism (SRPMR) were forcibly dispersed by the police when they wanted to speak freely in front of the Jayapura District Court (PN) office, Tuesday (11/4/2023) morning.
In previous hearings, the demonstrators held silent demonstrations in order to press for a decision on the case of Victor Yeimo, spokesman for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), who was charged with treason during an anti-racism rally in 2019.
Ones Suhuniap, national spokesperson for the Central KNPB, explained that the masses began to gather around 07.00 WIT in front of the Jayapura District Court. At around 09.00 WIT, said Ones, the security forces immediately dispersed the demonstrators.
Because they were forcibly dispersed by being hit with rubber batons, the demonstrators then chose to move to the Abepura circle until they stopped at Jalan Biak. There they gathered and gave speeches. They also read out the attitude statement.
According to Ones, the forced dispersal of the silent mass was carried out by the police in a repressive manner so that several people were injured.
“Earlier the police dispersed the silent mass demonstration by force. We saw that someone was beaten until he bled. One person was arrested, but the police took him where we were looking for," Ones told suarapapua.com via cell phone.
Ones said nine people were beaten by the police when they were forcibly dispersed, including Ronald Mirin, Kurus Felle, Eko Passe, Kenias Payage, Kelaus Bay, Pumegen, Nodi, Anto and Awe Gobai. One person named Iman Kogoya was arrested.
“As a result of the beatings, some of them experienced swelling on their backs, hands and heads that were bleeding. All pamphlets and banners were also confiscated by the police earlier," he explained.
Kenias Payage, the person in charge of the silent action, said Victor Yeimo had undergone 33 trials. Of the 5 fact witnesses presented by the Public Prosecutor (JPU), there were no incriminating testimonies that even proved Victor Yeimo committed treason and incitement during the August 19 2019 action.
"Victor Yeimo and the KNPB were not responsible for the racist act on 19 August 2019 in the city of Jayapura. Victor Yeimo was present to deliver an oration at the request of the people. Victor Yeimo has never called for mass demonstrations to carry out anarchic acts," said Kenias.
It was emphasized that the four articles charged against Victor Yeimo had been broken with the testimony of expert witnesses presented by Victor Yeimo's legal advisory coalition.
"From all the facts at the trial it is clear that Victor Yeimo is being criminalized by the state with political sentiments to silence Victor Yeimo as an activist for the Free Papua movement," said Kenias.
Victor Yeimo, according to him, was criminalized with the target of facilitating the Indonesian government's intention to exploit natural resources (SDA) in the Land of Papua through the second special autonomy policy, the division of 6 new provinces and the division of districts/cities that are again being proposed.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 13, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 25, 2023
- Event Description
At least 14 residents of Dingin Indigenous Village, Muara Lawa District, West Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan were arrested by the local police on Saturday (25/3). The reason, they are considered to hinder mining business activities. Of that number, all were named as suspects.
"One more was released because he was underage but remains a suspect," said Pokja 30 Director Buyung Marajo when confirmed by CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (5/4) afternoon.
Buyung said that actually the dozens of residents only wanted to protect their area from becoming a mining area. This is because their source of livelihood from the forest can disappear if it becomes a mining area.
It's not only Dingin Village that feels the impact, there's also Latoq Village. Both are areas of Muara Lawa District.
"However, when they wanted to defend their territory, 12 indigenous people from Tinggi Village were arrested and made suspects. Likewise one lawyer and a minor," said Buyung.
Dozens of indigenous people were charged with Article 162 of the Minerba Law because they were considered to be obstructing mining business activities. There are also those who are charged with Emergency Law No. 12/1951 concerning Sharp Weapons.
Responding to this, the Director of LBH Samarinda, Fathul Huda stated that this situation was tantamount to violating human rights. The reason is, these residents only want to defend their rights to land and rivers so that they are not mined.
"The struggle to defend land and rivers by the indigenous people of Dingin Village is not a crime, let alone hindering company activities. The police should be the party that facilitates the fulfillment of these citizens' rights," said Fathul.
"From the beginning this was their right (land), long before the mining company entered," he added some time ago.
- Impact of Event
- 14
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, Lawyer, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 7, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 6, 2023
- Event Description
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) supports the statement of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) condemning all forms of repression and intimidation against civil society during the preparation and implementation of the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT). Based on the information we received, one of the cases was the alleged criminalization attempt by West Manggarai Police officers against four Labuan Bajo residents, they are Mr. Ladislaus Jeharun, Mr. Dionisius Parera, Mr. Viktor Frumentus, and Mr. Dominikus Safio Sion by the West Manggarai Police on May 6 2023. They were summoned by the police concerning allegation of incitement. Meanwhile, journalists who report on the voice of the people become victims of hacking and intimidation. Most recently, four Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) activists also experienced hacking.
Based on the information we gathered, the summons to the four residents was due to a demonstration that the local residents wanted to carry out. The reasons/demands behind a number of residents holding the demonstration are because until now the right to compensation related to the houses and land of residents who are suspected of having been evictioned for the construction of the Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori road ahead of the ASEAN Summit has not been received.
We regret that the action that will be held by a number of residents actually responded excessively by the police by summoning a number of residents on charges of alleged criminal acts of incitement. The police should be able to see this problem as a whole by looking at the construction of demonstrations by residents demanding the right to eviction compensation as part of freedom of expression.
We consider that the allegation of the incitement article as stated in the summons is of course very problematic. Because, in that article 2 there is an element of inciting to commit a crime. Even though demonstrations are legal and constitutional actions and are guaranteed by statutory instruments, for example Law no. 9 of 1998 concerning freedom of expression in public. In addition, voicing opinions related to the obligation to compensate for the land that was confiscated is a form of maintaining life and increasing the standard of living guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Looking back, the various forms of repression that existed cannot be separated from the statement by the Chief Police of NTT Regional Police who banned the action at the end of April 2023. Thus, that the existing attacks from the police on the community can be classified as systematic violations.
Furthermore, the delay in providing compensation for evictions by the state has resulted in various forms of multi-layered violations of the basic rights of citizens, including the right to a right to live properly, the right to peaceful and secure, and the right to a proper job. Furthermore, this action not only violates the human rights guaranteed in the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights, but also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which the government has ratified through Law Number 11 of 2005.
This is not the first time the repression has been committed against the residents of Labuan Bajo. Previously, there were cases of arbitrary arrests of Labuan Bajo residents who blocked the road to refuse force eviction for a national strategic project. The allegation of arbitrary arrest experienced by Mr. Paulinus Jek, a resident of Racang Buka, because of his effort to stop an excavator which will be conducting force evictions on his land.
Moreover, repressive methods as part of the security approach at major events also occurred in the midst of the G20 at the end of 2022. At that time, excessive methods were used by security forces such as the use of facial recognition, spying, forcibly dissolving discussions, blocking activist activities and stigma against groups that refused. Ironically, the group that refused was also stigmatized as rioters. This is of course very dangerous if it continues and at the same time continues paradoxical practices. On the one hand, Indonesia wants to improve its image in the eyes of the international community, but on the other hand, it continues to silence people’s rights. The decline in democracy is again evident from the Indonesian democracy index published by Freedom House in 2023 which shows a decrease from the previous year from 59 to 58 point.
The situation is getting worse marked by digital attacks targeting against journalists who report on the other side of the ASEAN Summit. Media Floresa.co, which collaborates with the Mulatuli Project in making a report on a case where a road was made for a resident’s land, was hacked. This action is a clear violation of press freedom. In addition, the hack that was directed at four JATAM activists was not only a violation of the right to privacy, but also a serious threat to the work of human rights defenders.
Based upon above-mentioned situation, the AHRC urges that:
First, the security forces stop all forms of repression and intimidation of citizens at the ASEAN Summit and other major agendas in the future.
Second, the Central Government and related institutions are immediately responsible for fulfilling the obligation to pay compensation to the victims of the evictions.
Third, the security forces to immediately investigate the actors who hacked journalists and the four JATAM activists. The police must find the perpetrators of digital attacks and prosecute them under the fair trial principles in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Land rights, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Indonesia: journalist intimidated for reporting on a new road built without compensation for residents
- Date added
- May 19, 2023
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 28, 2023
- Event Description
Thai authorities should immediately drop charges and release a 15-year-old student activist detained for allegedly defaming the monarchy, Human Rights Watch said today.
On March 28, 2023, the police arrested Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai in Bangkok and accused her of committing lèse-majesté (insulting the monarchy) offenses for criticizing the monarchy during a rally in October 2022 in front of the Bangkok City Hall. At the rally, protesters called for the release of political detainees and for the abolition of royal defamation prosecutions. Thanalop is being held in pretrial detention at the Justice Ministry’s Ban Pranee Juvenile Vocational Training Center for Girls in Nakhon Pathom province, west of Bangkok, for allegedly violating article 112 of Thailand’s criminal code, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
“Thai authorities should immediately release Thanalop and drop the unjust case against her for criticizing the monarchy,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “By arresting a 15-year-old girl, the Thai government is sending the spine-chilling message that even children aren’t safe from being harshly punished for expressing their opinions.”
The number of lèse-majesté cases in Thailand has significantly increased in the past year, Human Rights Watch said. After almost a three-year hiatus in which lèse-majesté cases were not brought before the courts, in November 2020 Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha ordered the authorities to restore lèse-majesté prosecutions, ostensibly because of growing criticisms of the monarchy. Since then, the authorities have charged more than 200 people with lèse-majesté crimes, primarily for actions at pro-democracy rallies or comments on social media.
Human Rights Watch and several United Nations human rights monitoring bodies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, have repeatedly voiced concern over the Thai government’s use of arbitrary arrest and pretrial detention to punish critics of the monarchy for their views.
Holding those charged with lèse-majesté in pretrial detention violates their rights under international human rights law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Thailand has ratified, encourages bail for criminal suspects. Article 9 states that, “It shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial.” Those whose charges have not been dropped should be tried without undue delay, Human Rights Watch said.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Thailand, states that the arrest, detention, or imprisonment of a child “shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.”
Lèse-majesté prosecutions also raise serious freedom of expression concerns under the ICCPR. General Comment 34 of the UN Human Rights Committee, the international expert body that monitors compliance with the covenant, states that laws such as those for lèse-majesté “should not provide for more severe penalties solely on the basis of the identity of the person that may have been impugned” and that governments “should not prohibit criticism of institutions.”
“The Thai government should permit peaceful expression of political views, including questions about the monarchy,” Pearson said. “Thai authorities should engage with UN experts and others about amending the lèse-majesté law to bring it into compliance with international human rights standards.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 1, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 8, 2023
- Event Description
One of the demonstrators was secured by members of the police during the demonstration by the Free Women's Alliance. A man who took part in a demonstration in commemoration of International Women's Day which took place at the Saronde Roundabout, Gorontalo City, Wednesday (08/03) was considered provocative.
Monitored by the media, during the demonstration, several demands were issued, namely providing free education, scientific, and non-discriminatory treatment towards women, eliminating patriarchal culture, passing the PPRT Bill, rejecting the new Criminal Code, rejecting the Job Creation law, implementing the TPKS law in accordance with the expectations of protection for women, and eliminates discrimination in the rights of women in Papua.
Gorontalo City Police Chief, Kombes Pol. Dr. Ade Permana, S.I.K, M.H said that initially the demonstration was proceeding safely, but after 17.55 WITA, negotiations had been carried out by the Gorontalo City Police negotiating team, the Field Coordinator (Korlap) of the masses of action, to immediately disperse because the time allowed according to Perkap No. 7 of 2012, concerning procedures for providing services, securing and handling cases of expressing opinions in public, Article 7 paragraph 1 letter (a) that expressing opinions in public, in an open place, is allowed between 06.00 and 18.00 WITA.
"Until 18.15 WITA, the demonstrators did not disperse, so the police took persuasive action against the demonstrators, where the actions of the security forces were in accordance with Article 20 letter (d) and (e) of Perkap number 7 of 2012," he said.
The 2000 Police Academy alumnus continued, after being advised to return, the masses refused and one person who was considered provocative, was secured by the police so that nothing untoward would happen.
"So there was no mistreatment of one of the demonstrators like the issue that was circulating, we only secured one person who was suspected of provoking it. After the demonstrators dispersed, the person we secured have been handed back to the representatives of the demonstrators," he explained.
He also added that his party asked the demonstrators to prioritize good manners and comply with the rules, where the time limit that had been set when carrying out the demonstration was only until 18.00 WITA, considering that Gorontalo City is the Veranda of Medina, and it was time for Maghrib prayer.
"In the notification letter from the Free Women's alliance, there are many things that violate procedures. Among them, judging from the time the notification letter was sent, the day of implementation, and the name of the Korlap mass action, which was deliberately disguised, so that the principles of independence of expressing opinions in public that are transparent, are no longer fulfilled, "concluded the former Head of the Boalemo Police.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Women's rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 25, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 9, 2023
- Event Description
Cases of abuse against members of the press occurred again at the Keerom District Government office, Papua Province, on Thursday 09/03/2023, around 14:00 WIT.
This abuse occurred in the office area of the Keerom Regency Border Area Management and Cooperation Agency, while carrying out his journalistic duties in the online media globalinvestigation.com, whose initials "N" were beaten by security officers (Police).
According to the victim's statement, the chronology of the incident of persecution allegedly occurred because of previously published reports regarding the beating of a member of the public against a Satpol PP officer who was on duty in the Deputy Regent's and Keerom Regional Secretary rooms.
Moments later, the police officer (perpetrator) came out of his room and looked for the victim (journalist) then shouted loudly reprimanding and hitting the victim while he was standing near the betel nut seller, next to the Border Area Management Agency office. The victim saw a security guard (police) with several of his colleagues walking quickly up to him, then the security officer (police) said
"I just got the news that was shared. Why bring down the Keerom Government?” he said.
Then the security guard (police) punched the victim, and the victim only tried to dodge and block the blows, but several punches were made to the victim's face resulting in bruises.
Then from that, the victim ran into the room of the secretary of the Border Agency office to save himself, but the security guard (police) continued to chase the victim and the victim fell down, then was beaten again by him ".
"When the victim was hit, it was suspected that there was a tone of threat to shoot the victim with a gun," said the person loudly to the victim "Don't you know me? person against the victim".
After that, the victim told the unscrupulous person that the news did not bring down the Keerom District Government.
The victim made this report spontaneously when an incident occurred when a member of the public beat a Satpol PP officer, besides the victim was not far from the TKP.
JLW, when confirmed by the media crew, confirmed that the victim's family had made a Police Report (LP) and a post mortem et repertum was being carried out at the Kwaingga Keerom Hospital.
He conveyed that he, as a family, deeply regretted the unethical behavior of unscrupulous members in the persecution of his younger sibling.
He asked that unscrupulous members be dealt with strictly according to applicable law and investigators must also apply the rules of the Press Law because at the time of the incident the victim was a journalist carrying out his journalistic duties. This has hindered his work as a journalist and the perpetrators must also be charged under Article 18 of the Press Law No. 40 of 1999 which carries a penalty of 2 years in prison or a fine of Rp. 500 million.
JLW continued, "there is no word of peace", the behavior of unscrupulous members also seriously injured our family's honor. If these unscrupulous members are not processed, then I as a family will complain about this to the National Police Headquarters, "said JLW.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 25, 2023
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 18, 2023
- Event Description
Through this letter, I want to attract your immediate attention to a case of intimidation and harassment by the state agencies on a Human Rights Defender (HRD), Mr. Arkadeep Goswami aged about 28 years, S/o Mr. Madan Gopal Goswami, a resident of 158/2, Parui Kancha Road, Kolkata 700061 in the state of West Bengal. This intimidation and harassment by the state agencies upon the HRD is probable infringement of his right to liberty and freedom of expression.
Since 18 years of age, Mr. Arkadeep Goswami has been active in Socio-political movements. He was a student activist during his college days. He was an executive member of All India Council for Student Struggles. In 2017 he was a member of ‘All India University Students Fact Finding Team on Fake Encounters’ and few other national consolidations. In 2014 he associated in ‘Hok kolorob’ movement, From 2016 to 2018 he joined in the movement called ‘Justice for Rohith Vemula’. Mr. Goswami always stands for the human rights of the people in the country and raises his voice against the extremist and fascist politics.
In the year 2018 when Mr. Arkadeep Goswami did fact finding on the political prisoner in the West Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, the state government charged him in a fabricated case vide Goaltore Police Station case number 220/2018 dated 13.11.2018 under section 149 (Unlawful assembly) /120B (Criminal conspiracy) /121 (Waging war against the Government) /121A (Conspiracy to commit offence u/s 121) /123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) /124A (Sedition) of Indian Penal Code. It is a fact that after passing the four years’ time, the police failed to submit charge sheet against Mr. Goswami.
In the year 2022, when Mr. Goswami used to stay at Bolpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal with his wife, on 24th April, 2022, he was kidnapped by some officials of Special Task Force (STF) and Counter Insurgency Force under the instruction of the then-Superintendent of Police, CIF, Durgapur Range, and was taken illegally almost 200 KM far to the Barikul PS and slapped with a fabricated case vide Barikul Police Station case number 04/2022 dated 27.01.2022 under section 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) /149 (Unlawful assembly) /120B (Criminal conspiracy) /121 (waging war against the Government) /121A (Conspiracy to commit offence u/s 121) /122 (Collecting arms with intent to wage war against the Government) /123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) /124A (Sedition) of Indian Penal Code of sedition. During the time of apprehension no memo of arrest was prepared and no legal formalities were not followed by the personnel of that state agency. Till date no charge sheet was submitted by the police against Mr. Goswami in connection with this case.
Mr. Arkadeep Goswami is now working as a freelance journalist and also working with a reputed human rights organization in the country, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM). As his voice sometimes goes against the establishment, he has been systematically targeted and charged with fabricated cases. These repeated incidents are violating his Constitutional rights as a citizen and also as a Human rights Defender.
Now, On 18.04.2023, while he was at the office of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), two suspicious people, one told his name as Sandipan Mondal, gave a visit to his house placed at 158/2, Parui Kancha Road, Kolkata, around 3 O'clock in the afternoon. They told his parents that they are the friends of Mr. Goswami and want to talk to him about some unspecified things. They asked his mother to call him and when his mother called Mr. Goswami, they questioned about his whereabouts incessantly. Upon asking their identity and address, they didn't come up with any satisfactory answer. Later, they repeatedly asked Mr. Goswami by which time he will return home. When Mr. Goswami refused to divulge any information to them, they said, "So you won't talk to us? Okay, we will see you.” The man identified himself as Sandipan Mondal. Mr. Arkadeep Goswami categorically doesn't have any friends or acquaintances by this name (Sandipan Mondal) but that person also told him that they met Mr. Goswami at Barikul Police Station, last year, when he was there in police custody on a fabricated charge. Mr. Goswami informed that he had not met anybody else during that time apart from officials from different state agencies.
The voice which he heard in phone call and physical appearance of the person which he was informed by his mother, from that Mr. Goswami identified that in yesterday's call was similar to one of those kidnappers associated with intelligence branches (state agencies) when he was fabricated with false charges in Barikul Police Station.
Mr. Goswami apprehended that the person from the state agencies tried to apprehend him and therefore they intimidate and harass him continuously without any reason. As he is now involved himself as human rights movement which raises voice against human rights violation by the state apparatus, he has been targeted planfully.
The incident also violates the rights guaranteed in Article 19 (i) (a) (Freedom of speech) and Article 21(Right to life) of Indian Constitution. The incident also violates the Govt. of India's obligation to adhere to the United Nations' declaration on Human Rights Defenders (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/53/144) that obliges the government to protect, promote and implement human rights within the country.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
Case shared by FORUM-ASIA member MASUM
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 25, 2023
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 9, 2023
- Event Description
On 9 April 2023, human rights defender Pranab Roy was physically assaulted by officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) while returning from his agricultural land in North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. The officers severely beat the defender, threatened to file false criminal cases against him and repeatedly said that he was being targetted due to his human rights work. The following day, 10 April 2023, Pranab Roy filed a complaint against the BSF with the Sutia Police out post Police recorded his complaint but refused to give him a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) as required by law. To date no action has been taken against those responsible and named in the FIR. Pranab Roy is a human rights defender, activist and farmer in the Barnaberia village of North 24 Parganas District in West Bengal. He is the organiser of Amra Simantabasi (“We, the border residents”) a community organisation that advocates for socio-political issues faced by people residing close to the India-Bangladesh border. The human rights defender Pranab Roy has been vocal for the rights of the local community and against the arbitrary restrictions imposed on them by the BSF. In 2023, the human rights defender organised a campaign to protest against the illegal land grabbing of approximately 600 acres of land in North 24 Parganas by the BSF. On 9 April 2023 around 5 PM, Pranab Roy and his father were stopped by BSF officers from the 105 Batallian posted at the Barnaberia Border outpost and two soldiers while returning from their agricultural land. The officers asked Pranab Roy a few questions and without warning started beating and slapping him. They kicked him and hit him with wooden rods and dragged him towards the river. The officers also threatened Pranab Roy with implicating him under false charges of smuggling items across the Bangladesh border or of being an undercover agent for Bangladesh. The BSF officer said that he was punishing Pranab Roy for his human rights work in the village against the interests of the BSF. The BSF is a paramilitary force posted at the India-Bangladesh border and is under the direct control of India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. They have been accused of widespread human rights violations against the local community and reprisals against human rights defenders. After severely assaulting Pranab Roy, the BSF officer forced him to sign a false confession stating that he was detained by the BSF for returning home late at night and was not tortured in any form. The human rights defender recieved treatment for his injuries at the local hospital and the doctor who examined him noted “traumatic bruises” on his body. The following day, on 10 April 2023, Pranab Roy submitted a written complaint at the Sutia Police outpost against the BSF personnel. While the police accepted the written complaint, they did not confirm whether a formal complaint has been lodged in the form of a FIR and did not give the defender a copy of the FIR as required by the Criminal Procedure Code. Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the violence inflicted on human rights defender Pranab Roy by BSF personnel as it believes it to be a reprisal against his legitimate and peaceful human rights work. It is also concerned that the police refused to provide a copy of the FIR, in violation of the provisions of India’s legal obligations. Front Line Defenders urges the relevant authorities in India to ensure the safety and security of Pranab Roy and bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international human rights standards.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 25, 2023
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Mar 4, 2023
- Event Description
On 4 March 2023, a Hong Kong government-designated national security judge at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court convicted woman human rights defender Chow Hang-tung and two other leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (the Hong Kong Alliance) for refusing to comply with the Hong Kong police’s request in August 2021 demanding disclosure of extensive information about its funding, activities, Board members, executives, and staff.
Sentencing is scheduled on 11 March 2023. The woman human rights defender and the two other Alliance leaders face up to six months in jail and a HKD100,000 fine (approximately EUR 11,919). Chow Hang-tung is also being prosecuted for “inciting subversion of State power” under the National Security Law in a separate case.
The police’s request for information was based on what it claimed were “reasonable grounds” for believing the Alliance was a “foreign agent”, and was issued under the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which grant expansive investigative powers to the police. However, during the trial, the prosecution concealed the identity of the foreign organisation for which it accused the Alliance of acting as a “foreign agent”, and a key police officer who testified also refused to answer questions regarding the identity of the foreign organisation. The judge also sided with the prosecution’s and the police’s argument that disclosure of such information would damage “the public interest” and “jeopardise on-going investigations” into other individuals and organisations.
Chow Hang-tung (鄒幸彤) is a barrister and woman human rights defender in Hong Kong. At the time of her arrest on 8 September 2021 for refusing to provide data to the police, she was one of the vice-chairs of the Hong Kong Alliance. On 24 September 2021, as a result of the prosecution of the Alliance’s leaders and high risks of further prosecution, members of the Alliance voted to dissolve the organisation. On 26 October 2021, while the liquidation process for the Alliance was still on-going, then Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam issued an order for the Alliance be removed from the Companies Register on the basis that "the operation of the Alliance which seeks to end the Chinese Communist Party's leadership amounts to seeking to overthrow" the political system of the People's Republic of China and subverting state power.”
In his ruling, the national security judge also affirmed that the National Security Law itself as well as the decisions and actions of the National Security Committee, a new body created under the National Security Law, cannot be challenged in local court. The National S ecurity Committee, chaired by Hong Kong’s chief executive and supervised by the central Chinese government in Beijing, was responsible for developing the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the National Security Law.
UN human rights experts have repeatedly raised concerns that the National Security Law and its Implementation Rules for Article 43 pose serious risks to the right to defend human rights and to freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy, and a fair trial.
In September 2021, UN Special Procedures mandate-holders wrote to the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities about the detention of Chow Hang-tung. The experts said that detention and arrests of human rights defenders “form part of a broader operation to impose undue restrictions on the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong” and that such “a criminalisation of the exercise of human rights with reference to national security is incompatible with international human rights law.”
In July 2022, the UN Human Rights Committee, in its concluding observations on the implementation by the Hong Kong government of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), expressed concerns about the arbitrary arrests and detention of human rights defenders under the National Security Law and sedition law, calling for the suspension of enforcement of these laws and for their reform or repeal. The Committee stated that “Article 43(6) of the National Security Law and Schedule 6 of the Implementation Rules, which facilitate arbitrary intrusion into privacy for the purpose of public security or national security, are not compatible with article 17 of the Covenant.”
In February 2023, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also criticised the use of the National Security Law to target human rights defenders in Hong Kong, and was concerned that the law “has de facto abolished the independence of the judiciary.” It has called for a review of the Law to bring it into line with international human rights standards.
Front Line Defenders believes the arrest and subsequent prosecution of Chow Hang-tung and other Alliance members under the National Security Law are reprisals against their legitimate and peaceful human rights work. Both the substantive and procedural inconsistencies with international human rights standards seen in this case illustrate the intention and capacity of the Hong Kong authorities to use the National Security Law and its Implementation Rules to punish and intimidate human rights defenders and organisations and deter them from communicating or collaborating with or receiving support from international partners, other governments, and UN human rights mechanisms.
Front Line Defenders calls on the Hong Kong authorities to quash the conviction against Chow Hang-tung and the other Alliance leaders, release them immediately, and drop the other criminal charges against them. It reiterates its call on the central Chinese government to repeal the National Security Law and its Implementation Rules in Hong Kong.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 19, 2023
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 13, 2023
- Event Description
Mr Le Than, of Le Hieu Dang Club - members includes pro-democracy former high-ranked officials and former Party members - said his Club members planned to go to Bach Dang Wharf (HCMC) to light joss sticks, but only few whom the police didn't know managed to get there, other members were blocked from leaving their house as the local police guarded them since the early morning [of 13 Mar].
Dissident intellectual Dr Mac Van Trang and his wife - well known actress Kim Chi - were under guard at their home [in HCMC].
Mrs Duong Thi Tan, an activist from Saigon, said her home was under police guard for several days but she didn't know what the police's intention was.
In Hanoi, outspoken former teacher Mrs Tran Thi Thao told RFA, a local policeman and several plain clothes police stood guard near the bottom of the staircase of her apartment block and prevented her from going out.
An activist who preferred to remain anonymous said, at King Ly Thai To statue in Hanoi central, a number of police vehicles, district police, police and civilian guards were present but not as large in number as in previous years.
Poet Hoang Hung - of Independent Writers' League - opined that the regime determines to ban all independent activities showing signs that they are in any way organised, whether it's picking up rubbish or grow trees or reacting to China.
Mrs Tran Thi Thao opined that [this year], by allowing the state media to write about Gac Ma and name China as the culprit in the incident, the regime led by Party Chief Trong aims to mollify the people and deceive the West - pretending there is a shift in Vietnam's relations with China; however by suppressing dissidents and activists, the regime wants to prove to President Xi Jinping that those seen as anti-China are still subject to Vietnam's forceful treatment.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Restrictions on Movement, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 18, 2023
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Mar 1, 2023
- Event Description
A human rights lawyer who represented Ai Weiwei against the Chinese government has "disappeared" after trying to board a train to the southern province of Guangdong, according to rights activists.
Liu Xiaoyuan was stopped by police on March 1 as he tried to travel to Zhuhai city from Ganzhou in the eastern province of Jiangxi, the Weiquanwang rights website reported.
"I was stopped by police from the Ganzhou West Railway Station public security station in Jiangxi province, en route to Zhuhai," Liu wrote in a WeChat post before going incommunicado.
"I asked for a written record [of this interaction], but they refused."
The incident comes as China has stepped up detentions of dissidents and religious figures ahead of the annual session of its rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress.
Liu, a former member of the now-shuttered public interest law firm Beijing Fengrui, went incommunicado on the eve of the annual session in Beijing, a time when the authorities typically target critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
The lawyer previously represented Ai Weiwei when the globally renowned artist was detained in 2011. Ai once called him “the best lawyer in China”.
Other clients have included journalists and activists accused of subverting the Chinese Communist Party.
Stopped by rail police
Before going missing, Liu wrote that he had been stopped by rail police while attempting to travel.
The Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch website also reported concerns about Liu's whereabouts, tweeting a message from the lawyer on the day of his "disappearance."
"My ID card showed up as invalid when I went through the [automatic security] gates, and it wouldn't let me through with just a train ticket," Liu said in comments posted by the group to Twitter.
"Then four railway policemen surrounded me and wouldn't let me go, and the duty supervisor even wanted to confiscate my ID card," he wrote.
"[They said] they were assisting the state security police in my hometown of Suichuan county with their investigation," Liu said.
A fellow rights lawyer who asked to remain anonymous confirmed the rights groups' accounts.
"Liu [told me] last night that he didn't eat, because he was waiting for them to give him an explanation," the lawyer said. "I haven't been able to contact him since [Wednesday] afternoon."
"His mobile phone is switched on, but nobody is picking up," he said.
He said Liu has been repeatedly harassed and persecuted by the government since he was targeted in a 2015 nationwide police operation that saw hundreds of lawyers, law firm staff and rights activists detained, hauled in for questioning and even jailed for subversion.
Stripped of license
Authorities in Beijing stripped Liu of his license to practice as a lawyer in October 2019 after he published a photo of himself selling insecticide as a street vendor - an image that could be considered “a kind of art…[and] a complaint against the abuse of power” by authorities who had forced the shutdown of his law firm he told RFA at the time.
An employee who answered the phone at the Ganzhou municipal railway police department declined to comment when contacted by Radio Free Asia on Thursday about Liu’s disappearance.
Meanwhile, veteran journalist Gao Yu has been taken to the eastern province of Shandong under police escort, while police in the southwestern province of Guizhou have placed more than a dozen members of the banned Guizhou Human Rights Forum under detention or house arrest, activists told Radio Free Asia.
Prominent dissidents Zha Jianguo and Ji Feng are both under house arrest or close surveillance, as is rights activist Li Wei, who posted that he was "going out to walk around and shop, with personal carers alongside," in an apparent reference to state security police minders.
Guizhou rights activists Chen Xi, Li Renke, Liao Shuangyuan, and Shen Youlian have all been placed under close surveillance, while a local Protestant church member said Guizhou pastor Yang Hua is currently under travel restrictions that will likely end in mid-March, after the National People's Congress closes.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Restrictions on Movement, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 6, 2023
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Feb 21, 2023
- Event Description
NagaWorld union leader Chhim Sithar and eight co-defendants appeared for their first day of trial in Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday. Sithar and all her colleagues, except for one, denied the incitement charges against them.
Prosecutors claim that Sithar and her fellow union members are guilty of incitement to disturb security for leading a union strike for more than a year after Phnom Penh authorities declared the labor movement illegal.
Over the course of the three and a half hour hearing, Presiding judge Soeung Chakriya focused on questioning Sithar about the union’s funding, especially from international donors.
Sithar acknowledged she had requested and received funds to support the union’s activities from three international donors: U.S.-based non-profit East West Management Institute (EWMI), feminist NGO JASS and North American union Unite Here.
The three organizations could not be reached for comment.
Sithar said the union received $10,000 from EWMI, $15,000 from JASS and $5,000 from Unite Here as “humanitarian funds” to aid members laid off during Covid-19.
“I made proposals for receiving funds to support the union’s operations and humanitarian funds in helping members during COVID-19, and layoff jobs,” Sithar said.
Deputy prosecutor Seng Heang said that Sithar had led the illegal protest without permission from Phnom Penh municipal authorities and that international funds support the union’s illegal activities.
“I have observed they [workers] have protested [from] morning till evening with no other job [to support their livelihood],” he said.
“They’re volunteers who come [to strike] and they’re willing to do so,” Sithar replied.
She said the strike was peaceful, legal and protected by the Cambodian constitution’s right to freedom expression.
Approximately 1,300 workers initiated the strike on December 18, 2021 to demand the reinstatement of 365 laid off NagaWorld employees following mass lay-offs and lack of full severance pay. More than one year later, 100 employees still protest their lay-offs.
Sithar, president of the Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employee of NagaWorld (LRSU), has stated the union has followed all legal protocol for the strike. The union has said it only launched a strike after all viable efforts at mediation were exhausted.
But Sithar and her eight fellow union members — Chhim Sokhorn, Hay Sopheap, Kleang Soben, Ry Sovandy, Sok Kongkea, Sok Narith, Sun Sreypich, and Touch Sereymeas — were arrested in January last year and placed in pre-trial detention. They were released from Prey Sar prison on bail in March.
Sithar was re-arrested in November last year and detained for allegedly violating bail.
Only one defendant, Kongkea, accepted the charges of incitement in court but later declined to speak with reporters.
Senior Adhoc investigator Yi Soksan said the government, Ministry of Labor and NagaWorld had unfairly dismissed efforts to resolve the strikers demands by instead handing the issue to the system.
“I see that the Royal Government as well as the Ministry of Labor does not seem to care about this labor dispute, they are [Nagaworld staff] laid off unfairly by the company and then the court charges with accusing them of inciting unrest and undermining social security.”
Ministry of Labor spokesperson Heng Sour said in a Telegram message to CamboJA that labor conflicts between former employees of NagaWorld have been settled at the court stage.
“However, he ministry will continue to mediate through the mechanism of the strike and demonstration commission at the request of the conflicting parties,” he said.
NagaWorld could not be reached for comment.
President of Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions Yang Sophorn attended the trial and said she believed LRSU members had legitimate reasons and legal cause to strike but this was ignored by the court.
“Prosecutor questioned tried to place blame, it isn’t about finding justice for Sithar only protecting the interests of the company,” Sophorn told CamboJA News. “[The court] does not mean to find justice for parties involved.”
“I think that the incitement charge was exaggerated because Sithar has tried to explain the root cause of striking and workers’ demands that they have a right to disagree with the employer,” Sophorn added.
Laid off NagaWorld union member Nop Tithboravy and around 100 fellow union members protested outside the court on the day of the hearing.
Tithboravy said she and her colleagues had received numerous threats from the government and struggled to support their families financially after more than one year of striking, refusing to accept the company’s terms.
“I hope the court will bring justice to everyone because we are doing a strike to seek freedom at our workplace and want to go back to work,” she said. “ We don’t have income to support our family, we want to go back to work.”
Tithboravy said the strikers would not end their strike unless the company reinstated all workers and the court dropped all charges against the union members.
The trial is scheduled to resume on February 28.
Outside the court following the hearing, Sithar’s younger brother Chhim Pros said his sister had only followed the law in leading the strike.
“[Sithar] has always helped people from a young age,” he said. “She is just an ordinary girl, she has no ability to destroy the peace in our country.”
- Impact of Event
- 9
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 27, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Feb 3, 2023
- Event Description
The DKI Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office stated that the case of defamation of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan had been declared complete. The case ensnared two human rights activists, Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar, as suspects.
"It's already P21, dated February 3, 2023," said Head of Legal Information Section for the DKI Prosecutor's Office Ade Sofyansyah, Monday, February 20, 2023.
P21 is a code in the world of law which means that the prosecutor has considered the case file to be complete. Ade said the prosecutor's office was ready for the second phase of the suspect transfer. "The DKI Prosecutor's Office is ready for stage 2," said Ade.
This case began with a video uploaded on Haris Azhar's YouTube entitled "There is Lord Luhut Behind the Economic Relations-Military Ops Intan Jaya General BIN Also Exists" on August 20, 2021. The video shows a conversation between Fatia and Haris about the results of a research entitled "Economy- The Politics of Military Deployment in Papua: The Intan Jaya Case".
The report states that the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan still owns shares in the Toba Sejahtra Group company. The Toba Sejahtra Group, through its subsidiary, PT Tobacom Del Mandiri, is suspected of embracing a portion of PTMQ's shares. West Wits Mining as PTMQ shareholder shares shares with Tobacom in the Derewo River Gold Project.
Not accepting his name being associated with a mine in Papua, Luhut through his subordinates sent a subpoena to Fatia and Haris. The subpoena led to a report to Polda Metro Jaya. Polda investigators named Haris and Fatia suspects of defamation in March 2022.
In his report, Luhut considered the statements of the two activists to be slander and fake news. Luhut also plans to sue the two for Rp 100 billion.
Luhut's move to police Fatia and Haris was flooded with criticism. Andalas University constitutional law expert, Feri Amsari, for example, considers that Luhut violated at least two laws when reporting. According to him, as a state administrator Luhut cannot report on people who give criticism or input to the government.
"There is a law order that states administrators are not allowed to report citizens participating in providing input," he said in a virtual IM57+ Institute discussion, Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Feri also stated that the public's right to express opinions was protected by article 28 of the 1945 Constitution. Article 28 F of the 1945 Constitution also gave the public the right to manage the information to be conveyed.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Indonesia: NGO staff issued legal warning for reporting army involvement in gold mining business
- Date added
- Feb 21, 2023
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Feb 12, 2023
- Event Description
An Afghan women’s rights activist has been detained in Kabul without any information on her whereabouts from Taliban authorities, as another woman was detained and beaten in northern Takhar province for calling for women’s rights.
Nargis Sadat was arrested while travelling in Pul-e-Surkh area of west Kabul on Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Sadat’s relatives told Rukhshana Media that she was not in good health and she had gone to the hospital for treatment. While on her way from the hospital to her sister’s house, she was detained at a checkpoint by Taliban forces in Kabul city’s district three.
The Taliban took Mrs. Sadat’s phone and went through it, then detained her on the grounds that it contained videos and photos of women protesting. Her family have not been allowed any information of her whereabouts.
“After her husband heard the news of her arrest, he went to the local police district. Narges’ phone was in the hands of the police chief there and he told Narges’ husband that she was a leader of the women’s protests so the police called the intelligence department to come and investigate her,” a source close to the family said.
Her husband was not even allowed to see her and make sure of her health condition, a family member told Rukhshana Media, adding that the Sadat’s have a 10-year-old son who was not coping well mentally.
Narges Sadat, is a leading member of the Afghan Powerful Women Movement.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 20, 2023
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 28, 2023
- Event Description
About the Human Rights Defender: Mr. Wahengbam Joykumar is a RTI activist based in Manipur. He was the former Ombudsman at Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment GuaranteeSchemeMGNREGS, Imphal; East District, and Former Co-Convenor of NationalCampaign for Peoples' Right to Information, NCPRI. Mr. Joykumar has consistently taken a public stand against corruption and collusion of Manipur government officials with armed opposition groups.
On December 7, 2022, Mr. Joykumar Wahengbam had submitted a complaint application to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur to take necessary action against (1) the Hon’ble Minister (CAF & PD), (2) the Commissioner, (CAF & PD) namely Bobby Waikhom, IAS and (3) the Deputy Secretary of Manipur (CAF & PD) namely T. Vei,MSS, Governtment of Manipur of Manipur for relating to support and criminal conspiracy with an Armed Opposition group/ proscribe group, In 2022, Mr. Joykumar Wahengbam was threatened by an insurgency group based in Manipur to withdraw the application which he had filed as a PIL to High Court of Manipur to ensure the distribution of rice under PMGKAY during the Covid-19 times.
On August 16, 2020, he was picked up from his residence at Wangkhei, Imphal East at by Imphal Police Station and detained him around two hours at the Imphal Police station for posting a comment on his Facebook. Background of the Incident: On January 24, 2023,two unidentified men in a white Mahindra XUV 300, shot dead Laishram Rameshwor Singh (55), in Thoubal District, Manipur.
Mr. Laishram Rameshwor Singh was a retired army personnel and also current member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the convener of BJP ex-serviceman cell. He was admitted to Raj Medicity in Imphal after the shooting but succumbed to bullet injuries.
According to the police,after a chase and search operation, the vehicle used in the crime and the driver of the vehicle was arrested. The man was identified as Naorem RickySingh alias Amu, son of N Kesho of Keinou Thongthak Maning Leikai, Bishnupur District, staying at Haobam Marak Irom Leikai. Imphal West District. The police also recovered one empty case of .32 bullet from the place of the crime.
Later, the main accused, Ayekpam Keshorjit, 46, surrendered himself before Inspector P Achouba Meitei.A licensed gun, a .32 pistol, two magazines and nine .32 bullets were seized from his possession. One mobile handset Samsung A70 belonging to the accused was also seized. Mr.Ayekpam Keshorjit’s wife claimed that her husband was a RTI activist, and he shot L Rameshwor in self-defence. Details of the Incident: On January 28, 2023, at round 8:10 pm, two gypsy vans filled with security personnel, led by Mr. W. Ibocha Singh MPS, reached the residence of Wahengbam Joykumar in Imphal East. The policemen reached the back door of the house, which was opened by the HRD’s wife, Ms. Wahengbam Purnimashi. The policemen asked her if this was Mr. Joykumar’s residence. His wife replied in the affirmative and requested the security personnel to come to the main gate. Some personnel got inside the courtyard and told her to call her husband. Mr. Joykumar came out from the house and the security personnel told him that they have come to arrest him in relation with a murder case. The security personnel did not allow Mr. Joykumar to change his clothesand one personnel stayed with him in his room as he changed his clothes. The security personnel also interrogated his wife and got her to sign an arrest memo which they bought according to which the time of arrest is 8:10 pm. An FIR was filed against him (FIR No. 17 (1) 2023 TBLPS) under Indian Penal Code sections 307; ( Attempt to murder);326, (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon)IPC 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention; IPC 25 (1-B) (in Arms ActWhoever—. (a) acquires, has in his possession, or carries any firearm or ammunition in contravention of section 3).
At around 8:21 pm, the security personnel took Joykumar to the Thoubal police station.He was detained in the police station for two hours during which time he was allowed to contact his lawyer. Mr. Joykumar was produced in front of the Judicial Magistrate Thoubal and has been remanded to police custody till February 02, 2023.
On February 2, 2023, Joykumar Wahengbam was produced in the court at around 3:30 pm. but the court rejected his bail, and his lawyer will apply for regular bail in future. HRD Mr. Joykumar continues to be in Central Jail at the time of writing.
Civil society groups in Manipur have condemned the arrest of Mr. Joykumar. HRDA believes that the arrest of Mr. Joykumar is an act of reprisal for frequently speaking up on issues related to the Right to Information and a misuse of powers by the Manipur police. The civil society groups also demanded that advocate Joykumar’s professional and legitimate action of advising his client cannot be construed in any way as criminal conspiracy and that he should be released immediately.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
Case shared by FORUM-ASIA member People's Watch
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 10, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 10, 2022
- Event Description
The police arrested 13 students from the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) who raised the Morning Star flag during a demonstration at the local campus in Padang Bulan, Jayapura.
Jayapura Police Chief Kombes Victor Mackbon said that apart from raising the Morning Star flag, the dozens of students with the help of their colleagues carried out anarchic acts and threw stones at officers when the action was about to be dispersed.
In fact, the police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse the student anarchist action.
"Four police personnel were injured in the incident, so they were immediately ordered to receive an autopsy," said Kombes Mackbon quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, November 10.
The Kapolresta has yet to confirm the status of the 13 students who were secured, whether they are pure USTJ students or not. "Investigators are still examining the 13 students," he added.
Separately, USTJ Deputy Chancellor for Student Affairs Isak Rumbarar acknowledged that there were students who were secured at the Jayapura City Police.
"I can't say for sure whether they are all USTJ students or not because currently they are still being handled by the Jayapura City Police," said Isak.
Isak admitted that he was shocked when he learned that the demonstration by students on his campus was accompanied by the raising of the Morning Star flag, prompting the security forces to act according to applicable law.
According to him, USTJ provides space for students to express their aspirations, but student actions that violate the law by raising the Morning Star flag cannot be justified.
"There was an pelting action by a group of students and the police fired tear gas," explained Isak Rumbarar.
- Impact of Event
- 13
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 16, 2022
- Event Description
The Papuan Student Alliance of the Bali City Committee is planning a demonstration at the Renon Roundabout, opposing the G20 Summit and demanding that the government give the Papuan people the right to self-determination. Then there was a riot. It all started when the masses were going to the point of action, around 9.30. They also carried posters with their demands. “Prior to the action point, we were immediately intercepted by a large number of mass organizations, pecalang and Banjar Renon village officials. Then silenced and repressed the masses, and shouted racist words," said the spokesman for the action, Herry Meaga, to Tirto, Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
At 10 o'clock, the demonstrators were surrounded and pelted with stones, wood and bottles. Even mass organizations are said to have used slingshots to block them. "Then we couldn't stop the repression from the mass organizations because the number of mass organizations was increasing, they kept pushing and pushing back the comrades," said Herry. So the action coordinator ordered the masses to return to the dormitories. An hour later, the masses read out their position statements. In this incident, six students were injured due to the alleged assault and seizure of alliance flags and posters, and severing megaphone cables. The Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Kombes Pol Stefanus Satake Bayu, regretted this incident. At that time, pecalang were on guard around the student dormitory, there were no police. He also stated that there was no letter of action notification from the student alliance to the police. "There was no notification letter for the demonstration (of Papuan students). If they have a notification, we can help with security," he said to Tirto. "But we have appealed to organizations that want to demonstrate to postpone it, because Indonesia is currently having an international event. The TNI and Polri are focusing on securing the G20 Summit," Bayu continued. Today is the last day of the G20 Summit in Bali. With regard to Circular Letter Number 35425/SEKRET/2022 concerning Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities in the Context of Implementing the G20 Presidency, which was signed by the Governor of Bali Wayan Koster on October 25, 2022, it is only natural that students are prohibited from demonstrating. The circular letter emphasized that "Restrictions on community activities in the South Kuta District, Badung Regency, and South Denpasar will be implemented on 12-17 November 2022, covering education, government and private offices, traditional ceremonies, religious activities, except for health facilities."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 16, 2022
- Event Description
The Alliance of Student Executive Boards (BEM) together with hundreds of students from all over Jayapura held a protest against the G20 Summit at the Lower Gate of Cenderawasih University (Uncen), Abepura Jayapura Papua, Wednesday (16/11).
The action against the G20 Summit began at 08.00 Papua Time. The demonstrators gathered at four points, namely Expo Waena, Upper Uncen, Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) Campus, Uncen Faculty of Medicine, and demonstrators from Lower Uncen.
The masses of action began to gather together at the Lower Uncen Gate. At around 11.30 Papua Time, the demonstrators from Uncen Atas descended and. Here there was a clash between the demonstrators and the demonstrators were forcibly dispersed by security forces from the police.
Around 12.00 Papua Time, the situation became chaotic when the police fired tear gas, removed and shot the demonstrators with rubber bullets, threw stones and arrested the demonstrators.
At that time the mass action started to heat up because the TNI/Polli entered the campus area and attacked students so that several students were hit, lost their cell phones, motorbike keys and noken.
The names of the students who were detained by the police were Gerson Pigai, an Uncen student, as the Public Field Coordinator. Both Yabet Lukas Degei, Uncen students.
Third, Abel Pauwok, Uncen student; fourth, Uncen's student Bayage Dictionary; fifth, Ayus Heluka, Uncen student, sixth Lukas Gane, Uncen student and seventh, Tinus Heluka, Uncen student.
The seven students are still at Jayapura Porlesta and are receiving assistance from the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH).
The demonstrators could not proceed to the target location of the Papua Province People's Representative Council (DPR) office because the situation was getting hotter and impossible. Then at 12.30 the demonstrators were dispersed by TNI/Polri officers.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 28, 2022
- Event Description
The West Papua Regional Police of Manokwari Police have arrested 15 people suspected of being involved in the treason act when dozens of residents commemorated the anniversary of West Papua New Guinea (WPNG) at the Wosi Manokwari terminal, Sunday (28/11).
Head of the Manokwari Police Station AKBP Parasian Herman Gultom confirmed that 15 people had been arrested and they were currently undergoing investigations at the Manokwari Police Headquarters to find out their role in the action.
"The action allegedly contradicts the ideology of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia but is covered with worship activities, because there are cries for an independent Papua to the display of symbols that are prohibited in our country," said the police chief.
The police chief said that based on the initial examination, the 15 people were identified as field coordinators, community liaisons and sympathizers who were present at the prohibited activities.
"At the time of the action, they said that their president was currently in the Netherlands. Therefore, after the investigation, we will hold a hearing to determine who should be named as a suspect in accordance with Article 106 of the Criminal Code on treason," said the police chief.
He explained that the action which was held around 11.30-12.00 WIT at the Wosi terminal began with worship activities and continued with speeches up to the unfurling of the Morning Star flag.
"Our members have made an appeal, but the appeal was not heeded, so law enforcement measures were taken to enforce the forced dissolution to secure the 15 people," said the police chief.
After the forced disbandment and the arrest of 15 people during the WPNG action at the Wosi terminal, the security situation for the Manokwari city area was under control, the Police Chief appealed to the people of Manokwari not to be provoked by provocative issues, and to continue their activities as usual "Until Sunday night the Manokwari situation was under control, the community could carry out their activities as usual and were not easily provoked by various provocative issues," said the police chief.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2022
- Event Description
The police arrested five people suspected of being sympathizers of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB).
They were detained during a commemoration of International Human Rights Day in the Uncen Abepura campus area, Jayapura City, Papua, Saturday (10/12/2022).
Jayapura City Police Chief Kombes Victor Mackbon said the action did not receive permission from his party.
Firm action was forced to be taken because the masses put up resistance when given persuasive appeals.
"The action that was carried out today was not permitted, because there were several requirements that could not be met," he told a number of journalists, including Tribun-Papua.com.
Initially the police personnel called on the masses from the KNPB to disperse.
However, it is regrettable that there was resistance from the person who was suspected of being the provocateur of the action.
He said the five demonstrators who were detained were now taken to his headquarters for questioning.
The former Mimika Police Chief emphasized that his party always tries to open up space for the community to express their aspirations in a dignified manner.
"However, there are always provocateurs who take advantage of the situation to disrupt the smooth running of Kamtibmas, of course we always anticipate this," he said.
Meanwhile, Kombes Victor said the current situation in Jayapura City was safe and conducive.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2022
- Event Description
Eight activists from the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua and the Papuan Student Alliance were arrested by the police in Ternate City, North Maluku, on Thursday (1/12/2022), during a demonstration commemorating the raising of the Morning Star flag at the Nieuw Guinea Raad Office ( NGR) or Dutch New Guinea Council in Holland on 1 December 1961. The eight activists were taken to the Ternate Police Headquarters, and were questioned there.
This was stated by the Head of the Department of Unification of the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua, Anton Trisno, to Jubi via the WhatsApp service, Thursday. Anton stated that the eight people arrested by the police were activists from the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP), the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP), the Indonesian Student League for Democracy (LMID), and individuals.
Those arrested by the police were Jack (FRI-WP activist), Hengky (AMP activist), Dino (AMP activist), Susan (AMP activist), Malo (LMID activist), Kama (LMID activist), Rino (individual), and The (individual) wave. "Our friends were arrested by the police while holding a demonstration commemorating the embryonic independence of the West Papuan people on December 1, 1961," said Anton.
He said the December 1 commemoration action was held in Ternate since Thursday at around 10.46 WIT. During the long march, they met a group of motorcycle taxi drivers. "Shortly after, police and soldiers in plain clothes [came to] the location of the action, and opposed the action, because this is Ternate, not Papua," said Anton.
Moments later, the police came. At around 10.58 WIT, the demonstrators for the December 1 commemoration were dispersed by the security forces along with motorcycle taxi drivers, on the grounds that they were disturbing the activities of other residents.
“The mass action was dispersed by motorcycle taxi drivers, police and soldiers. [They said], 'if you want to say that Papua is free, look for another country'," Anton said, imitating the words of the group that broke up the demonstration.
When the masses moved in the Jatiland Mall Ternate area, clashes again occurred at around 11.00 WIT. “[A number of participants in] the action were injured, and eight people were arrested. They were secured at the Ternate Police for questioning," said Anton.
Anton Trisno expressed disappointment with the disbandment of the demonstration. "We are very disappointed with the arbitrary arrests by the police of FRI-WP, AMP, and Individual activists," he said.
Anton asked the police to immediately release the arrested activists. "We ask for solidarity so we can monitor and advocate for it," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2022
- Event Description
A number of students from Papua who are members of the Human Rights and Democracy Forum Alliance (Formasi) held a demonstration in front of the Widya Mandira Catholic University Kupang Campus on Jalan Ahmad Yani, Merdeka Village, Kota Lama District, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Thursday (1/12/2022). Dozens of students who are a combination of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) of Kupang City, the Papuan Student Communication Forum (Fokmap) of NTT and the West Papua Indonesian People's Forum (FRI-WP), held a demonstration to voice human rights and democracy issues in Papua. During the action, students carried banners that read their demands. Starting from human rights and democracy issues in Papua, rejection of plans to exploit the Wae Sano geothermal in NTT and rejection of ticket increases and business monopoly in the Komodo National Park in NTT, as well as rejection of the RKUHP. During the demonstration, the students were disbanded by Community Organizations (Ormas). ) Guard Flobamora XXX. The police officers guarding the action then took the students to the Kelapa Lima Sector Police Headquarters for safekeeping. "That's right, our members have secured them (Papuan students) at the Kelapa Lima Police," said Head of Public Relations for the NTT Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Ariasandy to Kompas.com, Thursday (1/12/2022). After that, the student from Papua was taken to the Kupang City Police Headquarters for security reasons. Then, the Kupang City Police took steps to secure the dispute between the Ormas and the students. The police also appealed to both parties not to take actions that violate the law which affect stability, security and public order in Kupang City. "Members of the Kupang City Police then sent the students home using a bus belonging to the Kupang City Police to the Oesapa Village, Kelapa Lima District," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 15, 2022
- Event Description
A demonstration demanding the repeal of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in Bandung, Thursday (15/12/2022) afternoon, ended in chaos. The action, which was carried out by hundreds of masses from a combination of students from all over West Java, was dispersed by the police.
The action this time was the form of the umpteenth time rejecting the Criminal Code which was later passed by the DPR and the government some time ago. The masses carried the theme of the action "West Java Sues, Bandung Seas Anger".
One of the participants in the action, Audi, said that initially the action went smoothly. The students demanded that the Criminal Code, which contains problematic articles, be repealed immediately. They gave speeches voicing their demands in front of the West Java DPRD Building until 18.00 WIB.
The demonstrators had asked to have an audience with members of the West Java DPRD, but several people's representatives only stood at the door, not meeting the demonstrators.
After the sunset call to prayer, conditions began to become unfavorable. Allegedly there was a provocation that made the action heated up.
"And finally, right after the call to prayer, we started to break up," said Audi, to Bandungmoving.id when met at the Bandung Polrestabes, Thursday night.
In the midst of a chaotic situation, the masses asked members of the West Java DPRD to leave. But then the first water cannon shots started at around 19.30 WIB. This causes the masses to scatter.
After having retreated for a while, the masses returned to the fence area of the West Java DPRD Building. It was then that the students said they started receiving tear gas shots. The crowd scattered, some of them fainted.
Police armed with batons then chased and dispersed the demonstrators. As a result, a number of students were injured, several people were rushed to the hospital.
"We are advancing again, the tear gas was shot behind the (first) DPRD fence, only then the second tear gas was shot out. There the masses started to get upset, there started a lot of victims from students in West Java," said Audi.
Audi itself became one of the victims. The student from a private university in Bandung admitted that he was hit with a bat and was knocked unconscious. Two of his friends were even caught and taken to the Bandung Polrestabes.
Not only that, several other campus students also became victims of repression. Among others, from UIN Bandung. Preliminary data from the students noted that 17 people were arrested and taken to the Bandung Polrestabes. This data is still being updated.
Head of BEM Unpad, Virdian Aurellio regretted the repressive actions of the police in securing the action. He recorded how many students were examined and their devices were detained to be taken to the Bandung Polrestabes.
"We didn't do anything to point fingers, where here, we checked our wallets, checked our cellphones, then our friends were told to squat like criminals," he said.
On the other hand, a number of public defender activists from the Bandung Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the Indonesian Legal Aid Association (PBHI), and LBH Berani experienced difficulty accessing them when they tried to provide legal assistance to students who were arrested at the Bandung Polrestabes. New legal assistance can be given at 22.25 WIB.
"Like the previous pattern regarding entry, we provide access to legal assistance, of course we encounter difficulties. To be precise, they were prevented even though we had received complaints, we were carrying out legal aid work, but still (obstructed)," said Heri Pramono from LBH Bandung.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 29, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2022
- Event Description
The commemoration of International Human Rights Day (HAM) December 10, 2022 was colored by mass actions in Papua. Action oration just about to start, police officers dispersed the masses of action. Several people were reportedly detained at the local police station.
Information gathered by the media from a number of sources, at least 85 people were arrested by the security forces at several points in the area when they were about to commemorate 74 years of world human rights day (10 December 1948-20 December 2022) with a peaceful demonstration, Saturday (10/12/2022).
Forced dispersal and mass arrests took place in Sentani, Jayapura district. Likewise in Wamena, Jayawijaya district. As well as in Abepura and Waena, the city of Jayapura.
According to Ones Suhuniap, spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), 108 protesters were arrested by security forces.
“Earlier there were arrests of 108 people. First in Wamena 30 people. Then in Sentani 51 people and in the city of Jayapura there are 4 people," he said in response to confirmation from suarapapua.com via WhatsApp, Saturday night.
Quoting field reports, said Ones, the silencing of democratic space by means of forced dissolution to arrests and beatings of peaceful demonstrators took place in various cities in the Land of Papua.
"Peaceful demonstrations to commemorate world human rights day were carried out in 9 cities in Papua. Among others, in the city of Jayapura, Jayapura district in Sentani, Gunung Bintang district in Oksibil, Jayawijaya district in Wamena, Tolikara district, Lanny Jaya district, Manokwari and Sorong.”
Outside Papua, Ones explained, peaceful demonstrations were carried out by Papuan students organized by the Indonesian Consulate which were centered in Manado and Gorontalo.
Sentani
The peaceful demonstration in Sentani, Jayapura district, was carried out at 6.15 WIT. With the action point at the eye of the Post 7 Sentani road.
"At 7.30 WIT, police from the Jayapura Police arrived at the demonstrators and forcibly dispersed them. Several action mobs were hit. There were also arrests. 51 people were arrested,” he explained.
Ones confirmed that the action was facilitated by the KNPB Sentani Region to commemorate 72 years of world human rights day and at the same time urged the Indonesian government to resolve various cases of human rights violations in the Land of Papua and demand an immediate referendum as a democratic solution.
Of the 51 people transported by the police from Post 7 Sentani, five of them were injured.
"The victims were injured on behalf of Agustina Darla Kobak (on the head), Zeth (on the head), Insu Ina Su (on the arm), Nodi Tepmul (on the hand), and Frangki Kogoya (on the hand)."
The names secured by the Jayapura Police: Agus Bahabol (person in charge), Sadrack Lagowan (General Coordinator), Demi Tabuni, Silis Uopdana, Nando, Agn, Malis Uopkulir, Dortius Tenget, Saugas Lokon, Oktovianus Wakel, Betok Uropmabin, Eleck Tepmul , Gaulin Balingga, Inzu Ina Su, Frengky Kogoya, Menis Siep, Agustina Darla Kobak, Yosua, Yopina Pahabol, Ance Yoku, Milka, Hinus Siep.
Ektam Kalakmabin, Melly Tepmul, Kurus DM Felle, Oviana Kha Websa, Meksi Taplo, Eiko Taplo, Yan Itlay, Imer Matuan, Elison Pahabol, Eco Passe, Bella Wesapia, Berto Taplo, Gerry Matuan, Steven Tengket (Wakorlap), Mario Kassar, Miles Itlay, Fehri Molama, Elli Sugun, Man Waker, Charles Kogoya.
"We have not recorded the other 10 people," said Ones.
"The demonstrators who were arrested have been transported to the Jayapura Police in Doyo," he continued.
Security forces also took a number of action devices. In the form of billboards, megaphones, pamphlets, command lines and seven KNPB flags.
In addition, 1 Readmi 05 handset belonging to Sadrack Lagowan was also confiscated.
Wamena
Forced dispersal of mass demonstrations and mass arrests also occurred in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya district. Apart from the gathering point at the Mission Wouma Market, police officers dispersed the demonstrators at the Jibama Market.
Reportedly, 30 people were taken to the Jayawijaya Police.
"12 people from the Mission Wouma market point, 13 people from the Jibama market, and from Potikelek 5 people were arrested and taken to Jayawijaya Police," he explained.
The protesters from the Wouma Mission Market point that were secured were Nopius Asso, Jhon Iksomon, Nahason Pahabol, Niel Asso, Wene Kabak, Niris Pahabol, Abet Kabak, Tolak Asso, Nikon Kabak, Wei, Sini Ulunggi, Alimos Pahabol.
From Jibama Market, namely Othen Gombo, Mau Iaba, Wilem Kenelak, Ima Alya, Pokemon Wantik, Masongan Endambia, Fakalis Kisa, Yalince Wandikbo, Lidia Wandikbo, Yos Logo, Yosael Gombo, Aten Jaga, Junani Sibak.
Meanwhile, from the Potikelek point, namely Erik Aliknoe, Wenealem Y Kabak, Aten Asso, Lani Yikwa, Rosyan Zine Kogoya.
"All of them are KNPB members," said Ones while adding that the 25 people were undergoing examination.
Before the security forces disbanded, Ones received a report that the mass demonstrations in the context of World Human Rights Day in Wamena had started to move since 08.00 at several points.
Apart from the three gathering points which were forcibly disbanded and dozens of people arrested, said Suhuniap, the mass demonstrations from other gathering points were blockaded.
"Meanwhile, the demonstrators from Sinakma moved at 09.56 to successfully march towards the Jayawijaya DPRD office, but the gate was closed. The masses occupied in front of the DPRD office on Jalan Yos Sudarso Wamena."
Student Action
The commemoration of World Human Rights Day held by the Jayapura Alliance of Student Executive Boards (BEM) at the Uncen Abepura campus was also disbanded by security forces.
The student action in front of the Uncen Auditorium was prevented until several students were secured by members of the Jayapura Police.
The identities of the demonstrators detained were: Engel AP You, Tayai Kotopa Keiya, Olison Pakage, Iso Pekei and Yosep Douw.
The report that Ones received from Francis Yobee, the General Coordinator, stated that a number of students were treated harshly and even injured.
Seven people were beaten, namely Nando Boma (hit in the head), Okto Mote (swollen spine, injured finger), Yoten Mirin (hand wound), Hendrik Muyapa (hand wound, cellphone confiscated), Yabet Degei (back swollen, his clothes were torn), X Dogomo (ear wound), Olison Pakage (head bleeding).
Meanwhile at the Uncen Perumnas III Waena campus, the police dispersed the peaceful student demonstration. The action is centered on the upper Uncen gate.
Forcibly disbanded, the students moved to Perumnas I to join the Waena Expo demonstration masses.
Again, the police blockaded the demonstrators until they were forcibly dispersed at the Expo Waena bridge.
The demonstrators from Expo Waena, Buper and its surroundings gathered at the Papua Museum from 09.30 to 10.30 WIT, and were again disbanded.
The mass of protesters who gathered at the Abepura Circle also shared the same fate. Disbanded the security forces.
At around 13.00 WIT, the demonstrators from the USTJ campus, the lower Uncen campus headed for the Mimi hostel. The mass of action that was dispersed from Abe's circle also joined.
Gathering at the Mimin Dormitory's volleyball court, the masses delivered speeches and read out their position statements.
Manokwari and Sorong
In Manokwari, a peaceful demonstration to mark World Human Rights Day aimed at blocking the West Papua DPR office from the Manokwari Police and the Amban Police.
The action started at 09.00 WIT.
Both Amban and other points have been blockaded since morning.
In Sorong, the plan for peaceful action was centered in front of Ellin Maranata. From 7.00 WIT, at the location of the action, the security forces were on standby before the masses arrived.
The security forces appeared in full gear. By using cars and motorbikes, the security forces were on alert while terrorizing the mass action.
The mass of the KNPB action continued to unfurl banners, pamphlets and put up two KNPB organizational flags.
Beginning with a prayer, orations were delivered alternately at 9.00 WIT.
Delivery of speeches for one hour until 10.00 WIT.
The apparatus then limited it because it had exceeded the time limit.
Several times the KNPB board led by Dengky Pagawak negotiated with the police because they had submitted notification letters about plans for peaceful demonstrations.
Plans for a long march to the DPRD office were canceled because officials did not allow it.
In a matter of two minutes the mass of action must disperse.
Avoiding various bad possibilities, the action was ended after members of the Polres began moving to remove the command lines, pamphlets, banners, and took the KNPB flag.
"The demonstrators were forcibly dispersed around 10.58 WIT."
Unable to survive due to the strength of the number of armed troops, the demonstrators dispersed safely.
Four Current Districts
Actions to commemorate Human Rights Day which were held in four other districts: Lanny Jaya, Tolikara, Gunung Bintang, and Paniai, went smoothly.
Human Rights Day commemoration activities in Tiom, the district capital of Lanny Jaya, were centered in front of the Nirigi Hotel, Tiom.
From the districts, the masses have been moving toward a central point since 08.00 WIT.
The demonstrators were intercepted by the security forces, finally all were able to gather at 13.10 WIT. Then deliver speeches alternately.
The reading of the statement ended the peaceful demonstration in Tiom.
The same action was carried out in Karubaga, the district capital of Tolikara.
Celebration of World Human Rights Day in Tolikara district starts at 09.46 WIT. In general, it runs safely and smoothly.
Likewise in Oksibil, the capital of the Bintang Mountains district. Attended by hundreds of people, the commemoration of World Human Rights Day took place from 09.00 WIT until finished.
In Paniai district, the action was centered on the Karel Gobay field, Enarotali, East Paniai district. Attended by residents from various districts. The masses moved from morning to where the pulpit was free.
The peaceful demonstration was escorted by police officers from the Paniai Police.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 27, 2023
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 23, 2023
- Event Description
A veteran journalist known for covering rights abuses in Indonesia’s militarised Papua region says a bomb exploded outside his home yesterday and a journalists group has called it an act of “intimidation” threatening press freedom.
No one was injured in the blast near his home in the provincial capital Jayapura, said Victor Mambor, editor of Papua’s leading news website Jubi, who visited New Zealand in 2014.
Police said they were investigating the explosion and that no one had yet claimed responsibility.
“Yes, someone threw a bomb,” Papua Police spokesperson Ignatius Benny told Benar News. “The motive and perpetrators are unknown.”
The Jayapura branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) condemned the explosion as a “terrorist bombing”.
In Sydney, the Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) and Pacific Media Watch in New Zealand protested over the incident and called for a full investigation.
Mambor said he heard the sound of a motorcycle at about 4 am and then an explosion about a minute later.
‘Shook like earthquake’ “It was so loud that my house shook like there was an earthquake,” he told Benar News as reported by Radio Free Asia.
“I also checked the source of the explosion and smelt sulfur coming from the side of the house.”
The explosion left a hole in the road, he said.
The incident was not the first to occur outside Mambor’s home. In April 2021, windows were smashed and paint sprayed on his car in the middle of the night.
Mambor is also an advocate for press freedom in Papua. In that role, he has criticised Jakarta’s restrictions on the media in Papua, as well as its other policies in his troubled home province.
The AJI awarded Mambor its press freedom award in August 2022, saying that through Jubi, “Victor brings more voices from Papua, amid domination of information that is biased, one-sided and discriminatory.”
“AJI in Jayapura strongly condemns the terrorist bombing and considers this an act of intimidation that threatens press freedom in Papua,” it said in a statement.
‘Voice the truth’ call “AJI Jayapura calls on all journalists in the land of Papua to continue to voice the truth despite obstacles. Justice should be upheld even though the sky is falling,” said AJI chair Lucky Ireeuw.
Amnesty International Indonesia urged the police to find those responsible.
“The police must thoroughly investigate this incident, because this is not the first time … meaning there was an omission that made the perpetrators feel free to do it again, to intimidate and threaten journalists,” Amnesty’s campaign manager in Indonesia, Nurina Savitri, told BenarNews.
The Papua region, located at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, has been the site of a decades-old pro-independence insurgency where both government security forces and rebels have been accused of committing atrocities against civilians.
Foreign journalists have been largely barred from the area, with the government insisting it could not guarantee their safety. Indonesian journalists allege that officials make their work difficult by refusing to provide information.
The armed elements of the independence movement have stepped up lethal attacks on Indonesian security forces, civilians and targets such as construction of a trans-Papua highway that would make the Papuan highlands more accessible.
Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, has accused Indonesian security forces of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings and mass forced displacement in Papua.
Security forces kill 36 Last month, Indonesian activist group KontraS said 36 people were killed by security forces and pro-independence rebels in the Papua and West Papua provinces in 2022, an increase from 28 in 2021.
In Sydney, Joe Collins of the AWPA said in a statement: “These acts of intimidation against local journalists in West Papua threaten freedom of the press.
“It is the local media in West Papua that first report on human rights abuses and local journalists are crucial in reporting information on what is happening in West Papua”.
Collins said Canberra remained silent on the issue — ‘the Australian government is very selective in who it criticises over their human rights record.”
There was no problem raising concerns about China or Russia over their record, “but Canberra seems to have great difficulty in raising the human rights abuses in West Papua with Jakarta.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 27, 2023
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 27, 2022
- Event Description
Protesters pushed to the brink by China's strict COVID measures in Shanghai called for the removal of the country's all-powerful leader and clashed with police Sunday as crowds took to the streets in several cities in an astounding challenge to the government.
Police forcibly cleared the demonstrators in China's financial capital who called for Xi Jinping's resignation and the end of the Chinese Communist Party's rule — but hours later people rallied again in the same spot, and social media reports indicated protests also spread to at least seven other cities, including the capital of Beijing, and dozens of university campuses.
Largescale protests are exceedingly rare in China, where public expressions of dissent are routinely stifled — but a direct rebuke of Xi, the country’s most powerful leader in decades, is extraordinary.
Three years after the virus first emerged, China is the only major country still trying to stop transmission of COVID-19 — a “zero COVID” policy that regularly sees millions of people confined to their homes for weeks at a time and requires near-constant testing. The measures were originally widely accepted for minimizing deaths while other countries suffered devastating waves of infections, but that consensus has begun to fray in recent weeks.
Then on Friday, 10 people died in a fire in an apartment building, and many believe their rescue was delayed because of excessive lockdown measures. That sparked a weekend of protests, as the Chinese public’s ability to tolerate the harsh measures has apparently reached breaking point.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered late Saturday in Shanghai, which experienced a devastating lockdown in the spring in which people struggled to secure groceries and medicines and were forcefully taken into centralized quarantine.
On a street named for the city in China's far west where the fire happened, one group of protesters brought candles, flowers and signs honoring those who died in the blaze. Another, according to a protester who insisted on anonymity, was more active, shouting slogans and singing the national anthem.
In a video of the protest seen by The Associated Press, chants sounded loud and clear: “Xi Jinping! Step down! CCP! Step down!” Xi, arguably China’s most dominant leader since Mao Zedong, was recently named to another term as head of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, and some expect him to try to stay in power for life.
The protester and another, who gave only his last name, Zhao, confirmed the chants. Both insisted on having their identities shielded because they fear arrest or retribution.
The atmosphere of the protest encouraged people to speak about topics considered taboo, including the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in which the ruling Communist Party had ordered troops to fire on pro-democracy student demonstrators, the unnamed protester said. Some also called for an official apology for the deaths in the fire in Urumqi in the Xinjiang region. One member of the Uyghur ethnic group that is native to Xinjiang and has been the target of a sweeping security crackdown shared his experiences of discrimination and police violence.
“Everyone thinks that Chinese people are afraid to come out and protest, that they don’t have any courage,” said the protester, who said it was his first time demonstrating. “Actually in my heart, I also thought this way. But then when I went there, I found that the environment was such that everyone was very brave.”
Initially peaceful, the scene turned violent in the early hours of Sunday. Hundreds of police surrounded the protesters and broke up the first more active group before they came for the second as they tried to move people off the main street. The protester said that he saw multiple people being taken away, forced by police into vans, but could not identify them.
The protester named Zhao said one of his friends was beaten by police and two were pepper sprayed. He said police stomped his feet as he tried to stop them from taking his friend away. He lost his shoes in the process and left the protest barefoot.
Zhao said protesters yelled slogans, including one that has become a frequent rallying cry: “(We) do not want PCR (tests), but want freedom.”
On Sunday afternoon, crowds returned to the same spot and again railed against PCR tests. People stood and filmed as police started shoving at people.
A crowdsourced list on social media showed that there were also demonstrations at 50 universities. Videos posted on social media that said they were filmed in Nanjing in the east, Guangzhou in the south, Beijing in the north and at least five other cities showed protesters tussling with police in white protective suits or dismantling barricades used to seal off neighborhoods. The Associated Press could not independently verify all the protests.
In Beijing, students at the nation's top college, Tsinghua University, held a demonstration Sunday afternoon in front of one of the school's cafeterias. Three young women stood there initially with a simple message of condolence for the victims of the Urumqi apartment fire, according to a witness, who refused to be named out of fear of retribution, and images of the protest the AP has seen.
Students shouted, “freedom of speech” and sang The Internationale, the socialist anthem. The deputy Communist Party secretary of the school arrived at the protest, promising to hold a schoolwide discussion.
Meanwhile, two cities in China’s northwest, where residents have been confined to their homes for up to four months, eased some antivirus controls Sunday after public protests Friday.
Meanwhile, Urumqi, where the fire occurred, as well as the smaller city of Korla were preparing to reopen markets and other businesses in areas deemed at low risk of virus transmission and to restart bus, train and airline service, state media reported.
One protester, who goes by the name Chuanchuan (川川) online, was forced into a police vehicle, with a dozen other protesters, guarded by 3-5 police officers in Shanghai, near Huaihaizhong Road on November 27. She managed to send out a few messages in WeChat groups from her phone before she could no longer be contacted. A protester named Jin Jiawei (金嘉伟) was seen detained by police at Urumqi Road in Shanghai in the evening on November 27; they have not been heard from since their detention. A man, dressed in black, wearing dark-color gloves, short curly hair, who appeared to witnesses to be an ethnic Uyghur (name unknown), was seen being taken away by police at Wangping Road, Chengdu, the site of a protest on November 27, at around 10:00 pm, who has since gone missing. Also in Chengdu, near Wangping Road, on November 27, at approximately 9:00pm, about 50 people at the scene of a protest were said to have been detained and taken to the Longquanyi police station. Friends of some of the detained said they still could not reach them more than 30 hours later. A person named Huang Tai (黃昊) who was apparently at the protests on Urumqi Road in Shanghai was taken away on November 26, whose whereabouts remain unknown, according to information posted on the Telegram Channel. The Channel also posted that demonstrators Xiu Di (修迪) and Wang Daiyue (王黛玥) were detained and put on a bus in Shanghai on November 27. They were said to have been taken to Xujiahui Police Station and they have been missing since. On November 27, around 10pm, at the demonstration on Urumqi Road, Shanghai, Qin Cao (秦超), resident of Anhui province, was taken away by police. His whereabouts remain unknown.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 28, 2022
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Nov 14, 2022
- Event Description
A midwife who was arrested during a crackdown on healthcare workers in Mandalay late last month has died in regime custody, according to a doctor familiar with the situation.
Poe Thandar Aung, who was formerly employed at the Central Women’s Hospital in Mandalay, died on Monday night, said Dr. Soe Thura Zaw, who is taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) against military rule.
“I heard the news from three sources. We learned this morning that Ma Poe was dead,” he told Myanmar Now on Tuesday.
Poe Thandar Aung was arrested in Mandalay on October 29 along with others accused of sending medical supplies to anti-junta forces.
Also arrested were Dr. Min Zaw Oo, of the Mandalay University of Medicine’s Surgery Department, nurses Zin Mar Win and Yoon Nandar Tun, a woman named Kyi Thadar Phyu, and three employees at a bus station in Aungmyay Thazan Township.
The arrests were part of a crackdown launched after regime forces seized nearly 5 million kyat ($2,365) worth of medicine and other supplies from a truck travelling between the towns of Pale and Gangaw, west of Mandalay, on October 27.
More than a dozen people were taken into custody in the first wave of arrests, and at least 16 more have since been detained, according to CDM sources.
“Our whole country is suffering because of a general who doesn’t want to retire. Myanmar is the only country where nurses are executed for doing their jobs,” said Dr. Soe Thura Zaw, referring to junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.
Myanmar Now has been unable to reach Poe Thandar Aung’s relatives to confirm reports of her death.
On Monday, another person taking part in the CDM named Hein Zaw Nyo wrote on social media that Dr. Min Zaw Oo had also been tortured while undergoing interrogation and was vomiting blood due to the beatings he had received.
“We don’t take up arms. We only provide medical service to the people. The military is targeting the healthcare community for defying the junta,” he wrote.
Hein Zaw Nyo’s allegations could not be independently confirmed at the time of reporting.
Since seizing power in February 2021, the military has killed 58 healthcare workers and arrested more than 700, according to Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG).
The regime has also destroyed more than 50 hospitals and clinics and at least 40 ambulances, the NUG reported last month.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Death, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Myanmar: pro-democracy health workers arrested
- Date added
- Nov 20, 2022
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Oct 29, 2022
- Event Description
Myanmar’s military junta has arrested more than a dozen healthcare workers since last week on suspicion of supporting anti-coup resistance groups, according to a regime statement and sources familiar with the situation.
In a statement released on Monday night, the junta said it detained several people, including a doctor, two nurses, and a midwife, during a raid on a bus station in Mandalay’s Aungmyay Thazan Township on Saturday.
A large quantity of medical supplies, which the junta accused the apprehended individuals of planning to send to members of the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF), were also seized, the statement said.
The arrested healthcare workers were identified as Dr. Min Zaw Oo, of the Mandalay University of Medicine’s Surgery Department, nurses Zin Mar Win and Yoon Nandar Tun, and midwife Poe Thandar Aung.
All four were said to be taking part in a nationwide strike by healthcare workers against the regime that overthrew Myanmar’s elected civilian government in February 2021.
A woman named Kyi Thadar Phyu and three bus station employees were also detained in the raid, according to the statement, which also named more than a dozen other doctors and nurses described as being “still at large.”
The raid came two days after nearly 5 million kyat ($2,365) worth of medicine and other supplies, including an anaesthesia machine, were seized from a truck travelling on the road between the towns of Pale and Gangaw, west of Mandalay.
According to a source within Mandalay’s healthcare community, at least nine other medical workers have been arrested in the city in recent days.
One was Dr. Moe Thidar Linn, of Mandalay’s Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Hospital, who was among those the regime said in its statement were wanted by the authorities.
“I don’t want to say any more about it. It’s just sickening. I don’t think Mandalay has any more anti-regime doctors who are still free,” said the source, who declined to identify the others who were reportedly apprehended.
Employees of public hospitals were among the first civil servants to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in protest over last year’s coup. Many prominent medical professionals joined the anti-regime movement, including Dr. Maung Maung Nyein Tun, a 45-year-old lecturer at Mandalay Medical University, who was arrested in June last year and who died of Covid-19 in detention about two months later.
As part of its crackdown on striking hospital employees, the regime has also revoked the licenses of medical practitioners taking part in the CDM.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 6, 2022
- Country
- Kyrgyzstan
- Initial Date
- Oct 23, 2022
- Event Description
More than 20 people in Kyrgyzstan were detained on Sunday, October 23, and placed under arrest for 48 hours, after publicly disagreeing with the impending transfer of an important dam to Uzbekistan as part of a border demarcation deal with the neighboring country. Those detained included activists, human rights defenders, bloggers, and politicians.
The next day, courts ordered several of the detainees be held in pre-trial detention for two months while the investigation continues. All of the detainees were charged with preparation for and organization of mass unrest. The police also initiated an investigation over “evidence obtained from a special investigation,” which transpired to be a series of edited and excerpted wiretapped conversations between some of the detainees. The wiretapped montage was leaked to social media and had apparently been constructed to seem like some detainees called for a government overthrow because of the contentious border agreement.
According to a statement by Kyrgyzstan’s Ombudsman, before their arrests, authorities conducted warrantless searches of the activists’ houses and seized personal property. In most cases, including with human rights defender Rita Karasartova, police forced entry into their homes and attempted to prevent video documentation of the arrests. The activists were transferred to detention centers and some were not allowed access to their lawyers.
Twelve of the 23 detainees are members of a newly created group created to protect the Kempir-Abad water reservoir in south-west Kyrgyzstan. The group opposes Kyrgyzstan's plan, which includes transferring territory and the dam itself to Uzbekistan. The Kyrgyz government maintains the agreement benefits Kyrgyzstan and both countries will manage the reservoir and have access to its water.
The reservoir plan was signed on September 26 as part of an agreement that seeks to determine official borders for the 15 per cent of non-demarcated territory between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Protests in Uzgen, where the reservoir is located, began after residents worried about losing water access.
The agreement’s full text is still secret.
Protests demanding authorities release the activists and share information about the agreement took place on October 24 in Bishkek and Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Ahead of the protests Internet connectivity was severely limited, especially in Bishkek. Internet providers stated an accident on the channels of the upstream provider caused the failures.
Kyrgyz authorities should release the detainees and ensure that their rights, including due process rights, are strictly observed in any investigations going forward.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 30, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2022
- Event Description
A total of 10 students from a number of universities in the city of Bandung were arrested by the police during a demonstration against the increase in the price of fuel oil (BBM) which led to chaos, Thursday (23/9/2022). This was stated by one of the participants in the action who is also the spokesman for the West Java Student Alliance to Sue (AMJM), Agung Andrian.
According to him, the 10 students were arrested when the police tried to push back hundreds of students after the riots broke out. It is known that the riot in front of the West Java DPRD Building, Jalan Diponegoro, Bandung City, broke out after hundreds of students were desperate to force their way into the West Java DPRD Building, which was heavily guarded by the police.
The police, who tried to prevent the student action, finally fired water from a water cannon and tear gas into the crowd of students and pushed the students back towards Jalan Trunojoyo to Jalan Ir H Djuanda and Gedung Sate. "There were 10 participants in the action who were also arrested by the police after the rejection of fuel prices at the West Java DPRD Building," said Agung. The police themselves have not provided an official statement regarding the arrests of students from demonstrations against the increase in fuel prices.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 24, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 12, 2022
- Event Description
The police released tear gas and forcibly dispersed a group of people consisting of students, labor organizations, fishermen, and civilian elements who took action against the increase in fuel prices in West Aceh Regency when they were about to enter the West Aceh District People's Representative Council (DPRK) office. As a result, 10 protest participants became victims of tear gas shooting and beatings by officers.
“Earlier we started the action at around 10.00 WIB in front of the DPRK office by giving speeches. Then at around 12.30 WIB we were forcibly dispersed by the police officers who carried out security," said Mullah Oges Cabuci, a participant in the action when confirmed by kompas.com, by telephone, Monday (12/09/2022).
According to Oges, the masses who are members of the Movement of the People's Alliance (AKAR) took to the streets to protest against the increase in fuel prices. In addition, rejecting the draft DKM Law and demanding the Government to increase labor wages by at least 15 percent initially went smoothly. However, their action was suddenly dispersed by the security forces.
"The crowd took action without friction in front of the DPRK office, but when they arrived at the DPRK gate, the police suddenly dispersed with tear gas," he said. Oges said that after the forced disbandment, 13 participants including the coordinator, students and leaders of mass organizations were arrested and taken to the West Aceh Police.
"13 participants in the action were arrested and dragged to the Resort Police, we have not received an explanation regarding the arrest, while two participants who are victims are currently being treated at the Teuku Umar Kesrem Hospital, West Aceh," he explained. Meanwhile, Kombes Pol Winardy, Kabud Public Relations of the Aceh Police, when confirmed by Kompas.com regarding the forced disbandment of the mass rejection of BBM, is currently preparing a confirmation release."It will be released soon," he answered briefly via WhatsApp message.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Labour rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 24, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 29, 2022
- Event Description
A total of 5 farmers who came from Kenagarian Aia Gadang, West Pasaman, were criminalized by PT Anam Koto in the case of land conflicts which were suspected to have been carefully planned.
“We suspect that the criminalization of 5 farmers was by design and planned by PT Anam Koto, which resulted in the five farmers being suspects and being put on trial. During the trial, LBH Padang also presented witnesses related to allegations of human rights violations over the existence of PT Anam Koto for the farming community of Aia Gadang," said Decthree Ranti Putri, a public advocate for LBH Padang to sumbarsatu, Wednesday (7/9/2022).
He conveyed, in several trials at the West Pasaman District Court, hundreds of people who were members of the Indonesian Peasants Union Basis Aia Gadang attended the trial in the hope that justice could be served fairly.
The five farmers were criminalized for the incident on May 28, 2022 at the location of the oil palm plantation between the farmers and PT Anam Koto due to the plasma issue that had reached the court.
The five were charged with violating Article 170 paragraph (2) of the 1st KUHP subsidiary Article 170 paragraph (1) or both of violating Article 351 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.
The trial with the agenda of examining witnesses from the Public Prosecutor, which was held on August 29, 2022, presented "DW" as a victim witness and security coordinator, "AZ" as a security guard, and AS as a plant sprayer.
In his statement before the trial, he added, the US admitted that it was indeed ordered to poison everything in the location and the security guard was asked to document the incident before entering the location.
Based on the statements of these witnesses, we suspect that the chaos that occurred was by design from PT Anam Koto," explained Decthree Ranti Putri.
The location of the incident is a land struggle area for farmers, which was originally ulayat land which was taken by force and allegedly violated human rights for PT Anam Koto's oil palm development. "The company promised to provide plasma but it has not been implemented until now," he explained.
Due to this situation, the Regent of West Pasaman issued a decree Number: 188.45/471/BUP-PASBAR/2022 on August 16, 2022 regarding the implementation of the obligation to provide plasma at least 500 hectares by PT Anam Koto to the Kenagarian community of Aia Gadang within a period of 30 calendar days.
In the facts of the trial, explained Decthree Ranti Putri, it was revealed that there had been several times of intimidation accompanied by damage to community plants and cottages as an effort to provoke public anger so that the situation was chaotic.
“This is even exacerbated by the attitude of the West Pasaman Police, which only processes company case reports but is slow to process cases reported by the public. Even though the community reported the alleged damage to plants in the police report number: LP/B/90/IV/2022/SPKT/Res Pasbar/West Sumatra Police dated April 13, 2022, which was later stopped at the investigation stage by the West Pasaman Resort Police, "said Decthree Ranti Putri.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Freedom of expression Offline
- HRD
- Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Corporation Agricultural business
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 24, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 8, 2022
- Event Description
The Panel of Judges at the Pasangkayu District Court, West Sulawesi sentenced Dedi (30) to a Kabuyu resident who was reported by the palm oil plantation company PT Mamuang, a subsidiary of the Astra Group. Previously, Dedi was arrested along with four other farmers after receiving a second summons from the Pasangkayu Sector Police for a case of alleged criminal acts of threats as referred to in Article 335 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.
Tenure conflicts between the Kabuyu people and PT Mamuang have been going on for a long time, starting from 2003 until now the Kabuyu people continue to struggle to maintain their managed areas which were seized and evicted unilaterally by the company. Since the entry of PT Mamuang in their area in 1991, the lives and social institutions of the Kabuyu community have undergone very significant changes. However, with the presence of PT Mamuang, they are only allowed to manage a narrow area on the banks of the Pasangkayu river.
Legal Advisor for the Kabuyu Community Alliance, Putri said that "From a legal perspective, Dedi's actions are considered to meet the elements of a criminal act of threats, but the police should not have continued to take a criminal approach to cases of tenure conflict like this, Dedi and residents Kabuyu is still the “victim” of criminalization from the palm oil corporation. So the verdict handed down will not shift the spirit of the community's struggle, and we as legal advisors will continue to be committed to assisting the rights of the interests of the people who are oppressed due to the bad practice of oil palm expansion," concluded Putri.
The conviction of Dedi, a Kabuyu resident, adds to the series of crimes against farmers by Astra Group companies in the oil palm plantation sector in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi. This prolonged conflict is very crony and there is no point of settlement, it always ends with a criminal approach to farmers. It is ironic when the people's production space that they have defended is considered a criminal act by the company and the police.
Astra Group, through its subsidiaries, is not the first time to practice bad practices in running its business, in the same company PT Mamuang has also criminalized Hemsi, a farmer from Lalundu, Rio Pakava District, who has also been in conflict with the company since 2006 until now, Hemsi, who owns His land rights were forced to go through a long struggle, as Hemsi had been imprisoned three times on charges of stealing by PT Mamuang. However, this did not become an obstacle or weaken Hemsi with other farmers in the struggle.
Astra Group has committed human rights crimes and confiscated people's management areas, not only in West Sulawesi but also bad practices in Central Sulawesi, such as its subsidiary, PT Agro Nusa Abadi, which for 16 years operated in the North Morowali Regency, did not have a Cultivation Right (Hak Guna Usaha) permit. HGU).
As experienced by a farmer from Bunta, East Petasia District, North Morowali Regency who was also convicted by Astra Agro Lestari's subsidiary, PT Agro Nusa Abadi, the two farmers, Gusman and his younger brother Sudirman, were also accused of stealing by the company. Gusman was sentenced to 2 years in prison and Sudi was sentenced to 6 months in prison. Even though it is known that PT Agro Nusa Abadi has been operating for 16 years without having a Cultivation Right (HGU), where this company only has a Location Permit granted by the North Morowali Regency Government. PT ANA has annexed an area of 19,675 ha of the allocated land, which includes 5000 ha of farmers' land.
For this, the Central Sulawesi Walhi through its campaigner Aulia Hakim emphasized "The bad practice carried out by the palm oil company Astra Agro Lestari in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi is a crime that is treated by the state continuously, and is very detrimental to the community, the state through all of its policies is then ridden by corporate interests. carry out massive impoverishment, especially the palm oil ring in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi, the people's management areas that they have guarded and have become the economic support are deposed under the pretext of state policy only for the sake of corporate interests, this must not continue to happen, Astra must immediately stop its activities that are detrimental to the community and the government must dare to take firm action against the crimes committed by Astra, "said Aulia.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 24, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 25, 2022
- Event Description
The University of Indonesia Student Executive Board admitted that they were forcibly disbanded and treated harshly when holding demonstrations on campus. This happened on Thursday (25/8/2022) yesterday. The Coordinator for the Social and Political Affairs of BEM UI 2022, Melki Sedek Huang, said that initially BEM UI only wanted to invite new students who were taking part in the campus introduction event to discuss campus issues. "However, some members of the Campus Environmental Security (PLK) shouted at us and banned us, even though we were not in action or spreading posters and banners," said Melki to Kompas.com, Friday (26/8/2022).
Furthermore, BEM UI students were invited to discuss by representatives of the UI Directorate of Student Affairs (Dirmawa). BEM UI then expressed a desire to meet Ari Kuncoro because coincidentally he was present to deliver a speech at the Introduction to Campus Life for New Students (PKKMB). They wanted to convey four issues to the chancellor, namely the murder of Akseyna at UI which UI never cared about, education costs that were not transparent, UI statutes, and sexual violence on campus. "And we gave time until 09.30 WIB. However, until 09.30 we did not get an answer regarding the Rector's wish, but representatives from Dirmawa UI asked for more time until 10.00 am," said Melki. "Then an agreement was made, that is, if it is until 10:00 and the new student choir has finished but there is no will from the UI Chancellor, we will immediately take action on the spot," continued Melki.
Finally, at 10:00, BEM UI stretched banners, posters, and made speeches and sang by walking from the door of the Balairung to the Rotunda Field. It was at that time that the UI PLK forcibly dispersed the BEM UI action. "The PLK was very rude. We were forced to disband, were pushed violently, some of our friends were abused, and some PLK members seemed to want to beat us," he said. Due to this harsh treatment and BEM's unanswered demands, BEM UI also plans to hold another demonstration on Tuesday, August 30. The action will take place with a Long March to the UI Rectorate Building. "This action is carried out as a form of encouragement so that the campus is immediately aware, wants to improve, and fix existing problems," said Melki.
Contacted separately, the Head of the Public Relations and KIP UI Bureau Amelita Lusia confirmed that the PKKMB event that was held yesterday was an event intended for new students. Therefore, it is not appropriate if the event is used as an action event for BEM UI students. "It is natural for senior students to understand this, warmly welcome their younger siblings after the lecture period, as well as when they first set foot when they were new students," said Amel. "If there is something that students want to convey, UI has channels and mechanisms to convey it," he continued.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 24, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 1, 2022
- Event Description
A mass strike carried out by actors and tourism operators in Labuan Bajo led to police arrests in West Manggarai, West Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Monday (1/8).
One of those who took part in the action, Rio Prakoso, said at least 10 people were arrested. Including the Chairman of the West Manggarai Tourism Rescue Community Forum (FORMAP) Rafael Todowera.
"About 10 people (who were arrested) but for the friends I know, there are six people as far as I know. But the information is all ten people," said Rio Prakoso when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com, Monday (1/8).
He conveyed that the arrests of the masses who carried out the strike took place in Puncak Wairingin.
Some of the ten people arrested by the police were recognized by him. They are Ahyar Abadi, Luis, Rafael Todowela (Chairman of Formapp) and Afand.
He denied that the arrest of the mob who carried out the action took place at Komodo Airport, as stated by the West Manggarai Police Chief, AKBP Felli Hermanto.
"At Puncak Wairingin, the arrest was not made at the airport. There was no action at the airport, nothing, nothing. I guarantee it. There was no demonstration at the airport," said Rio, who took part in the strike.
Rio said it was carried out by a fully armed police force when the crowd arrived at Wairingin Peak. One of those arrested was Luis who was giving a speech at the end of the mass strike while picking up trash.
"From the authorities it is clear that there is (violence) and there is video evidence," he said.
Rio said tourism actors who carried out mass strikes are now becoming restless due to the violence and arrests made by the police.
West Manggarai Police Chief, AKBP Felli Hernato agreed that there was violence from his personnel. However, he said officers needed to do that because the crowd was resisting.
"That was the reaction (from the authorities), because the person concerned resisted (when he was arrested)," he said.
He confirmed that the people who were detained were those who gave speeches. There were also several other people suspected of being intruders who participated in the action.
Felli reiterated that the arrest took place at Komodo Airport. The reason is, the mass action has threatened a vital national object and also prevented the arrival of guests to Labuan Bajo.
"The problem has been to enter and fight against breaking through the fence of national vital objects that hinder the arrival of foreign guests and tourists," said Felli.
Felli also claimed to have a video when the arrest was made at the airport. This action was not accompanied by any notification to the police.
The strike and long march of tourism actors were carried out in response to the determination of the tariffs for entering Komodo Island and Padar Island. They do not agree with the ticket price being increased to Rp.3.75 million because it can kill the tourism sector.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 24, 2022
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Oct 17, 2022
- Event Description
A resistance group says that it used drones to launch two attacks on a junta column that decapitated a teacher and killed two others in Magway Region’s Pauk Township earlier this week.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Anonymous Special Task Force said that it dropped three explosives on around 80 troops stationed on a hill near Hpayar Taung, a village located about 15km southeast of the town of Pauk, the day before.
An officer of the group also claimed that a second attack was carried out against a junta base in Yae Pyar, a village about 2km south of Hpayar Taung, later the same day.
“We weren’t sure how many casualties there were from the first attack, so we decided to go after the base in Yae Pyar as well,” he told Myanmar Now.
The troops stationed near Hpayar Taung have reportedly been raiding villages in southern Pauk Township since October 12. On Monday, they targeted the village of Kyar Pyit Kan, where they abducted three men, including a teacher taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
According to locals, the teacher, 46-year-old Saw Moe Tun, taught mathematics at a school run by the National Unity Government (NUG) and was also on its township education committee.
“They captured him and took him to Taung Myint, another village near here. That’s where they killed him, right in front of the school. They cut three fingers off of his right hand and also beheaded him. They hung his head at the entrance to the school,” said a local who did not want to be named.
Another person living in the area confirmed this report, and said that the soldiers also set fire to the school.
A photo of the victim’s head hanging from a school door, with his headless body lying nearby on the ground, has circulated widely on social media.
The other two men, who have yet to be identified, were also killed, local sources said.
According to local groups, around 8,000 civilians from some 13 villages have been displaced by the recent junta raids in Pauk Township.
Last Thursday, a day after the attacks began, soldiers burned down the entire village of Thee Chauk, the Anonymous Special Task Force officer told Myanmar Now.
The village, which is about 20km west of Hpayar Taung, where the junta troops were stationed, had around 250 households, he said. Before setting fire to most of the houses there, the regime forces shelled and ransacked the village, he added.
On Tuesday, the Basic Education General Strike Committee and Basic Education Workers Union-Strike Committee released statements strongly condemning the military’s brutal killing of Saw Moe Tun.
Both groups also noted that on the same day that Saw Moe Tun was murdered, Ye Thiha, a middle school headmaster who was also taking part in the CDM, was fatally stabbed seven times at his home in Ayeyarwady Region’s Zalun Township.
The groups called on the public, as well as the NUG, to protect teachers and others taking part in the CDM.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Public Servant
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 23, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 6, 2022
- Event Description
According to reports, the Indian police prevented the protest of Afghan citizens living in that country in response to the attack on the Kaaj Educational Center in west Kabul.
This protest was supposed to be held on Thursday, October 6, by a group of Afghan refugees and students living in India in New Delhi.
The protestors said that they had an official permit from the relevant departments to stage a protest, but the Indian police intervened and stopped it hours before it started.
The Indian police declared security concerns as the reason behind their decision on this matter.
After a cowardly and brutal attack on the Kaaj Education Center in west Kabul that killed and injured more than 100 innocent students, the “Stop the Genocide of Millennials” campaign has been launched in different countries by various groups of people across the world.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 21, 2022
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Oct 4, 2022
- Event Description
Local sources in Ghazni province confirm the Taliban raided a protest gathering of Naw Abad residents in Ghazni city, which was held with the aim of condemning the attack on Kaj institute, and arrested dozens of protesting boys and girls.
Sources said Tuesday that the Taliban scattered the march and took the protesting girls and boys to the 6th security district after being beaten.
The detainees have been released after being mediated by the local tribal elders, sources added.
According to local sources, the Taliban also canceled students’ protests at Ghazni University the day before.
Friday’s suicide bombing at Kaj institute in West Kabul reportedly killed 53 and injured 110 of which 16 victims were residents of Ghazni.
The Taliban meanwhile also prevented students’ march in Nangarhar and Kunar province Tuesday and did not allow them to hold a memorial ceremony for the victims of Kaj Educational Center.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Youth
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 20, 2022
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Oct 1, 2022
- Event Description
Female students marched in the Dasht-e Barchi area to condemn repeated attacks on Hazaras and education centers related to the Hazara community, which were violently dispersed by the Taliban.
One of the protestors, on the condition of anonymity, told Hasht-e Subh that dozens of female students started marching in the west of Kabul at 10:00 a.m. today (Saturday, October 1st).
According to this protester, the rally was launched to protest over Friday’s suicide attack on the students of the Kaj education center in Kabul. The protest started from the Pul-e Sukhta area and the protesters wanted to go to Mohammad Ali Jinnah Hospital.
The protester says that the Taliban stopped the protestors near Mohammad Ali Jinnah hospital with aerial gunshots and violent behavior.
The Taliban have beaten the female students with rifles and electric gears. The Taliban have stopped the journalists from covering this event.
Approximately 100 students were killed and injured in a suicide attack yesterday at Kaj education center in the west of Kabul where a mock Kankor examination was held.
--
A source in the girls’ dormitory of Kabul University confirms that 80% of the female students in this dormitory have been poisoned.
The source, speaking to Hasht-e Subh said that this incident happened on Saturday morning, October 1, when students were supposed to demonstrate at the girls’ dormitory of Kabul University on Sunday in response to the continuing attacks on educational centers.
According to the sources, the hostel manager and some of the staff members are healthy, except for the cooks.
The officials of the girls’ dormitory of Kabul University, after facing the reaction of the students blame hygiene and the use of outside food as the reason behind the issue.
Several poisoned students visited the doctor at their own expense after their condition worsened.
Following the attack on Kaaj Educational Center in west Kabul, a large number of women in Kabul, Herat, and Bamyan provinces staged on the streets, and tens of thousands of users on social media launched a campaign under the name “Stop the Genocide and Killing the Millennials”.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Media Worker, Student, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 20, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 2, 2022
- Event Description
About the Human Rights Defenders: Mr. Lutfar Rahman, Mr. Wasim Akram, Mr. Abdul Momin, Mr. Hanif Momin, Mr. Noor Mohammad, and Mr. Kaif Sk are members of the Bagicha, Jibika o Bosti Rokkha Committee (Committee to Protect Orchards, Livelihoods and Settlements), an organisation set up to represent the farmers of the Dadantola area in Farakka block of Murshidabad district. Mr. Akram and others have participated in numerous peaceful protests to safeguard their farmlands, homesteads and orchards since 2021, when they learned that high voltage transmission lines carrying electricity from a power plant owned by the Adani group in Jharkhand to Bangladesh would pass through their villages.
Background of the Incident: A high-voltage transmission line taking electricity from Adani’s Godda power plant in Jharkhand to Bangladesh passes through the villages of Dadantola, Samaspur, Imamnagar, and Gholakandi under Farakka police station in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Farmers and agricultural workers in these villages are opposed to the setting up of transmission lines as they fear facing huge crop losses and loss of livelihood. They also allege that work on laying transmission lines through their properties was initiated without any intimation or consultation. On May 18, 2022, Mr. Lutfar Rahaman, one of the affected farmers and a member of Bagicha, Jibika o Bosti Rokkha Committee filed a writ petition in this regard in the Calcutta High Court (WPA 9159 of 2022). He submitted that since the transmission line had been installed through his orchard without any intimation, notice for land acquisition, and compensation, the transmission line could not be taken over his property. Details of the Incident: On June 3, 2022, at 20:05 hours, Mr. Sourabh Modi, Project In-charge for laying of transmission lines in Farakka, submitted a written complaint at the Farakka Police Station. He claimed that nine named accused including Mr. Lutfar Rahman and 11 unnamed accused attacked project workers with arms and damaged a drone earlier that morning. Police immediately registered an FIR (177/2022) against that Mr. Lutfar Rahman and other accused without even questioning them once, although they had peacefully protested against use of drones to survey their lands, and despite the fact that Mr. Rahman’s petition was being heard in the High Court. The accused were charged under Sections 341, 313, 325 307, 379, 427, 506, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. On June 26, 2022, at 8 AM, Mr. Lutfar Rahman, Mr. Wasim Akram, Mr. Hanif Momin, and other HRDs and villagers began a peaceful, sit-in protest in Dadantola village, fearing that transmission lines could be laid over their lands despite their opposition. At around 10 AM, a contingent of 250 police personnel led by Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty, Officer in Charge of the Farakka police station and the Joint Block Development Officer, Farakka reached the protest site at Dadantola. They asked the villagers to call off the protest, so work on setting up the power lines could be started, but villagers opposed this and began a Facebook Live session of their protest. The police remained stationed throughout the day and left the spot at 5 PM. On July 2, 2022, at around 9:30 AM while the protest in Dadantola was ongoing, a 500-strong police contingent led by Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty, Officer in Charge, Farakka police station, and Mr. Junaid Ahmed, Block Development Officer, Farakka reached the protest spot. They asked Mr. Lutfar Rahman and other villagers and HRDs to vacate the spot, but he told them that they had a right to protest peacefully and that his petition was being heard at the High Court. When Mr. Wasim Akram broadcast the argument between police officials and Mr. Lutfar Rahman and fellow villagers live on Facebook, Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty objected, and charged at the HRD with his baton, hitting him behind his head. Villagers took him to the Beniagram Primary Health Centre, where he received three stitches for his injury. Other police personnel also resorted to indiscriminate baton-charge, dispersing the peaceful protest, and injuring Mr. Hanif Momin and other HRDs who were treated at the primary health centre. The police contingent camped at Dadantola till the afternoon, ensuring work on laying transmission lines through the properties of Mr. Lutfar Rahman and other villagers was carried out despite the matter being sub judice. Police chased and baton-charged those who tried going near the transmission towers in a bid to prevent the work, leaving around 25 villagers with injuries. Police illegally detained Mr. Wasim Akram without providing any reason or showing any warrant when he was leaving the Beniagram health centre at around 12.30 PM after receiving treatment. Mr. Abdul Momin, Mr. Hanif Momin, Mr. Noor Mohammad, and Mr. Kaif SK were detained similarly from the protest spot. The HRDs were shown as arrested in connection with FIR no. 212/2022, Farakka Police Station, which was registered at 00:05 hours on July 3, 2022. The complainant, Lady Sub Inspector Ms. Salma Farida claimed that the five arrested HRDs, nine other named accused and 35-40 unnamed accused obstructed the laying of transmission lines and abused and attacked the police personnel. Mr. Wasim Akram, Mr. Abdul Momin, Mr. Hanif Momin, Mr. Noor Mohammad, and Mr. Kaif SK were produced in court on July 3 and remanded in Farakka jail. They were released on bail on July 18, 2022. It appears that the local police and administration was complicit in forcefully laying transmission lines through the properties of Mr. Lutfar Rahman and other villagers in Dadantola although the matter was sub judice. Police registered two fabricated cases against local HRDs including Mr. Rahman without any preliminary investigation, and arrested five HRDs in flagrant violation of the DK Basu guidelines, without showing any arrest warrant or providing them access to lawyers.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Corporation Corporation (others)
- Source
Case shared by FORUM-ASIA member People's Watch
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 24, 2022
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 19, 2022
- Event Description
The head of Hong Kong's journalists' union has been charged with obstructing a police officer in the course of their duty, amid an ongoing crackdown on critics of the government under the national security law.
"I just received a call from the police asking me to go to the Mong Kok Police Station today for them to formally file a case against me," Ronson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) announced via his Facebook page on Monday.
Chan arrived at the police station at 3.30 p.m. local time and left after half an hour, after being formally charged with "obstructing official duties."
He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court on Sept. 22.
Chan, former deputy assignment editor at now-defunct pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, was re-elected as HKJA chairman in June.
He has frequently spoken out against ever-diminishing press freedom in the city.
He had been planning to study journalism on a scholarship at the Reuters Institute at Oxford University, and had been scheduled to leave Hong Kong at the end of September.
It is unclear whether Chan will now be allowed to leave to take up the scholarship as planned.
Chan told reporters outside the police station he would be seeking legal advice on the matter.
"I need to seek legal advice on how to do that," he said. "[The police] also asked me if I would leave the country at the last minute."
"I told him I was planning to spend six months [overseas] and he said he would inform the court," Chan said. "It was odd that he asked my out of the blue like that, as I was waiting for them to process my bail."
Measure of declining press freedom
Chan said his arrest, which was criticized by the city's Foreign Correspondents' Club at the time, was indicative of the current state of press freedom in the city.
"I have heard a lot of things since my arrest, but I have not been able to verify them, so I won't mention them now," Chan said. "It would be ridiculous if I were unable to go to the U.K. because of this."
"I think it's plain to see the environment Hong Kong journalists are working in from this incident."
The FCC said at the time of Chan's arrest that it "supports journalists’ right to cover stories without fear of harassment or arrest."
The statement won a rebuke from China's foreign ministry, which said it constituted "interference with the rule of law" in Hong Kong, and that there was no such thing as absolute press freedom.
The HKJA said Chan was arrested after officers claimed he failed to comply with an ID check while at a venue as part of a journalistic assignment.
"Just as Ronson Chan was about to show his ID to one of the female police officers, another plainclothes officer stepped forward and yelled at him to 'cooperate'," the HKJA said in a statement at the time.
"Chan asked the policeman to show his warrant card and asked the officer to confirm his full name and department, as he could only see the surname Tan," the statement said.
"But the officer immediately issued a warning, and, within a few minutes, had Chan in handcuffs under arrest, en route back to Mong Kok police station."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 24, 2022
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Aug 24, 2022
- Event Description
The outspoken Myanmar artist Htein Lin and his wife Vicky Bowman, a British national who served as the UK ambassador to Burma from 2002 to 2006, have been detained by the country’s military government. The couple were arrested yesterday on charges of violating immigration law, Reuters
first reported, and are being sent to Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison. Bowman, currently the director of Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business, and Htein Lin have a 14-year-old daughter, who is reportedly safe.
Speaking to The Art Newspaper just two weeks ago, Htein Lin said: "No one who lives in Myanmar today feels safe. Life is very fragile, whoever you are."
His words were in response to the junta’s execution of four pro-democracy leaders, announced on 25 July, which shocked the country’s already embattled art community. Htein Lin was previously imprisoned from 1998 to 2004 under earlier iterations of military rule; he said of the hip-hop musician turned politician Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy—"two of the four who were executed" along with Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw—that "they were friends". He added: "They were also fellow artists—musicians, painters, poets. Words can’t express how we feel now that they are gone."
The execution of popular opposition figures escalates the violent suppression by the Tatmadaw military leadership, headed by Min Aung Hlaing. As of 17 August, the junta has killed at least 2,215 people in skirmishes with protesters and rebels since seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on 1 February 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma). Artists at risk
While many Myanmar artists have fled the country; others have remained despite the immense risk. Survival necessitates self-censorship, with detention or worse a constant threat. Htein Lin identified poets Maung Yu Paing and Maung Thar Cho, filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, and writer Than Myint Aung as among the currently detained. The internationally renowned performance and installation artist Moe Satt spent 95 days in Insein for joining a protest in March 2021.
Exhibiting art in Myanmar has been challenging, though a few spaces, including Myanm/art, have reopened. Bank transfers remain restricted, and shipping art abroad is difficult, as the funds from sales might support the resistance, Htein Lin told The Art Newspaper. “Visual artists still working in Myanmar are looking more to the local market,” he said, and attracting local buyers interested in tangible assets as the Myanmar kyat devalues.
Art is a “safe” investment because “the police and military won’t confiscate your canvases at a checkpoint, but they will seize your cash. Although burglary and crime are on the rise, thieves don’t steal paintings,” Htein Lin said. “There is a growing secondary market for Myanmar art inside the country, particularly for dead artists. We lost a lot of older artists in the last year, mainly due to Covid, including painters like Tin Maung Oo, Ko Aw, Ba Htay Gyi, San Minn and Nyein Chan Su,” he added.
Myanmar’s contemporary art scene flourished after the country’s hard-earned democratisation in 2015, building on the underground cultural struggles of the previous decades, and was beginning to connect with regional and global networks. But it has not yet consolidated beyond what the Yangon-based artist and curator Aung Myat Htay calls “unmodified old-school”, with an art infrastructure that has “not changed much since its creation more than 60 years ago after independence [from Britain in 1948]”. Weaponising art
The Burma Art Club first brought Western art to Myanmar in the 1910s, and sent artists for education in the West. Successive military regimes have weaponised art as propaganda, Aung Myat Htay says, creating some of the worst art censorship in the world. Crucially, Aung Myat Htay’s online School of Contemporary Art (SoCA) provides artists with training and opportunities.
“We do not see any of the intentional political expression that we used to,” says Aung Myat Htay. “Under the current situation, there exists such a feeling that we cannot make a sound at all, and this may be due to the dangerous atmosphere for sure.”
Myanmar’s artists are, however, finding artistic freedom and support abroad, from gallery shows around Asia to a major survey at the British Museum in London scheduled for autumn 2023. “There has, in recent decades, been growing interest in contemporary art from Myanmar,” says Louis H. Ho, an independent curator in Singapore. International exposure
Ho organised Htein Lin’s show, Another Spring, earlier this year at Richard Koh Fine Art’s (RKFA) Singapore venue, and is planning to show drawings by the Myanmar artist Maung Day at Yeo Workshop’s stand at the forthcoming Art SG fair (12-15 January 2023).
Ho says: “The recent tenth edition of the Asia Pacific Triennial [4 December 2021 to 25 April] featured the Myanmar performance collective 3AM, while past editions have included Htein Lin and Soe Yu Nwe. Min Thein Sung was in the line-up of the sixth edition of the Singapore Biennale in 2019.” Htein Lin’s soap carvings, made during imprisonment, were a highlight of the 2016 Singapore Biennale which Ho co-curated.
“Private galleries across the region have also proved to be important allies, such as RKFA and Intersections Gallery in Singapore, 10 Chancery Lane in Hong Kong, and Thavibu Art Advisory in Bangkok,” Ho adds. Hong Kong’s Karin Weber Gallery has presented several Myanmar projects, most recently a solo show of Aung Myint who co-founded Inya Art Gallery in 1989, one of Myanmar’s first contemporary art spaces (a military crackdown on student protesters in 1988 was a watershed moment).
Htein Lin remained somewhat hopeful when speaking to The Art Newspaper two weeks ago. “I hope that the rest of the world will help Myanmar artists to develop their practice and stay connected with us,” he said, calling for young artists particularly to be considered for exhibitions and residencies. In the long term, he said, “we always hope that the situation in Myanmar will get better. We have no choice, since otherwise we will be destroyed by despair.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Artist
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 5, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 14, 2022
- Event Description
A number of Cenderawasih University (Uncen) students were injured when Jayapura City Police personnel forced to disperse a demonstration against Special Autonomy (Otsus) and the expansion of Papua, Thursday, July 14, 2022.
Several students were injured when they were forcibly dispersed by the police. The wound is thought to have been obtained from being hit by a police rattan stick.
The coordinator of the action, Kamus Bayage said the police forcefully dispersed the students while giving a speech against the expansion of the new autonomous region (DOB) of Papua in front of the Gate of Uncen Campus.
Initially, the students planned to go to the Papua DPR office, to convey their aspirations. However, their actions were intercepted by the police.
According to Kamus, the police forcefully dispersed the students and chased the protesters into the campus.
"(The police) gave us the megaphone, we have the megaphone. As proof, we have it. Some of our friends were able to beat us. Then they drove us to the campus. The police were violent. says the Bayage Dictionary, Thursday, July 14, 2022.
The coordinator of the action, Kamus Bayage said that approximately four students were injured in the forced dispersal.
According to him, the students have tried to negotiate with the police to be allowed into the Papuan DPR office. However, the two parties did not reach an agreement.
Head of the Jayapura City Police Operations Control Sub-Section, Widodo claimed that the police had allowed students to give speeches at the campus gate.
However, the police did not allow students to leave the campus and go to the Papuan DPR office, because the demonstration did not have a permit. The police finally dispersed the action, because the protesters forced them to continue their action to the Papuan DPR office.
Previously, the DPR passed a draft law on the formation of three provinces in Papua, Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Namely, the Bill on the Establishment of the Province of Central Papua, the Bill on the Formation of the Province of South Papua, and the Bill on the Formation of the Province of Papua Mountains.
This approval has drawn various rejections, especially from the people in Papua. In fact, before the rule was passed.
The security forces dispersed most of the protesters from the Petisi Rakyat Papua (PRP) which had gathered at several points in the Abepura and Heram districts, Jayapura City, Papua.
Head of Public Relations for Jayapura City Police, Ipda Sarah Kafiar, confirmed that the TNI-Polri security forces had dispersed the protesters at several gathering points, so they did not have time to become a larger group.
However, there were also those who made it to Jayapura and demonstrated at the Papua Provincial DPR, but used vehicles and after delivering their speeches they dispersed. Overall the security and security situation is under control, and community activities are going on normally.
"Nothing stands out and community activities continue normally," Sarah said as quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 14.
A total of 2,000 TNI-Polri personnel were alerted to secure the PRP's demonstration. He admitted that many personnel were alerted because his party did not allow the demonstrators to conduct a long march to the Papua Provincial DPR. Apart from not allowing the demonstrators to conduct long marches, the PRP is also not an organization registered with Kesbangpol. "As for the demands of the protesters, among others, reject the formation of new autonomous regions (DOB) and a referendum," said Ipda Sarah Kafiar.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 16, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 17, 2022
- Event Description
Three men attempted to intimidate a journalist at his house in Tamiang Layang, Central Kalimantan, on July 17, allegedly for his coverage of sexual harassment by a local official. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia, to condemn the intimidation of the journalist and demand the authorities conduct an investigation.
On July 17, three men visited the residence of Agustinus Bole Malo, a journalist for local online media Borneonews.com. According to Agustinus’ wife, they looked through the windows and attempted to find the journalist, before leaving upon determining he was not at home.
Agustinus had recently published several articles regarding the sexual harassment of a female university student allegedly by the head of the Social Department for Empowering Villagers in East Barito, when the student applied for financial assistance under the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) program.
Agustinus has filed a report on the intimidation of his family to the sub-district police of East Barito.
Many local journalists in Indonesia have faced intimidation and harassment while in the field or following their coverage, from a range of perpetrators including the public order agency (Satpol PP), police, local agency officers and other individuals.
Since the beginning of June, the IFJ has documented at least five incidents of harassment against journalists in Indonesia. On June 29, local journalists Adhe Junaedi Sholat, associated with Radar Sulbar, and Abdul Rahman, a reporter for Tribunsulbar.com, were harassed while covering the coordination meeting of the taskforce agrarian reform in Mamuju, West Sulawesi.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 24, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 14, 2022
- Event Description
Four protesters who took part in the commemoration of the death of Mako Tabuni which took place at Perumnas 3, Waena, Jayapura City, on Tuesday (14/6/2022) were injured when the police broke up their demonstration. The four people were injured by rubber bullets. The four protesters who were injured were Aris Nepsan and Jon Kadepa, Benedict Tebai and Natan Pigai. They were injured on the forehead, head, hands, and buttocks. The head of the Freedom of Association and Expression Team for the Legal Batuan Institute or LBH Papua, Aristoteles Howay said announcing the death of Mako Tabuni was dismissed by the police at around 13.00 WP. During the dispersal, the police released tear gas, and were expected to fire rubber bullets. “They were dispersed with tear gas and shot [rubber bullets]. There were four people hit by rubber bullets," Howay told Jubi on Tuesday. Howay said Tuesday's demonstration was a commemoration of the death of Deputy I of the Central West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Mako Tabuni. According to him, the police dispersed the flag after the protesters raised the KNPB. Howay said that at least six demonstrators were arrested by the police and taken to the Jayapura City Police Headquarters. "[Besides], four motorbikes and action attributes were also confiscated," he said. Howay said Tuesday afternoon they had not been able to meet the demonstrators until they were arrested by police. According to Howay, the disbandment of the demonstration violated the provisions of the Regulation of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police Number 16 of 2006 concerning Guidelines for Crowd Control. "Everyone has the right to express their opinion," he said. The Director of LBH Papua, Emanuel Gobay asked the Papuan Regional Police Chief in charge of the Profession and Security Sector to arrest the police who used rubber bullets to disperse the demonstration commemorating the death of Mako Tabuni. He assessed that the Jayapura City Police (Polresta) officers tended to carry out repression during demonstrations. Police institutions regulate the implementation of human rights standards in police duties,” said Gobay.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 3, 2022
- Event Description
Ten members of the peaceful demonstration mass demanding the revocation of Otsus volume II and the rejection of the expansion of the New Autonomous Regions (DOB) for West Papua and Papua were injured as a result of the forced disbandment by police officers from the Sorong Regional Police, in the courtyard of the Sorong City DPRD Office, Friday (3/03/2020). 6/2022).
Three of them were hit by rubber bullets. Aves Susim, 25 years old, was shot by a rubber bullet in the leg. Subi Taplo, 27, was shot in the shoulder, and Agustinus Kamat, 27, hit other body parts.
Meanwhile, seven other people were injured as a result of the forced dispersal of the police and tear gas.
The following are the names of the injured and gunshot wounds of rubber bullets:
Aves Susim, 25 years old (He was shot by a rubber bullet in the thigh). Sriyani Wanane, 30 years old (Wounds on knee and big toe). Mama Rita Tenau, 50 years old (wound on temple) Betty Kosamah, 22 years old (Leg wound). Agus Edoway, 25 years old (Tear gas in the shoulder). Agustinus Kamat, 27 years old (He was shot by a rubber bullet). Subi Taplo, 27 years old (He was hit by a rubber bullet in the shoulder). Amanda Yumte, 23 years old (Swollen legs and tear gas). Jack Asmuruf, 20 years old (Toe wound). Sonya Korain, 22 years old (Leg wound)
Previously, at around 2:25 p.m. Papua time, a peaceful demonstration demanding the revocation of the second volume of Otsus and the rejection of the expansion of the new autonomous regions in Sorong came to the Sorong City DPRD office.
While giving speeches in the courtyard of the DPRD office, they asked the chairman of the DPRD of Sorong City to meet them, but this effort did not materialize. The crowd, disappointed, burned tires at around 15.12 Papua time. As a result, the authorities took action and forcibly dispersed the crowd using tear gas and rubber bullets.
One of the protesters who suffered an injury to the right temple was Mama Rita Tenau (50). He was part of the mass action that came to the Sorong City DPRD office.
During the long march to the Sorong City DPRD office at 11:00 Papua time, the mass of action raised a flag similar to the Morning Star or the Morning Star, but it didn't last long. Only three minutes flew between the masses of action, after that his party again secured the flag which had been the reason for the apparatus to detain Papuan activists.
Previously, the Head of the Ops Section of the Sorong Police, M. Nur Makmur, who had visited the mass of action, explained that his party had carried out the disbandment because the mass of action did not heed the instructions of the officers.
“They have secured the mass of the demonstration to the DPRD building. The DPRD representatives have already left, but the masses of the demonstration refused. We have emphasized that if we burn tires, we will not hesitate to disband them,” explained the Head of Ops.
So far there has been no confirmation from the police regarding 10 people injured.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 4, 2022
- Event Description
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri admitted that 17 people were arrested in connection with demonstrations against the establishment of new autonomous regions (DOB) in Jayapura and Merauke regencies. In Jayapura Regency, two people were arrested on Friday (3/6/2022). Meanwhile in Merauke, 15 people were arrested on Saturday (4/6/2022). "When we forced ourselves to hold a demonstration, we arrested several people, after we asked for their information, we sent them home," said Fakhiri in Jayapura, Sunday (5/6/2022) night. Fakhiri explained that the reason the security forces detained the 17 people was because their actions did not have a permit. The police's offer to facilitate vehicles for the demonstrators to their respective DPRD offices was rejected by the masses. "They wanted to hold a demonstration (but) we didn't give them permission because they couldn't fulfill the licensing procedures regulated by law in this country," said Fakhiri. According to Fakhiri, the masses on behalf of the Papuan People's Petition (PRP) have repeatedly held the same demonstrations and have always insisted on a long march to the Papuan DPR office. This wish cannot be granted because it will interfere with the activities of other communities. "Please also respect the interests of other people who want to be active. The police do not hinder the right to express their aspirations, but it must be done according to the applicable rules," said Fakhiri. Demonstrations against the plan to form new autonomous regions have been held four times in a number of regencies/cities in Papua. The last action was carried out in Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Mimika, Jayawijaya and Merauke, on Friday and Saturday.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 3, 2022
- Event Description
As a result of the arrests, the simultaneous demonstration of the Papuan people against the division, revoking of Otsus volume II and holding a referendum by all Papuan people in Papua and Indonesia who are members of the Papuan People's Petition (PRP) on Friday (3/5/2022), in Nabire district, Papua cancel done. The action will be carried out by holding a free pulpit. It was reported that the action was canceled due to the arbitrary arrests of the joint TNI-Polri apparatus against the mass of action before the action took place at the Gizi park, Oyehe, Nabire. A total of 23 people were forcibly arrested. 22 people were arrested first and one from behind. The 22 people who were arrested were transported by police trucks and taken to the Nabire Police Headquarters for interrogation. Over 10 hours they were interrogated and released. “Initially, 11 of us came to the Gizi park to do a free pulpit action. We brought some pamphlets and a megaphone. At that time there was no security apparatus. But there are already two billboards that say thank you for DOB. One of them is from the Key harmony in Nabire," said a protester who was arrested to Suarapapua.com from Nabire, Saturday (4/6/2022), who declined to give his name. He said starting at 06.00, continued at 06:37. The police with full weapons along with about tens of intel arrived and went straight to them asking to disperse with the excuse that at the nutrition park there would be a joint rally in the morning. “We were lazy to know and stayed. At 06:40, another crowd was arriving. The police chief also arrived with some of his men, then again forced us to disperse with shouts and threatening words, while ordering his men within 10 minutes of the mass action to be disbanded.” At 07:12, the police managed to force them out of the Gizi garden (just behind the Nun Biru Gate monument). Not accepting the brutal actions of the officers, one of the masses took photos of the officers. “He was immediately chased by intelligence and police to the front of the road. After we were in front of the Gizi park main road, the police then pushed us into the Oyehe market and continued to push until we reached the end of the Oyehe terminal.” "We want to disband. But the Police Chief and his men forced us not to go home and had to get into the police truck. We are surrounded. The police chief also threatened us with words that he would take us to a faraway place. The police chief also asked us to take off all the masks we were wearing," he said. When they were surrounded, he said, a woman took a photo but the woman was shouted at and her cellphone was taken by the police. After the police truck arrived, he continued, at around 08:01, they were transported and taken to the Nabire Police Headquarters. At 08:14, they were interrogated. “They asked for our name, address, occupation, status, etc. by yelling at us one by one. Only our friend, Wakakorlap, Adiknas Pekei, was examined with the BAP," he explained. It was said, after the examination, at 16:20 accompanied by the Papua Talent LBH Nabire, they were removed from the Nabire Police Headquarters. Meanwhile, another mass protest from Kalibobo, which initially gathered at the Intan Jaya dormitory together with nine (9) BEM campuses in Nabire to conduct a free pulpit, was also forcibly dispersed by the authorities after the Nabire Police Station deployed hundreds of personnel with full weapons. However, before the officers came down and dispersed, they managed to hold a free pulpit on the street (reading poetry, singing and giving speeches). And also succeeded in reading out the statement of position read by the head of the general field coordinator (Korlap) for the action, Abia Pujau. Seeing the officers coming, all the masses of the action entered the dormitory. The officers broke down the gate and almost chaos ensued. No protesters were arrested. Regarding the assistance carried out by the Papua Talent LBH Nabire, Suara Papua has contacted the director of the Nabire Papua Talent LBH, Richar Danny Nawipa through his phone number twice to ask for information but was not picked up.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2022
- Event Description
The police finally dispersed a group of people calling themselves the United Liberation Movement for West Papua or ULMWP who were going to hold a demonstration in the Pasar Baru area of Kaimana, Thursday (12/5). They were disbanded because they did not have official permission from the police. There was an argument between the mob and the police when it was disbanded. The police eventually arrested a protester, and he was taken to the Kaimana Police Station for trying to provoke another crowd.
The masses finally dispersed in an orderly manner by taking public transportation, although they had been offered a ride from the police, the masses refused. Traders who are currently selling their wares in the area have also chosen to close their stalls. For security reasons because of the concentration of the masses in the new market area of Kaimana.
Kaimana Police Chief AKBP I Ketut Widiarta, SIK MH, when confirmed said the reason for the disbandment was because his party did not issue a permit to the demonstrators, who would convey their aspirations to disband from the Republic of Indonesia. “So we firmly reject and do not give permission for this demonstration,” said the Police Chief when confirmed during the security demonstration in the Pasar Baru Kaimana area, Thursday (12/5).
The police chief appealed to the people of Kaimana to jointly maintain security and order in the city of Kaimana. And not easily provoked by other issues or invitations that will damage Kaimana’s security. “Don’t be provoked, provoked by issues or people who will damage the security situation in Kaimana,” he stressed again.
According to journalists’ observation until Thursday afternoon, activities at Pasar Baru Kaimana were running normally, although before that the traders had closed their stalls for security reasons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 10, 2022
- Event Description
LBH Papua Director Emanuel Gobay said one participant of the demonstration against the New Autonomous Region (DOB) Papua in Jayapura was critical after being hit by a rubber bullet allegedly released by the police.
Previously, the police forcefully dispersed demonstrations against DOB in a number of areas in Papua, Tuesday (10/5).
"Yes (critically) the action in Waena," said Director of LBH Papua Emanuel Gobay when contacted.
Gobay admitted that he did not know the exact chronology of the incident. He only confirmed that the victim was taking part in an action in front of Mega Waena, Jayapura.
"So when they arrived in front of Mega Waena, they were forcibly dispersed. At that time, they used rubber bullets and so on. When they released the rubber bullets, they hit one of the protesters," he said.
According to Gobay, at that time the victim was immediately taken to Mimika Dormitory to be treated by female students. However, he did not know more about the victim's condition.
He added that apart from rubber bullet victims, one protest participant also suffered injuries due to being mistreated by the police. The victim, he said, was shot in the chest by the police.
"Besides that, someone was beaten, then he was unconscious, then carried, then taken to the dormitory. I met him earlier, he complained that his chest still hurts from being kicked. There are also several others who were injured," explained Gobay. .
Demonstrations against the new autonomous regions and Special Autonomy (Otsus) in several areas of Jayapura, Papua, were disbanded by the police today.
The forced dissolution was recorded in a video that was spread on Twitter social media. The video was uploaded by the spokesman for the Papuan People's Petition, Jeffry Wenda.
At that time, the police forcefully dispersed the peaceful protest using water cannons.
At least seven people were arrested by the police in the action. Those arrested included PRP spokesman Jeffry Wenda, National Spokesman for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Ones Suhuniap, and Omizon Balingga.
- Impact of Event
- 9
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 9, 2022
- Event Description
The office of the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH) became the target of a terrorist attack on Monday (9/5) morning. The action is suspected to be related to a case that the agency is currently working on.
One unit of a motorcycle caught fire and the back of a car parked side by side was also scorched in the terrorist act. The director of LBH Papua, Emanuel Gobay, believes that there were parties who did this on purpose.
“From the evidence we found, such as the presence of a wick, the wick smelled of kerosene mixed with gasoline, coupled with evidence of plastic filled with gasoline, then added with grass that looked charred after being exposed to gasoline, our suspicions were made by people who have bad intentions with us,” Gobay told VOA Monday morning.
Testimony Regarding the Suspected Perpetrator So far, the facts gathered by LBH Papua regarding the incident stated that the arson took place at around 04.00 WIT. LBH Papua staff who live in the office dormitory noticed the fire after hearing the sound of an explosion coming from the garage area. The staff then came out and found the flames that burned the motorbike.
The staff and the community living around the agency’s office located on Jalan Gerilyawan, Kamkey, Jayapura, immediately put out the fire.
“The LBH Papua staff and local residents worked together to collect water and immediately extinguished the fire that was burning on the motorbike, then pulled the burning motorbike out of the garage of the LBH Papua office, so the fire didn’t spread everywhere,” added Gobay.
The motorcycle owner explained that he parked the vehicle around midnight, or four hours before the incident. In the initial inspection, the motorcycle tank did not explode in this fire.
LBH Papua staff also received information from two residents who passed in front of the office shortly before the incident. The resident stated that he saw one person wearing a black sweater, hat and mask running out of the LBH Papua office environment, then going on a motorbike.
“We have no other problems. The problems we face are from the cases we are accompanying. So, of course it has something to do with the cases we are attending. Maybe the people we suspect of doing this are people whose interests might be disturbed by our advocacy,” added Gobay.
On Monday afternoon, Gobay was at the Papua Regional Police to report the terror incident.
Similar terrors have occurred at LBH offices in other cities in Indonesia. LBH Medan, for example, was targeted by Molotov cocktails in October 2019. Meanwhile, the Yogyakarta LBH office was targeted by Molotov cocktails in September 2021.
Common in Papua Yohanis Mambrasar from the Papuan Human Rights Lawyers Association (PAHAM) said that from the chronology described by LBH Papua, he believed this incident was a terror against LBH Papua staff.
“This is an action taken by a person or group who feels disturbed by the work of LBH Papua in fighting for truth and justice in Papua,” said Yohanis.
PAHAM Papua noted that, at least in the last 4 years, LBH Papua was very massive in advocating for a number of cases. The cases handled include the criminalization of Papuan political activists, freedom of expression, as well as assistance to indigenous peoples in cases of theft of timber or confiscation of customary lands.
“Including assistance to palm oil workers and PT Freeport workers, and it should not be forgotten, legal assistance to cases of treason in Papua,” he added.
Human Rights (HAM) activist Theo Hesegem also considered what happened at LBH Papua as an act of terror.
“We can’t confirm who the perpetrators are, but we know that a terrorist act is taking place. Actually, if human rights defenders experience acts of terror, it does not mean that people who work for humanity end up there. It’s impossible,” he said.
Interestingly, Theo himself had recently become a victim of what he described as terror against critical activists. On 7 May, Theo, Executive Director of the Papuan Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, lost his motorcycle, which was his operational vehicle, while investigating cases of human rights violations in Wamena, Nduga, and the surrounding mountainous areas.
Theo himself has experienced many terrors during his activities in defending human rights in Papua. For example, when he was actively investigating cases of armed violence in Nduga. But he promised that any incident would not hinder his efforts to carry out humanitarian work.
“And that is something human rights defenders have to face. We must not forget that for me this is a normal thing, and it must be experienced by human rights defenders,” he said again.
Moreover, added Theo, in Papua acts of terror are a daily occurrence.
“It’s a normal thing that human rights defenders have to deal with in the poor conditions of this region. But we also want it not to happen again, and it is the duty of the police to follow up on this terror. We don’t want human rights defenders in Papua to be treated like that,” said Theo.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property, Right to work
- HRD
- NGO, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 4, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2022
- Event Description
Indian authorities must immediately put an end to the excessive use of force in response to large scale protests in the country that has resulted in the death of at least two people, including a child, and in many others suffering injuries since last Friday, Amnesty International India said today. The organization also called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arbitrarily arrested solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
In the last few days, thousands of people took to the streets in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir and Telangana calling for the arrest of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, the former spokespersons for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s ruling political party, for making statements deemed insulting of Prophet Mohammed in a prime-time TV news debate.
“The Government of India is selectively and viciously cracking down on Muslims who dare to speak up and peacefully express their dissent against the discrimination faced by them. Cracking down on protesters with excessive use of force, arbitrary detention and punitive house demolitions by Indian authorities is in complete violation of India’s commitments under international human rights law and standards,” said Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India Board.
On 10 June, media reported an incident where, police personnel can be seen striking batons, pelting stones and shooting bystanders during protests in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Another bystander was shot six times by the police while returning from the market. Two protesters including a 15-year-old child was fatally shot in the head by the police. Under the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, police may only use force for a legitimate law enforcement purpose and may not use more force than needed to achieve this objective. Moreover, police may use firearms only as a last resort and when strictly necessary to protect themselves or others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury; the intentional lethal use of firearms is only permissible if strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.
In another video reported by multiple media outlets and shared by many on Twitter including the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, a police officer is repeatedly hitting detained male protesters with batons in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh while they cry in fear and pain and one protester complains of a fractured arm. Instead of criticizing the use of force, it was celebrated by former police officers and BJP politicians on social media. Baton strikes while a subject is under control are unnecessary and disproportionate, and amount to using batons punitively – which amounts to torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, a violation of international law.
“Presenting and treating all protesters, including peaceful ones, as a threat for public order is deeply worrying and is part of an alarming escalation of the states’ measures targeting Muslims. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister and various state chief ministers have done little to show that they disapprove of any statement portraying Muslims as a risk for public order or embedding other stereotypes and prejudices that may contribute to justifying discrimination and violence against Muslims. They should publicly show their opposition for any such statement” said Aakar Patel.
Instead, in a continuing blow to human rights, the authorities carried out the unlawful and arbitrary demolition of houses belonging to Muslims suspected of being “key conspirators” of the violence that erupted during the protests in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. On 10 June, activist Javed Mohammed, his wife and younger daughter were detained along with many others by the police. On 11 June, a backdated notice was pasted on the wall of the family’s house at 11pm in the night before the planned demolition. Javed Mohammed and his elder daughter Afreen Fatima, a student activist, have been vocal in their criticism of the government specially against the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act. While the authorities cited illegal construction as the reason for demolition, the notice was issued in the name of Javed Mohammed who did not even own the demolished property. On 12 June, the authorities demolished the two-storey house amounting to a punitive measure and a violation of the right to adequate housing. Houses of many other protesters were similarly demolished in Uttar Pradesh.
It is evident that in the absence of any genuine consultation and a complete departure from due process of law, these demolitions stand in absolute violation of the right to adequate housing as enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which India is a state party and has been done to inflict punishment on the community for raising their voices against injustice.
“The State’s response to current protests is not only deplorable but also marks the latest escalation in the suppression of dissent. The Indian authorities must carry out a prompt, thorough, effective, impartial and independent investigation into all the human rights violations allegedly committed by law enforcement officials and other public officials against protesters and human rights defenders. Law enforcement officials who used the force excessively should be charged, whenever there is enough evidence. Victims should also have access to reparations including compensation,” said Aakar Patel.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Use of Excessive Force, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 19, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 13, 2022
- Event Description
Angered by the regime’s ‘bulldozer-raj’ the All India Students’ Association (AISA) on June 13, 2022 called for a citizens’ protest against police brutalities on Friday, and targeted demolitions of Muslim homes. Some students protesting near UP Bhawan were detained by the police.
Last week, on the afternoon of June 10, a Friday, Muslims across India engaged in huge protests to demand suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s arrest for her insulting remarks about Prophet Mohammad and Islam. Although the protest ended within hours, what followed were widespread arrests in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal as well as illegal demolitions in parts of UP. Notedly, the Prayagraj (Allahabad) police illegally detained Javed Mohamad, local activists and father of anti-CAA activist Afreen Fatima. Later his wife and younger daughter were also illegally detained. On June 12, their house was brazenly demolished without following any due process, for allegedly “encroaching”. This act has now been challenged through a letter petition in the Allahabad high court.
It was against this state-sponsored violence of the Muslim community that the AISA students rose in protest and called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Members demanded that the government:
Stop police brutality in Ranchi, Allahabad and various places in India Cease witch-hunting of Afreen Fatima's family Stop targeting Muslims and bulldozing their houses
In a press release the AISA made a call for peace and appealed to people to end the BJP’s “vicious divisive rule”. In their statement, students condemned the government for failing to prosecute Sharma but attacking protesters with guns.
“Unsurprisingly, while no action has been taken against Sharma and Naveen Jindal, the police forces have come down heavily on those who protested against them,” said the AISA.
Further, the UP police arrested and penalised many prominent anti-CAA voices, active in late 2019-early 2020 against what was perceived to be an unjust amendment to the Citizenship Act. The AISA called this a deliberate act of harassment that reflects the BJP’s communal agenda.
“The practise of using bulldozers against Muslims has become a recurring tactic of the ruling government to curb dissenting voices. This is nothing but a state-sponsored attack on the minority communities and is against the secular ethos enshrined in our constitution,” said the AISA.
Aside from students from other parts of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia University students also joined the call to condemn the bulldozer-raj in India. However, heavy police was deployed outside the university campus. Barring entrance aspirants and PhD students, the police refused to allow protesting students.
The act of using bulldozers has become a disconcerting move by the ruling regime since the anti-CAA protests in 2019. This tactic has now been significantly used in Uttar Pradesh where many Muslim protesters now face the threat of forced eviction. In 2022, Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) Muslim residents were the first to suffer the ‘bulldozer raaj’ soon followed by Muslim communities in Delhi, Bengaluru and Assam.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 19, 2022
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2022
- Event Description
The charred bodies of five members of the anti-coup movement were found by members of a local resistance force amid military raids on villages in northern Yesagyo Township in Magway Region on Tuesday evening.
The township’s People’s Defence Force (PDF) chapter announced that two local guerrilla fighters, as well as three people who had been participating in the general strike associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), were discovered slain near Peik Thin Kat village.
They were burned beyond recognition and buried in a shallow grave, the PDF statement said.
U Naing, a leader of another guerrilla force active in northern Yesagyo described the individuals to Myanmar Now as having been “murdered in a cruel manner.”
“All five bodies were found and accounted for. They killed them, burned the bodies and buried the remains,” he said, noting that the victims were found after the handcuffed hands of one of the bodies was left uncovered by soil.
Among those killed was 54-year-old headmaster Win Kyaw, 27-year-old nurse Zarli Naing, and Khin Hnin Wai, 28, a teacher who was five months pregnant at the time of her murder. Also murdered with them were two armed resistance force members in their 20s: Htay Min Oo and Thae Ei Ei Win.
All five victims were in Myaing Township’s Dan Pin Kan village, located next to Peik Thin Kat, and captured on the evening of June 10, according to U Naing. He added that a bullet was found amongst the bodies, and that the abdomen of Win Kyaw appeared to have been perforated by a sharp object.
Both Khin Hnin Wai and Win Kyaw had been participating in the education program launched by the civilian National Unity Government after refusing to return to work in the junta-controlled school system.
The site where they were killed is located two miles west of the Sin Phyu Shin bridge, where PDFs from Yesagyo, Myaing and Salingyi townships ambushed a junta checkpoint on June 9, killing three military personnel, taking one soldier prisoner, and seizing multiple weapons.
In the days that followed the attack, hundreds of Myanmar army soldiers began raiding the surrounding villages in northern Yesagyo Township, torching homes and abducting civilians.
On June 10, hundreds of villagers were forced to flee into the area’s western forests when junta troops fired indiscriminately towards Dan Pin Kan after encountering explosives planted by the northern Yesagyo guerrilla group in an attempt to stop their advance.
Zarli Naing, the nurse who had been supporting the resistance movement, was working between Yesagyo and Myaing townships after fleeing her home in Pakokku, 30 miles to the south. She was among the fleeing Dan Pin Kan locals at the time she was captured.
“One of our members who attacked the military with explosives got injured after falling down a cliff, so we sent him to the CDM nurse to get his injuries treated,” guerrilla leader U Naing explained. “Another member of our group accompanied him and all five of them were arrested together by the military.”
He told Myanmar Now that Zarli Naing and Win Kyaw had been located in the area by a junta informant, who then guided the troops to the place where she was providing first aid to the injured resistance fighter, at a distance from the other displaced civilians.
“The victims might have thought the junta soldiers were PDF members because they were wearing shorts just like PDF members do,” he said.
Instead, they are believed to have been killed by their captors later that day.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Public Servant, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 18, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 24, 2022
- Event Description
About the Human Rights Defenders: Mr. Tipu Sultan and Mr. Arka Goswami are activists residing in Bolpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal. They have participated in numerous struggles in the past 5-6 years highlighting instances of human rights violations and injustice, including cases of malnutrition, suicide and the rape and murder of minor girls from marginalised communities in the area.
Background of the incident: On January 27, 2022, an FIR (4/2022) was registered at the Barikul Police Station in Bankura district against Mr. Shiba Prasad alias Shibu Murmu, Mr. Mangal alias Daktar Hansda, Mr. Sabyasachi Goswami alias Kishore and other unnamed accused. The complainant in the case Sub Inspector Mr. Satyajit Mahanty claimed he and other police officers had busted a Maoist plot to attack the police and nabbed two alleged Maoists from the spot with incriminating material, while the remaining managed to flee. The accused were charged under Sections 148, 149, 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the state), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121), 122 (collecting men, arms, ammunition to wage war), 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war), 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code. It is important to note that neither Mr. Tipu Sultan nor Mr. Arka Goswami were named as accused in the case, nor were they questioned by police regarding their involvement in the said incident in the ensuing three months. Details of the Incident: On April 24, 2022, at around 11.30 AM, Mr. Arka Goswami heard someone call out his name when was on his way to the fish market in the Jamboni area of Bolpur. Suddenly two persons in civil dress abducted him and forced him into a vehicle. They took him to a lodge somewhere in Bolpur and confiscated his mobile and wallet. Although they did not reveal their identity or tell him why he was detained, they forged a document claiming to have found Maoist posters on Mr. Goswami and got it signed by two others who were present at the lodge.
On April 24, at around 12.30 PM, around 6-7 persons in civil dress arrived in front of Mr. Tipu Sultan’s house in a police vehicle. They identified themselves as attached to the Barikul Police Station in Bankura, barged into Mr. Sultan’s house and dragged the HRD forcibly into the vehicle without providing any reason or explanation and without allowing him time or opportunity to put on a shirt, trousers or slippers. Police officials refused to show any arrest warrant to Mr. Sultan’s family members despite repeated requests, and took Mr. Sultan away to the same lodge where Mr. Goswami was detained. The duo were then taken onward to the Barikul Police Station where they were kept overnight. Mr. Goswami and Mr. Sultan’s family members visited the Santiniketan and Bolpur Police Stations immediately thereafter to inquire if the HRDs had been arrested and/ or detained, but they were not provided any information. At around 8 PM, the families were hand-delivered letters from Inspector in Charge of Bolpur Police Station Mr. Siladitya Saha claiming that the HRDs had been arrested from their homes in connection with FIR no 4/2022 of Barikul Police Station. The HRDs were produced at the court of ACJM Khatra on April 25, and have been in judicial custody at the Khatra sub jail since then. The jail authorities also did not allow them to meet their families despite the relaxation of COVID protocols by state and central governments. On occasions when they were produced at the Khatra court for hearing, they were kept in a lock-up like enclosure, with two walls standing 10 metres apart separating them from family members. Further, police claimed in court that the HRDs were found in possession of several Maoist posters and incriminating literature, but refused to share seizure lists or other documents with their lawyers and family members. Police has also not returned Mr. Goswami’s mobile phone and wallet which were confiscated from him during his detention.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
Event shared by FORUM-ASIA member People's Watch
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 4, 2022
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 24, 2022
- Event Description
A court in Hong Kong on Tuesday jailed democracy activist and former law professor Benny Tai for 10 months for "illegally" promoting a strategic voting scheme for the 2016 Legislative Council (LegCo) elections.
Tai, 57, was handed the sentence after pleading guilty to illegally incurring H.K.$253,000 in election expenses by placing six newspaper ads to promote scheme, which aimed to win a majority for pro-democracy parties in LegCo.
District Court judge Anthony Kwok said the sentence had been reduced by five months due to the guilty plea and by two months because of delays in prosecuting the case.
Kwok said the strategic voting scheme had affected the "fairness" of the election, although it was later postponed by the government and held under rules preventing any opposition candidates from standing at all.
Tai and 26 other activists and former pro-democracy lawmakers are also awaiting trial under the national security law for subversion for their role in an unofficial democratic primary held in the run-up to the main poll.
Onlookers shouted out "Hang in there!" and "Jesus loves you!" from the public gallery after the sentence was read out.The sentencing came as retired Catholic bishop and Cardinal Joseph Zen and five co-defendants pleaded not guilty to 'collusion with foreign forces' in connection with their trusteeship of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which offered financial, legal and psychological help to people arrested during the 2019 protest movement.
Zen's co-defendants, former pro-democracy lawmaker and barrister Margaret Ng, scholar Hui Po-keung, jailed former lawmaker Cyd Ho, Cantopop star Denise Ho and former fund secretary Sze Shing-wai, also pleaded not guilty to the same charge at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday.
At the hearing attended by the German consul Johannes Harms and other foreign diplomats, the six also pleaded not guilty to another charge of "failure to apply for registration or exemption from registration of a society within the specified time limit."
Their trial has been scheduled for Sept. 19, and all defendants barring Cyd Ho were released on bail after the national security police confiscated their passports.
The prosecution said it would call 17 witnesses, and present 10 boxes of documents and eight hours of video clips as evidence.
Onlookers called out in support of Zen and the others, calling him Peace Cardinal, and exhorting them to "take care," and offering Christian blessings.
Meanwhile, the Law Society said it would investigate the defense team for alleged "professional misconduct," prompting fears that the pro-China body will target defense attorneys in a similar manner to official lawyers' associations in mainland China.
The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said Tuesday said it will no longer hold masses for those who died in the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, citing fears of prosecution under the national security law.
Masses were held at seven churches last year to the June 4, 1989 anniversary.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Academic, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- China: academic and pro-democracy advocate fired by the University of Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Law Professor Reported to Police For 'Sedition'
- Date added
- May 28, 2022
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 23, 2022
- Event Description
Hong Kong authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Eric Wu Ka-Fai, a reporter for independent news site HK Golden, and stop jailing members of the press for reporting the news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.
On Monday, May 23, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court sentenced Wu to one month in prison for behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place under the city’s public order ordinance for questioning police during a HK Golden live broadcast as he was covering a pro-democracy student event in central Hong Kong in April 2021, according to news reports.
“Hong Kong authorities should be embarrassed for jailing journalist Eric Wu Ka-Fai merely for asking tough questions of the police, as he had every right to do,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia coordinator, in Washington in D.C. “Hong Kong authorities continue to claim that press freedom prevails in the Chinese-ruled city, but cases like Wu’s prove otherwise.”
According to reports, Wu, who also reports under the name Gwanfolo, was detained on September 29, 2021 and released on bail the next day on charges of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place, willfully obstructing a police officer on duty, and refusing to obey an order of a police officer. The charges stemmed from his questioning of police during his HK Golden livestream on April 15, 2021, of a pro-democracy street booth erected by student group Student Politicism. On Monday, the judge acquitted Wu of the latter two charges, the reports said.
In video of Wu’s April 15 livestream, police officers can be seen blocking Wu as he tries to film them questioning the student group. Wu raises his voice and asks the officers whether they intend to hit the crowd when an officer pulls out a stick, later revealed to be a selfie stick, from a bag. The officer says, “police don’t hit people,” and Wu confronts him, saying, “Police don’t hit people? Wasn’t Frankly Chu King Wai [who was jailed for hitting a bystander during Hong Kong protests in 2014] a police officer? Weren’t the seven officers [convicted of assaulting pro-democracy activist Ken Tsang in 2014] police?” Wu also cites cases of alleged police theft and sexual misconduct in the livestream.
According to the reports, the judge said Wu’s recounting of alleged police misconduct in a public place constituted a disorderly conduct offense because it could have incited collective hatred toward police at the scene resulting in violence.
CPJ emailed the Hong Kong police force and the Hong Kong department of justice as well as its prosecution division for comment but did not immediately receive any replies.
CPJ’s 2021 prison census found that China remained the world’s worst jailer of journalists for the third year in a row. It was the first time that journalists in Hong Kong appeared on CPJ’s census.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 28, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 17, 2022
- Event Description
Tripura police arrested a photo-journalist named Nitai Dey in the intervening nights of Tuesday and Wednesday.
He is working as a photo-correspondent for a Guwahati-based news channel.
Reportedly, Nitai was arrested when he went to cover the restrictions imposed by the Tripura government on sale of Petroleum Oil Products (POL) at a fuel station in Radhanagar area here in Agartala city.
Sources said that the photo-journalist got involved in a heated squabble at the fuel station where the policeman identified as Arindam Roy, OC of College Tilla Out Post was alleged to have used abusive languages and harassed him.
Later, he was immediately arrested and transported to East Agartala Police Station. He was alleged to have been forced to drink foreign liquor and started beating him.
Police station sources informed that the bailable charges under Indian Penal Code was lodged against the photo-journalist.
On Wednesday, Nitai was produced before the local court. The judge directed the West Tripura district’s SP to submit the report within 3 days. The judge took the statement of the persecuted photo-journalist Nitai Dey. The court further took a suo-moto case against the OC of East Police Station.
Meanwhile, Agartala Press Club president Subal Kumar Dey, vice-president Arun Nath and secretary Pranab Sarkar on Wednesday morning condemned the incident and demanded suspension of the OC of the College Tilla Out Post. Thereafter this noon, they held a siege at Police Headquarters.
Later, police sources informed that the policeman who was accused of harassing photo-journalist was suspended.
A Tripura court has taken suo motu cognisance of the statement of an arrested video journalist that he was tortured and forcibly made to drink alcohol in police custody on Tuesday night.
While granting bail to journalist Nitai Dey on Wednesday, judicial magistrate (first class) West Agartala, Ayan Chowdhary, directed the West Tripura police to submit a report in connection with the case within three days.
Dey, 33, was picked up by the officer in-charge of the College Tilla Police Outpost, Arindam Roy, from near a petrol pump where the video journalist had gone to cover the rationing of fuel from Tuesday night following the disruption in rail and road traffic because of landslides in Dima Hasao.
When Dey himself ran out of fuel at the petrol pump, the manager tried to help him but others in the long queue objected to it. The police, too, asked Dey to leave but he was picked up from a bank located nearby and taken to the East Agartala police station by Roy.
Dey was later charged under Section 90 of the Tripura Police Act, dealing with creating nuisance under the influence of alcohol, a bailable offence.
According to Dey’s counsel Bhaskar Debbarma, Dey in his recorded statement in the court said he was neither granted bail at the police station nor allowed to contact his family members.
On Wednesday, Dey narrated his ordeal to The Telegraph from a hospital where he was taken for a medical examination.
“The OC apparently took offence because I had referred to him as ‘dada’ and not as ‘sir’ because he was a gazetted officer. He also said we do negative news. I was beaten up, forcibly made to drink alcohol and asked to take my pants off. I have said everything in the court,” Dey said.
The police could not be contacted for their version.
Debbarma said besides the suo motu case, the complaint lodged by Dey in the police station had also been registered.
“Both the OC of College Tilla outpost and OC of East Agartala police station will face inquiry,” he said.
Local journalists protested against the police action,
with the Agartala Press Club seeking the intervention of chief minister Manik Saha who assumed charge on Sunday.
They also staged a dharna in front of the police headquarters in Agartala for an hour.
Pranab Sarkar, Agartala Press Club secretary and one of Dey’s counsel, told The Telegraph that the chief minister had not only condemned the arrest but also sought a report on the incident besides giving an assurance that OC Roy would be suspended.
Inspector-general of police (law and order) G.K. Rao also met the protesting journalists.
State BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee condemned the incident and said they had also demanded Roy’s suspension.
Roy was suspended with effect from Wednesday afternoon.
The suspension order, issued by West Tripura superintendent of police B.J. Reddy, said a departmental proceeding was under contemplation against Roy for “his gross misconduct” on duty in dealing with arrested accused person and lapses in following legal procedures.
It also said the officer “failed” to properly handle a sensitive matter besides not following the orders of superior authority while he was posted at the outpost.
The Tripura Trinamul unit hit out at the BJP-led state government for restricting freedom of press and asked how assaulting journalists could be acceptable.
The Trinamul tweeted: “ YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY @BJP4Tripura TO STRANGULATE DEMOCRACY! Journalist arrested, thrashed. New CM trying hard to prove himself? @narendramodiji, is this what you instructed @DrManikSaha2 to do? Attack the Fourth Pillar of Democracy? #ShameOnBJP.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 27, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 21, 2022
- Event Description
A resident in Labuan Bajo was arrested by officers from the Resort Police [Polres] of West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Thursday (21/4) while trying to block an attempt to clear a road for the National Strategic Project [PSN].
Paulinus Jek, the name of the resident, is a member of the Racang Buka Community. He was arrested for trying to block an excavator when the eviction arrived at his teak plantation.
The Racang Buka Community is one of three groups of residents in Labuan Bajo whose land was allegedly taken by the Implementing Agency for the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority [BPOLBF] for the tourism business.
The road that passes through his garden will open access to an area of 400 hectares in the Bowosie Forest which will later become a project site by the Tourism Authority of Labuan Bajo Flores [BPOLBF] to be developed into a tourism business area.
Together with other residents of the Racang Buka Community, Paulinus has tried to resist the eviction. This is because they have controlled and resided in the area since 1999. They have made various efforts to gain recognition from the state.
However, their efforts went unanswered, and the eviction for the opening of the road was carried out on Thursday, April 21 under the guard of about 50 police and several members of the TNI. There are officers wearing official uniforms, some wearing civilian clothes while carrying long-barreled weapons.
Paulinus's arrest began with his shouting so that the teak trees would not be evicted.
"Don't evict my teak. Don't," he said, pointing and walking towards the excavator.
His scream was then followed by other residents. "This is our plant," shouted a resident.
"We are humans, sir. Please communicate. We are not animals," added another resident.
The actions of Paulinus and several other residents had made the excavator stop. However, the Head of the Mabar Police OPS Division, Robert M. Bolle, asked the heavy equipment operator to continue the work.
"Don't be silent. Forward, forward," he said.
Paulinus continued to protest and questioned the presence of the officers at the place.
"How much did you get paid. How much did the police get paid?" Paulinus shouted, pointing at the police in front of him.
Robert responded to his words with an arrest warrant.
"Secure him. Secure him. Take him. Arrest the others," he ordered to which several police personnel responded immediately.
Paulinus who was standing right in front of the excavator was immediately dragged away. He was struggling to get free from the police ambush. After Paulinus was arrested, the eviction was continued, under tight security by the army and police.
At 13.00 WITA, Paulinus was released and rejoined the residents.
The refusal of residents in the vicinity of the Bowosie Forest, as well as other civilian elements to the project, which is part of the national strategic project, was carried out because they considered the eviction site to be a buffer forest area for the city of Labuan Bajo. In addition, some areas are community gardens.
Racang Buka residents who enter the area of Gorontalo Village, Komodo District have inhabited the area since the 1990s.
They have made various legal efforts to legally inhabit at least 150 hectares of the Bowosie Forest in the southern part through a scheme to free forest areas into settlements and agricultural land.
Their step was answered by the government through the Decree of the West Manggarai Forest Boundary No. 357 of 2016, but only about 38 hectares were granted, which was designated as an area for Other Use Areas [APL].
While the residents were only given 38 hectares, the other part of the forest that they requested to become their rights is now part of the area handed over by the government to BPO-LBF through Presidential Decree 32 of 2018.
The Head of Operations Section [Head of OPS] West Manggarai Police, AKP Robertus M. Bolle stated that his presence at the eviction site was only to provide security at the order of the Chief of Police and the request of the Implementing Agency for the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority [BPOLBF].
"We carry out security duties with a letter of assignment from the police chief. The basis for that is an application from the Flores Labuan Bajo Authority Implementing Agency [BPOLBF] for security related to the opening of roads on government land. So that's the basis," he said.
"So, we are here to carry out security. Only security. Both from the workers and from the community itself," he added.
Regarding the arrest of the residents of Paulinus, he emphasized that this step was taken to prevent a bigger problem from being avoided.
"Persuasion has been done, communication has been good, we have to be a little strict with this activity. There is no pushing. But there is one of our brothers who gave his life in the excavator. We secure him so he doesn't get hurt. We move him from the location that threatens his life. , said Robert.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 20, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 23, 2022
- Event Description
About the Human Rights Defender: Ms. Jayeeta Das is a senior activist residing in Nadia district of West Bengal. She has participated in many people’s movements in the past two decades, including the Nandigram movement against forcible land acquisition and state repression and movements demanding justice for rape and murder victims. Mr. Pratik Bhowmik and Mr. Hasibur Sk are residents of Murshidabad district and members of Shramik Krishak Aikya Mancha, an organisation that works towards protecting the rights of workers, farmers and other marginalised groups in West Bengal. They have organised several public meetings and demonstrations and were actively involved in addressing the issues of migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Details of the Incident: On March 23, 2022, at around 10.30 PM, Mr. Pratik Bhowmik and Mr. Hasibur Sk were illegally detained by personnel from the Nowda Police Station when they were returning home from a nearby village. They were kept at the Nowda Police Station till the morning of March 25, but not told about any case against them or their arrest. While in detention, police forced them to sign a seizure memo claiming arms were found on them. Mr. Hasibur Sk was also beaten up by police officials on one occasion. On March 24, 2022, more than 12 hours after Mr. Bhowmik and Mr. Hasibur’s illegal detention and arrest, the Nowda Police Station registered an FIR against the HRDs under Sections 25 and 35 of the Arms Act. However, the police falsely claimed the HRDs were arrested on March 24 at around 3.30 PM. They were produced at the Berhampore court on March 25 and were remanded in police custody for seven days. On March 29, 2022, around 12 PM, personnel from Haringhata Police Station in Nadia district apprehended Ms. Jayeeta Das from the Boro Jaguli area. They ordered her to get into the police vehicle without providing any reason and took her to an empty house, where she was detained for nearly seven hours. She was not provided any reason for her detention or allowed to inform her family members or lawyer. At around 7 PM, personnel from the Special Task Force of Kolkata Police reached the spot and informed she was being arrested in FIR no 1/2022. They took her to Kolkata where she underwent a medical examination. On March 30, Ms. Das was produced at the Bankshall Court, and remanded in police custody for 14 days. On April 2, when Mr. Bhowmik and Mr. Hasibur were produced at the Berhampore court, the Special Task Force prayed for their remand, which was granted. On April 3, an arrest warrant was issued against the duo in connection with FIR no 1/2022 by the Bankshall Court in Kolkata, and they were remanded in police custody. On April 7, all three HRDs were booked under Sections 17, 18, 20, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act following approval from the City Sessions Judge. They continue to remain in police custody.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary, Police
- Source
Case shared by FORUM-ASIA member People's Watch
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 16, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 11, 2022
- Event Description
As many as 90 Papuan students were detained by the police following riots against the formation of a new autonomous region (DOB) or the expansion of Papua in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs office, Central Jakarta, Friday (11/3). As of 21.30 WIB, 89 of them have been sent home.
"A total of 89 have been repatriated, but one has not been repatriated because it is related to the beating of an Intel Head," said Head of Public Relations of the Polda Metro Jaya Kombes E Zulpan when contacted, Friday (11/3).
Previously, Papuan students held a demonstration against the new autonomous regions (DOB) in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs Office, Jakarta. The action turned violent and resulted in 4 police personnel being injured. Eight protesters were also reported to have experienced the same thing.
Dozens of students were then secured and collected at the Metro Jaya Police Headquarters for data collection.
Zulpan said that his party was still conducting an investigation related to the beating of the Intel Head of the Central Jakarta Metro Police AKBP Ferikson Tampubolon. Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators.
"The police will enforce the law against acts of violence committed against officers on duty," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 14, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 9, 2022
- Event Description
The terror acts still haunt the residents of RW 11 Tamansari Village, Bandung City who reject the row house construction project (rudet).
Residents are haunted by acts of terror by unknown people who destroy their homes.
A resident or anti-eviction activist from the Tamansari Bersatu Forum, Eva Eryani Efendi reported that the destruction by unknown persons was most recently discovered on 19 and 23 March 2022. A fish pond and windows of his house were broken.
However, no valuables were lost, Eva also suspected that the perpetrator did not intend to steal but sent a threatening signal.
Eva used to open a confectionery business at home, since the eviction of Tamansari in 2019 she lost her livelihood and is now a daily laborer at a sewing house in Bandung. The destruction usually happens when Eva is out of the house for work.
"We found that our house, our fighting post was damaged by unknown people. The atmosphere of the dwelling became chaotic," he said recently.
To Suara.com, Eva showed the broken window. Now it's been patched again. There was also a fish pond barrier that was also damaged, the water was dry and the fish disappeared. In fact, it is one of the residents' self-help food sources.
Similar damage had occurred on February 11, 2021. The vegetable garden managed by the residents was ransacked by a group of people.
At that time, there were also attacks and intimidation not only against residents but also legal assistants and a journalist. Some of them were injured and taken to the hospital.
The incident has been reported to the Bandung Police. However, according to Eva, a year has passed and the handling of the case has not progressed.
For this experience, Eva is pessimistic and disappointed. The reason is that this time the residents chose not to report the recent incident.
"If you report to the police a case that has not continued at that time, no one has been declared the perpetrator, so for this case I will not report to the police because it is useless to report to the police, where there has been no progress in the past," said Eva.
In addition to criticism of the police's performance, Eva said, the choice not to report is also a symbol of criticism of the treatment of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, who reported human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia to the police.
It is known that Haris Azhar is the director of Lokataru and Fatia Maulidiyanti is the coordinator of KontraS. They have been named as suspects based on Luhut's report.
The report that was sent to the two of them originated from the video content of Haris and Fatia on YouTube. There, they alluded to the allegation that Luhut was involved in the mining business in Papua.
Eva could not stand to speak up for Luhut's actions, which she said were a form of criminalization or repression against civilians, especially human rights defenders, including those who often fight for land rights.
"This country with a government that is now so brave (oppresses) to its people, to its citizens they use power," he said.
Eva believes that what Haris and Fatia convey is data from a research result. Luhut should have responded with research or scientific data, not a report to the police. According to Eva, Luhut is childish.
As a satire, Eva gave diapers and pacifiers to the minister, who is often called Lord Luhut.
"I'm really angry. I want to give him a diaper with a pacifier, right. Yes, it's because it's childish," he said. "Even if I have to be in front of Luhut, I'll say it like that, okay, if you say the ITE Law is geus weh wanina ka me, I'm sorry that you've been arrested, ambeh loba deui my suffering. )," said Eva. More about this source text Source text required for additional translation information Send feedback Side panels
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- Land rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 14, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 9, 2022
- Event Description
On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the Pasangkayu Police, West Sulawesi arrested five farmers who were involved in the struggle of the Kaili Tado indigenous people in Kabuyu Hamlet, Mertasari Village, Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi. The five farmers were previously reported by the PT Mamuang truck driver, Andi Alamsyah, in the case of alleged criminal acts of threats as referred to in Article 335 Paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code. This arrest was made after the police issued a second summons to five farmers, in which the first police call was not received by the farmers.
The five farmers were intercepted on their way to get legal assistance, after being successfully stopped by the police, they were taken to the Pasangkayu Police Station at 10.00 WITA on the grounds that a BAP (Minutes of Investigation) process would be carried out by the police for the previously reported threatening actions.
The five farmers are Agus (male, 66 years old), Suarka (male, 66 years old), Lodra (male, 58 years old), Halima (female, 55 years old) and Dedi (male, 30 years old). ). After going through a lengthy BAP process, three of the five people who were originally witnesses are now named suspects, namely Dedi, Agus, and Suarka.
Since the entry of PT Mamuang in their area in 1991, the lives of the people in Dusun Kabuyu have undergone significant changes. Initially, the people in Kabuyu Hamlet managed their ancestral land for productive agricultural land. The community grows rice, corn, cocoa, coconut and various other types of crops to support their livelihoods. However, since PT Mamuang came to their area, the community is only allowed to manage a narrow land on the banks of the Pasangkayu river. They lost their management area because it was taken over by PT Mamuang. Since the start of the company's operations, PT Mamuang has planted outside their HGU. This is evidenced by the oil palm plantations planted along the Pasangkayu watershed at a distance of less than 50 meters from the river bank. PT Mamuang was proven to have violated Government Regulation No. 38 of 2011 concerning Rivers, which stipulates that oil palm companies are not allowed to plant within the border line, which is 50 meters from the river bank.
PT Mamuang, a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari, the second largest palm oil company in Indonesia, has a long list of criminalizations committed against farming communities. According to WALHI records, since 2017 PT Mamuang has criminalized 7 farmers who have lived in the plantation area for a long time, fighting over their housing because it was confiscated by PT Mamuang. In the criminalization effort carried out by PT Mamuang, it was reported that the indigenous Kaili Tado community was struggling to find a place to live amidst the onslaught of palm oil investment by PT Mamuang. Since PT Mamuang entered community territory in 1991, PT Mamuang has planted 100 hectares outside their HGU, which is the customary land of the Kaili Tado community. For nearly 32 years, a total of 107 households (KK) in Kabuyu have lived in the midst of a crisis of limited living space, marginalized by PT Mamuang's palm oil investment. They live and farm on the banks of the Pasangkayu river and become the “living embankment” of PT Mamuang's plantation. The deprivation of the living space of indigenous peoples is the initial pattern of the destruction of investment controls, taking advantage of limited access to information and poor conditions closing civil rights to recognize citizen entities, which has been the opening for ASTRA Investment to seize community land since 1991.
The community's resistance in Dusun Kabuyu to reclaim their land began in 2003, when the community realized that PT Mamuang had been planting outside their HGU, such as oil palm located along the Pasangkayu watershed less than 50 meters from the riverbank. Since then, the people of Kaili Tado have slowly occupied the oil palm land planted by PT Mamuang and managed the land around their area. Resistance was also conveyed by taking action against companies and local governments to demand the return of their land. In 2006, the company then mobilized a number of police and company thugs (centeng) to oppress and intimidate the public into silencing their three-year resistance.
In early January 2022, the Indonesian government issued Decree No. SK.01/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/1/2022 concerning Revocation of Forest Area Concession Permits, although PT Mamuang's concession is not included in the list of companies whose forest permits were revoked despite problems, the indigenous people of Kaili Tado consider this moment to reclaim their land . After the issuance of the decree, they returned to occupy another area previously planted by PT Mamuang which is believed to be customary land and is outside the HGU area of PT Mamuang. After two months of occupation, on February 27, 2022 PT Mamuang, with complete escort from the Pasangkayu Police, isolating Kabuyu Village by cutting off a number of road access for the Kaili Tado community by making a ditch to close the road. They also intimidated the Kaili Tado indigenous community by mobilizing a number of thugs.
It is important to note that the rampant criminalization carried out by palm oil companies does not only occur in Kabuyu or is carried out by PT Mamuang. Conflicts that often occur and are unavoidable in the circle of oil palm plantations do not escape the government's fault in ensuring all requirements are met. For example, in the process of issuing oil palm plantation permits, each company is required to fulfill a number of requirements such as IUP, INLOK (Location Permit), Land Acquisition, and HGU (Hak Guna Usaha). However, in each stage of the licensing process there are requirements that are not completed at each stage of the licensing process, causing problems in the next licensing process. This is also due to the weak principle of FPIC (Free Prior Informed Consent) free, free consent given by communities affected by oil palm companies.
Responding to frequent criminalization by PT Mamuang, Khairul Syahputra, Head of the Campaign and Advocacy Department of WALHI Central Sulawesi stated, “Almost half a century ASTRA Group in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi has been doing oil palm plantation business by robbing people of their livelihood space, and causing structural poverty for the people. community in the circle of investment. The massive land conflict between the community and ASTRA today is an accumulation of business impacts that started with land grabbing. Criminalization and intimidation are used as weapons by ASTRA to quell the resistance of the people who today demand the return of their rights." Obviously.
“WALHI urges ASTRA to return community lands that have been confiscated and stop all attempts to criminalize and intimidate residents. WALHI also urges the government to undertake reconstruction and re-audit all acquisitions of ASTRA land permits in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi.” added Khairul.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Corporation Agricultural business
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 14, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 31, 2022
- Event Description
Oktovianus Tabuni from the Gratia Legal Aid Post in Nabire said the police had forcibly dispersed a mass demonstration against the planned expansion of Papua Province and Papua Special Autonomy at Karang Tumaritis Market, Nabire, Thursday (31/3/2022). However, some of the participants in the same demonstration managed to deliver a statement of their position at the Office of the Regional People's Legislative Assembly or DPRD Nabire. The demonstration in Nabire followed the call for the Papuan People's Petition (PRP), a petition that garnered support from the Papuan people to reject Papua's Special Autonomy Volume 2, and to demand the right of self-determination for the Papuan people. PRP is supported by 116 grassroots movement organizations, youth, students, communities/paguyuban. There are at least 718,179 Papuan people who have expressed their support for the Papuan People's Petition. Since last week, the Papuan People's Petition has called for simultaneous demonstrations to reject Papua's Special Autonomy, the plan for the expansion of Papua, and to demand the right to self-determination. The PRP's appeal called for a demonstration to be held on April 1, 2022, but the demonstration in Nabire took place earlier on Thursday. The participants of the demonstration gathered in a number of locations since 09.00 WP. Oktovianus Tabuni said that since Thursday morning, residents who will take part in the action have gathered in four different locations. The four locations are Pasar Karang Tumaritis Nabire, in front of the Satya Wiyata Mandala (Uswin) Nabire University campus, in front of the Jepara II Wadio Hotel, and the SP1 Nabire intersection. “The crowd that gathered at Wadio, in front of the Jepara II Hotel and at the Uswim campus, disbanded, because there were so few people who joined there. They then joined the crowd that had gathered at the Nabire DPRD office, which was located in Kali Bobo. Meanwhile, there were many who gathered at the SP1 intersection, and had a chance to have a dialogue with the police because they asked the Nabire DPRD members to be presented to accept the aspirations of the Papuan People's Petition, "said Tabuni. Demonstrations also took place at the Karang Tumaritis Market. According to Tabuni, members of the Nabire DPRD, Sambena Inggeruhi and Cahaya Tambroni, had time to meet the protesters at the Karang Tumaritis Market. “Members of the Nabire DPRD, Sambena Inggeruhi and Cahaya Tambroni, were present at the Karang Market to receive their aspirations. However, the coordinator of the action [at Karang Tumaritis Market] rejected the DPRD members, because the masses asked to march as well as read their aspirations directly at the Nabire DPRD office,” said Tabuni. However, the police refused the request, and forbade the masses at Karang Tumaritis Market to march to the Nabire DPRD office. “When the crowd was about to walk, there was chaos after the police tried to arrest the coordinator of the action and kick the demonstrators. There was a commotion and chaos at the Karang Tumarits Nabire Market,” said Tabuni. Tabuni said police then fired tear gas and warning shots. Tabuni said he received information that three to five people were arrested by the police, including the coordinator of the action at the Karang Tumaritis Market, and were being interrogated at the Nabire Police Headquarters. Although the demonstrators at Karang Tumaritis Market were dispersed by the police, Tabuni said the demonstration of the Papuan People's Petition at the Nabire DPRD Office was peaceful. "The protesters at the Nabire DPRD office have read their statement," said Tabuni. Limiting the rights of Tabuni residents to criticize the police for preventing Nabire residents from joining the Papuan People's Petition demonstration. He reminded that the freedom to express opinions in public is the right of every citizen guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution. “The police also fired shots, that was a bad treatment. It should be the mass police who want to join the masses in the Nabire DPRD, in trucks so they don't get into chaos," said Tabuni. Separately, the Director of the Papuan Legal Aid Institute, Emanuel Gobay, stated that the demonstration of the Papuan People's Petition in Karang Tumaritis Nabire became chaotic because the police tried to arrest one of the coordinators of the action. He asked the Nabire Police Chief to take action against the police who came to the crowd and tried to arrest the coordinator of the action, because this action made the crowd angry and caused chaos. "[There was a policeman who] pulled one of the participants in the action. And [there was] a police officer who kicked the protester and beat him," said Gobay. General. The action of the police kicking and hitting demonstrators also fulfills the criminal element of beating as stipulated in Article 170 of the Criminal Code.
The demonstration by the Nabire Student and Papuan People's Solidarity (SMRP) was forcibly dispersed by the police, Thursday [31/3/2022] The video footage showing the repressive actions of the security forces has gone viral on social media. In the video, the action of Papuan students and people in Nabire withdraws the Special Autonomy and rejects the DOB. The gathering point for the coral market is disbanded with gunfire and tear gas. It was seen that 2 people were arrested by armed violence apparatus, while the protesters took shelter in the market and in the market aisles. Police in full force while firing shots conducted a search inside the Karang market. Disbanded due to pandemic reasons According to the information compiled by Kabar Mapegaa, the demonstration by hundreds of Solidatitas students and the Papuan people was initially peaceful. Not long after, the police asked the students and the Papuan people who were holding the demonstration in Karang Tumaritis to immediately disperse. The reason is that the crowd action carried out is considered to have the potential to cause the transmission of Covid-19. However, the warnings of disbandment by the police were not heeded by the mass action of students and the Papuan people. The actions of the Papuan students and people who were still holding out at the location were finally forced to disperse with firearms and tear gas during the forced dispersal. The mass action of the Papuan Students and People who tried to survive was finally carried out by repressive actions by the police. Two people from the mass protest were reportedly arrested by armed violence officers Police do an evaluation After the video showing the police's repressive actions against Papuan students and people went viral on social media, Nabire Police Chief AKBP I Ketut Suarnaya, S.I.K., S.H, spoke up. Suarnaya admitted that he regretted the repressive actions taken by his members. Moreover, previously the members had been ordered to act humanely in carrying out security. Therefore, his party will conduct an internal evaluation and are ready to take firm action against the guilty members. "There are still unscrupulous people's behavior, of course we will take firm action," said Suarnya.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 14, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 18, 2022
- Event Description
Human rights groups the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), and 23 organisations condemn the judicial harassment of human rights defenders Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti.
‘We call on the police to put an end to the judicial harassment of Fatia and Haris for sharing the research conducted by civil society. The Indonesian government must fulfill its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and its Constitution that safeguards freedom of expression and opinion,’ FORUM-ASIA said.
On 18 March, Fatia and Haris were named suspects in an alleged defamation case filed by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, after they revealed the Minister’s controversial involvement in business operations in the gold mining sector in Papua Province’s Intan Jaya Regency[1]. The following day, Fatia and Haris were summoned by the police for questioning.
Luhut filed a criminal and civil lawsuit for IDR 100 billion (USD 7 million) against the human rights activists last year, which stemmed from an investigative report Haris posted on YouTube, mentioning Luhut. The Minister cited the Electronic Information and Transaction Law, an ambiguous law that criminalises free speech in the country.
The report divulged that Luhut was affiliated with PT Madinah Qurrata’ain, a mining company, which holds the Derewo River Gold Project in Intan Jaya Regency. Luhut is a shareholder of PT Toba Sejahtera, whose subsidiary PT Tobacom Del Mandiri or PT Tambang Raya Sejahtra is said to have acquired a 30 per cent stake in PT Madinah Qurrata’ain[2]. Intan Jaya Regency is a conflict-ridden area in Papu. Frequent clashes between the Indonesian security forces and armed groups in the area have resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians and displaced thousands of residents.
Given this alarming development, it is likely that an arrest warrant could be issued against Fatia and Haris at any time. This is not the first time Fatia and Haris were targeted by state forces over charges filed by Luhut. Early this year, police officers arrived to fetch Fatia and Haris at their respective houses for interrogation[3]. FORUM-ASIA and many organisations denounced Luhut’s judicial harassment of Fatia and Haris, which clearly aimed to silence the activists.
The plight of Fatia and Haris highlights the country’s trend of repressing human rights defenders for holding public servants accountable within Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s government. Last August, Presidential Office Chief of Staff Moeldoko filed a defamation complaint against two activists of the Indonesian Corruption Watch for exposing Moeldoko’s involvement in racketeering the government’s Ivermectin rollout and rice export program.[4]
‘We urge the Indonesian government to immediately drop the charges against Fatia, Haris, and other activists and cease any efforts by public officials to criminalise the fair criticisms of human rights defenders and civil society organisations. Cases like these further erode the country’s civic space landscape and deteriorate the country’s compliance with international human rights standards. Despite these threats, we will continue to monitor the performance of public officials and call them out for their wrongdoings,’ said the groups.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Indonesia: NGO staff issued legal warning for reporting army involvement in gold mining business
- Date added
- Mar 31, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 9, 2021
- Event Description
Mahasiswa di Aceh Barat yang hendak menggelar demonstrasi peringatan Hari Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) di depan Gedung Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Kabupaten (DPRK) setempat, dibubarkan kepolisian, Kamis (9/12). Pembubaran itu berujung ricuh.
Enam mahasiswa yang tergabung dalam Gerakan Rakyat Menggugat (GERAM) diduga dipukul polisi. Satu orang terpaksa Dirawat ke rumah sakit.
Kabid Humas Polda Aceh Kombes Pol Winardy, mengatakan aksi mahasiswa tersebut terpaksa dibubarkan karena dilakukan pada malam hari, dan dinilai sudah melanggar Undang-Undang Nomor 9 Tahun 1998 Tentang Penyampaian Pendapat di Muka Umum.
Dia menyebut, sebelum langkah tegas itu dilakukan, polisi telah terlebih dahulu memberi imbauan agar mereka tidak melakukan aksi di malam hari. Namun imbauan ini disebut tak digubris.
"Sebelumnya telah diberikan imbauan oleh pihak Polres Aceh Barat kepada Korlapnya untuk tidak melakukan aksi pada malam hari karena menyalahi aturan. Namun, mereka tidak mengindahkan dan terpaksa diambil langkah tegas untuk dibubarkan," kata Winardy, Jumat (10/12).
Winardy membenarkan saat pembubaran, sempat terjadi aksi saling dorong sehingga salah satu peserta aksi terjatuh dan dilarikan ke UGD rumah sakit.
"Namun, menurut keterangan dokter piket siaga UGD, yang bersangkutan (peserta aksi) dalam keadaan sehat serta tidak ditemukan luka memar," ujarnya.
Winardy mengklaim, aksi saling dorong itu terjadi karena adanya upaya provokasi dari peserta aksi. "Sempat ada upaya provokasi dari kalangan peserta aksi. Namun, berkat profesionalitas petugas di lapangan hal itu bisa diatasi dan aksi ujuk rasa berhasil dibubarkan," ujarnya.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 1, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 2, 2021
- Event Description
Pihak kepolisian menetapkan 8 mahasiswa Papua pengibar bendera Bintang Kejora di GOR Cenderawasih, Papua sebagai tersangka. Mereka disebut melakukan dugaan tindak pidana makar dan tengah menjalani pemeriksaan.
Koordinator Litigasi Koalisi Penegak Hukum dan HAM Papua, Emanuel Gobay mengatakan bahwa informasi tersebut diterima dari Kepala Unit 1 Reskirim Polda Papua. Saat ini ia mendampingi 8 orang mahasiswa tersebut.
"8 mahasiswa pengibar bendera bintang kejora di Gor Cendewarasih Jayapura telah dinaikan statusnya menjadi tersangka atas dugaan tindak pidana makar," kata Emanuel dalam keterangan tertulisnya, Kamis (2/12/2021).
Emanuel mengabarkan 2 mahasiswa saat ini tengah menjalani pemeriksaan. Sementara 6 orang lainnya tengah menunggu proses pemeriksaan.
Ditangkap Polisi
Sebelumnya 8 mahasiswa itu ditangkap polisi karena melakukan pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora di halaman GOR Cenderawasih, Jayapura pada Rabu (1/12/2021). Lokasinya terletak di samping Markas Polda Papua.
Mereka mengibarkan bendera Bintang Kejora pada 1 Desember 2021. Tanggal itu merupakan hari kemerdekaan rakyat Papua Barat setelah melawan penjajah.
Namun tanggal yang sama juga dikenal sebagai hari ulang tahun OPM.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 28, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2021
- Event Description
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Papua menyampaikan sedikitnya 26 warga ditangkap aparat kepolisian saat memperingati 60 tahun deklarasi kemerdekaan bangsa Papua pada 1 Desember.
Direktur LBH Papua, Emanuel Gobay menyebut dari 26 warga tersebut, tujuh orang merupakan mahasiswa dari Jayapura dan 19 orang lainnya pemuda serta tokoh di Merauke. Salah satu yang ditangkap adalah Pejuang Papua dari Distrik One Kampung KW Kabupaten Merauke, Paulina Imumbar.
"Tujuh mahasiswa Papua yang ditangkap di Jayapura, 19 Pemuda dan orang tua yang ditahan di Merauke," kata Emanuel kepada CNNIndonesia.com, Rabu (1/12).
Emanuel menjelaskan, ketujuh mahasiswa ditangkap saat aksi long march mulai dari Gedung Olahraga Jayapura menuju Markas Komando Kepolisian Daerah Papua. Sementara itu, kata dia, 19 orang lainnya ditangkap setelah viral Video Paulina Imumbar di media sosial.
"Kalau 19 di Merauke karena ada video yang viral terkait keterangan mama Paulina yang isinya juga ada kaitannya dengan tanggal 1. Sementara 7 di Jayapura karena aksi tanggal 1," jelas dia.
Emanuel mengatakan warga yang ditahan tersebut sampai saat ini masih didampingi oleh pihaknya, PAHAM Papua dan Koalisi Penegak Hukum dan HAM Papua.
Terpisah, Direktur Reserse Kriminal Umum Polda Papua Kombes Faisal Ramdhani membenarkan tujuh orang telah ditangkap di Gedung Olahraga (GOR) Cendrawasih.
Namun, pihaknya belum bisa membeberkan identas ketujuh orang tersebut karena masih dalam proses pemeriksaan.
"Tujuh orang yang kami amankan. [Identitas] Nanti masih diperiksa," kata Faisal saat dikonfirmasi, Rabu (1/12).
Faisal membantah penangkapan itu kaena perayaan HUT 1 Desember. Ia menyebut, ketujuh mahasiswa itu ditangkap lantaran membentangkan bendera bintang kejora.
"Bukan [karena HUT], mereka membentangkan bendera bintang kejora," ucapnya.
Sementara itu, 19 orang lainnya belum bisa dikonfirmasi.
Momentum 1 Desember dianggap sebagai Hari Kemerdekaan bagi rakyat Papua sejalan dengan pengakuan kemerdekaan oleh pemerintahan Belanda pada 1961 silam.
Namun, upaya kemerdekaan Papua kemudian terganjal oleh perjanjian New York Agreement pada 15 Agustus 1962. Perjanjian tersebut dibuat tanpa pelibatan masyarakat asli Papua.
Aksi unjuk rasa 1 Desember memperingati hari puncak peringatan Hari Ulang Tahun (HUT) Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) di Ambon, Maluku berlangsung ricuh di depan Gong Perdamaian Dunia, Ambon Maluku, Rabu (1/12)
Pantauan CNNIndonesia.com, mulanya sekitar 24 mahasiswa Papua menggelar aksi unjuk rasa di Depan Gong Perdamaian Funia, Kota Ambon, Maluku pukul 10.00 WIT. Aksi unjuk rasa HUT OPM itu sempat mendapat izin aparat kepolisian. Namun hanya diberikan waktu aksi hanya satu jam saja. Mereka membentangkan spanduk bertulisan Peringatan 60 Tahu Deklarasi Kemerdekaan West Papua.
Ada beberapa aspirasi lain yang disampaikan yakni Demiliterasi, Cabut Perpanjangan Otsus serta Tolak Lumbung Ikan Nasional dan Sahkan RUU Penghapusan Kekerasan Seksual.
Sejumlah anggota Polresta Ambon yang mengawal aksi 1 Desember HUT OPM lalu meminta mahasiswa untuk membubarkan diri usai waktu yang diberikan telah habis.
Namun, demonstran menolak permintaan polisi soal menyudahi aksi tersebut. Mereka tetap menyuarakan aspirasinya. Kericuhan pun terjadi. Sejumlah polisi berpakaian preman menarik seorang massa aksi yang bukan warga Papua.
Massa lantas memberikan perlindungan terhadap rekan mereka. Di sisi lain, anggota kepolisian tetap berusaha menarik seseorang yang ikut demonstrasi tersebut.
Hingga kemudian, massa berhasil mengevakuasi rekan mereka ke dalam mobil angkutan umum. Namun, anggota kepolisian berpakaian bebas kembali menariknya.
Massa lalu berupaya menyelamatkan rekannya. Setelah ditarik keluar dari mobil angkutan umum, seorang yang menjadi incaran aparat lalu berlari menjauhi lokasi.
Ada beberapa orang yang memukulinya. Namun, kepolisian mengklaim warga yang melakukan pemukulan.
"Ada empat orang bukan warga Papua ikut aksi demo, tadi yang pukul itu warga," kata seorang intel dari Polsek Sirimau, Rabu (1/12).
Sejauh ini, massa berhasil mengamankan rekan mereka dari aparat kepolisian.
- Impact of Event
- 26
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 28, 2022
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 4, 2022
- Event Description
Authorities in Hong Kong arrested a veteran rights activist known for carrying coffins at protests for "subversion," after he announced he would protest outside the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s Central Liaison Office in the city on the first day of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Friday.
Koo Sze Yiu, 75, was arrested under a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the CCP, on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power," a charge that carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
He was arrested by national security police at 6.00 a.m., and is being held at Cheung Sha Wan police station for questioning, local media reported.
Police also brought in four fellow activists for questioning in connection with Koo's case, including veteran activist Lui Yuk-lin.
Koo was a colorful and regular feature of the regular and peaceful mass protests that once took place regularly in Hong Kong, before a city-wide crackdown on "illegal" public assembly in the wake of the 2019 protest movement.
Koo, who has stage four colorectal cancer, has been arrested and jailed several times already since the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, including for "desecrating the national flag" in July 2020.
Meanwhile, more than 10 police vehicles and dozens of uniformed and plainclothes officers were deployed outside Beijing's liaison office, with roadblocks on the approaches to the building on Des Voeux Road West and Connaught Road West.
Many bore armbands delineating them as "Special Police," including fire department and immigration officers.
Koo's arrest came after he issued a news release on Thursday announcing his plan to protest outside the Central Liaison Office on Friday, "raising and sending off a coffin to celebrate the Winter Olympics ... and the national security law."
League of Social Democrats (LSD) spokesman Dickson Chau said he had no idea the arrest would take place.
"[This shows that] they don't just expect Hong Kong to take the same strict COVID-19 prevention measures as the rest of China; they also want zero leniency when it comes to dissidents," Chau told RFA.
"This is a higher-level of stability maintenance and a higher-level alert," he said.
He said the next six months would likely see no let-up.
"We have Xi Jinping seeking a third term and the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China," he said. "Dissenting voices will definitely be eliminated."
Opinion pollster Chung Kim-wah said a political boycott of the Olympics over the CCP's rights record in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, as well as its growing military threats against the democratic island of Taiwan, had made the Olympics a "much more sensitive international issue."
"Beijing is in an embarrassing situation with this Winter Olympics, because so many countries are staging political boycotts," Chung told RFA. "I think the Hong Kong government is working right along with those concerns in Beijing, and so they won't tolerate any negative voices on the subject."
"[That's why] they are taking decisive action against Koo, as a deterrent, to act as a clear warning to people not to try anything in the next couple of weeks," he said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Hong Kong protesters and rights campaigners took to the streets of central London on Thursday night to call for sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for rights abuses in Hong Kong, including the city's leader, Carrie Lam.
Shouting "Shame on China! Free Tibet! Free East Turkestan! Free Hong Kong!" the protesters staged an "alternative" Olympics opening ceremony at Picadilly Circus, some of them dressed as Winnie the Pooh, in a satirical dig at Xi Jinping, while others brought effigies of tanks and the Olympic five rings, and others played out a sketch in which International Olympics Committee president Thomas Bach presented a gold medal to Xi for "human rights violations."
Ruling Conservative Party member Nusrat Ghani, who has been sanctioned by Beijing for speaking out against the mass incarceration of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, warned that the CCP will use the Winter Olympics to "whitewash evil deeds", and called on the international community to take notice of the repression suffered by Hong Kong, the persecution of Tibetans, and the genocide of Uyghurs.
"No one can deny what is happening against the Uyghur people. The crime of all crimes: genocide," she said. "No to the genocide Olympic Games!"
MP Lord Alton told the rally, to cheers: "We have to sanction those who have committed these crimes, whether in Xinjiang or Hong Kong. I have Carrie Lam on my list. Sanction Carrie Lam!"
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 27, 2022
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Jan 16, 2022
- Event Description
The Taliban’s violent crackdown on a women’s rights demonstration in Kabul last weekend marks an alarming and unlawful escalation of efforts to suppress peaceful protest and free speech in Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch spoke with two protesters and a witness and reviewed video footage of the incident.
Armed Taliban members were already present when women gathered at a planned meeting place on January 16, reinforcing organizers’ fears that the authorities had infiltrated their communications. Some fled when they saw the Taliban, but about 25 women started marching to Kabul University as planned. Taliban members pointed firearms at the marchers, threatening and insulting them, calling them “puppets of the West” and “whores.” One protester said Taliban members also assaulted bystanders filming the protest and took their phones, which an AFP reporter confirmed.
As the protesters reached Kabul University, a larger Taliban group was waiting in pickup trucks and surrounded the women. Two protesters told Human Rights Watch that Taliban members used an electric device to shock one of them and other protesters. As the protesters tried to escape the Taliban encirclement, they were sprayed with a chemical substance such as pepper spray that caused severe irritation of their skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. A protester said she was still experiencing coughing and painful skin irritation 24 hours later. She said Taliban members hit her and physically assaulted other protesters. They followed some of the protesters as they began to make their way home.
Since taking over Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the Taliban have rolled back the rights of women and girls, including blocking access to education and employment for many. Women’s rights activists have staged a series of protests; the Taliban has responded by banning unauthorized protests.
International human rights law protects the right of peaceful assembly and requires authorities at all levels to facilitate such assemblies and avoid unnecessary or disproportionate restrictions on them. International standards prohibit the use of unnecessary or excessive force against protesters. The United Nations “Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement” says that electrical weapons and chemical irritants should not be used in situations of purely passive resistance to orders from officials.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Vilification, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 1, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 18, 2022
- Event Description
Regarding today’s forced summons of human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said:
The harassment of Fatia and Haris earlier today reflects the Indonesian government’s continuous use of reprisals against human rights defenders. Approximately 8:00 am, five police officers arrived at Fatia’s residence, and another four arrived at Haris’ house to pick them up for interrogation. This stems from charges filed last year by the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan against the two over comments regarding a report alleging the involvement of army officials with the operations of the gold mining sector in Papua.
The unexpected police presence at their respective homes is clearly an intimidation against these defenders, and sends out a message that defenders will be targeted for exposing corruption or rights violations.
We call on the police to immediately end the criminalisation of these two defenders. The Government of Indonesia must instead ensure protection of human rights defenders who hold state actors accountable, and halt any misuse of litigation by authorities, businesses, and other sectors.
Indonesia as a democracy must be committed towards the implementation of laws and policies that protect freedom of expression, and it must respect the rights of its people to share critical or dissenting views to hold the government accountable.
About Fatia and Haris Fatia Maulidiyanti is the Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). Haris Azhar is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Lokataru Foundation.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Related Events
- Indonesia: NGO staff issued legal warning for reporting army involvement in gold mining business, Indonesia: NGO workers face defamation charges (Update)
- Date added
- Jan 19, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 25, 2021
- Event Description
"They are abusing Babasaheb Ambedkar, they are abusing me, threatening to assault and rape me. It's become difficult to go outside my house. It is easy for them to attack me because I am a Dalit woman and they feel they can do anything to me."
Meena Kotwal
Journalist Meena Kotwal has been facing a relentless barrage of death threats and rape threats ever since she posted a video on social media of her burning the Manusmriti on 25 December 2021. She claims that those making the threat calls identified themselves as members of the VHP, Bajrang Dal, and Karni Sena.
Kotwal tells The Quint, "I have said nothing wrong in the video. The Manusmriti contains a lot of anti-women and anti-Dalit content. Babasaheb Ambedkar had also burned the Manusmriti, on 25 December 1927. Since then, Ambedkarites have been observing the day as Manusmriti Dahan Divas." "Every year, lakhs of people burn a symbolic image of the Manusmriti as an act of resistance. I have done the same, but I am being constantly abused for it. I think it is because I am a Dalit woman who is vocal about the rights and issues of the community."
Meena Kotwal, journalist
Following a complaint by Kotwal, the Delhi Police have registered an FIR on the threats against her, under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and two sections of the IPC (criminal intimidation and intention to insult the modesty of a woman). ‘They Threatened That I Will Suffer the Same Fate as Gauri Lankesh’
"Those threatening me are calling and telling me that I will suffer the same fate as slain journalist Gauri Lankesh. I am a journalist, my work is on the field. But the way these people have been threatening me, I am worried that they may physically attack me. "
Meena Kotwal
Kotwal adds, "If they try to fight me legally, I am ready for that. If they wish to register an FIR or a case against me, I am ready for that because I have not done anything wrong. I request the police and the government to provide me security arrangements because anything untoward could happen, at any time."
On December 30, 2021, Ms. Kotwal filed a complaint with the Ambedkar Nagar Police Station in New Delhi, with details of the numbers she was being threatened and abused from and enclosing screenshots of the abuses and threats. The SHO of the Ambedkar Nagar police station Mr. Mukesh Kumar Moga asked the Sub inspector Mr. Bansi Lal to file Ms. Kotwal’s complaint. According to her the SI Mr. Lal made her sit for a long time and advised her on not to do such things instead of filing her complaint. On her saying that she needs the receipt of the FIR, he said that it will take time. Ms. Kotwal said that she will meet the DCP and return to take the paperwork for the FIR. After she submitted a copy of the complaint to the Addl. DCP South West Delhi Ms. Benita Mary Jaiker, she was told that her FIR will be filed in the Ambedkar Nagar Police Station. She went back there but an FIR based on her complaint was not filed and since then she has been running pillar to post to get her FIR filed. According to the guidelines issued by the Delhi Police, a woman can lodge a complaint via email or registered post or even send a written complaint through an email or registered post addressed to a senior police officer of the level of Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. The officer then directs the SHO of the police station, of the area where the incident occurred, to conduct proper verification of the complainant and lodge an FIR. The police can then come over to the residence of the victim to take her statement. The FIR has to be filed and then an investigation takes place. However, so far no FIR has been lodged on Ms. Kotwal’s complaint. We fear that this apathy of the police is a sign of indifference and negligence of the Delhi Police towards crimes against Dalits, specially Dalit women, who often face apathy and hostility towards them in a police station. We are shocked that the FIR based on the complaint of a Dalit WHRD was not filed despite her repeated attempts. This inaction of the Delhi police has put the Dalit WHRD in grave danger from the death threats she is getting.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Media Worker, Minority rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 16, 2022
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Dec 23, 2021
- Event Description
Two students have been injured in a clash between locals, students and police at Ring Road on December 23, 2021, after a student was killed after being hit by a truck on the highway in Lalbandi Municipality-9.
Dipendra Yadav, 16, a student of Janajyoti Secondary School in Chandannagar Rural Municipality-1, Ratanpur, was hit by a truck (Na 3 Kha 7990) at Lalbandi Municipality-9, Bastipur on the East-West Highway on December 20.
According to DSP Madhav Prasad Budhathoki of the District Police Office, two students were injured while they were protesting for justice for their friend who had died in the accident.
Ram Kishore Kumar Sah, 15, of Lalbandi Municipality-2, and Sikindra Kumar Yadav, 16, of Chandranagar Rural Municipality-1, Ratanpur, sustained injuries on their head and fractured their right leg. They were taken to Model Hospital, Lalbandi for further treatment informed Chandra Kishore Yadav, a student of Grade nine of Janajyoti Secondary School.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 12, 2022
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 23, 2021
- Event Description
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of Muhammad Asrul, a journalist in central Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province who has been sentenced to three months in prison in a defamation case which, under Indonesian law, should have been treated as a civil matter. The prosecution must drop the case and let him be acquitted on appeal, RSF says.
A reporter for the Berita News website who investigated alleged local corruption, Muhammad Asrul was convicted on 23 November by a court in the city of Palopo of criminal defamation under section 27.3 of the “Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik” Law (Electronic Information and Transactions Law) – usually referred to as the “ITE Law.”
He was convicted in connection with a three-part story in May 2019 about alleged embezzlement by local officials in three building projects – repairs to a hydro-electric dam, the revitalisation of the Palopo Pancasila industrial zone and construction of a bypass west of the city.
Acquittal on appeal
The complaint was brought by the Palopo mayor’s son, Farid Kisam Judas, who was named in the articles. He filed criminal charges on 17 December 2019 accusing Asrul of defamation and inciting hatred. The police arrested Asrul six weeks later, on 29 January 2020, without allowing him access to a lawyer, and he was held for 36 days, until Indonesia’s Press Council, known as the “Dewan Pers,” intervened and obtained his conditional release. But the local prosecutor’s office pursued its criminal investigation.
“Muhammad Asrul’s three-month prison sentence violates the basic principles of press freedom as proclaimed in the Republic of Indonesia’s fundamental laws,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk. “We call on the Palopo prosecutor’s office to immediately drop their unjustified case against this journalist so that he can be released and acquitted on appeal. He should never have been brought before a criminal court because this kind of complaint should be handled as a civil matter, as the ‘Dewan Pers’ has maintained.”
Civil jurisdiction denied
The Press Council, which issued a statement condemning the Palopo court’s decision, can itself act as mediator in a defamation complaint against a journalist by someone named in a media report. The Press Council’s competence in this case was nonetheless denied by the prosecutor’s office, which claimed that Berita News was not registered as a media outlet when Asrul’s articles were published and that this therefore justified treating the matter as a criminal case.
The ITE Law is often used by local officials in Indonesia to harass journalists whose reporting annoys them. Diananta Putra Sumedi, a local website editor in South Kalimantan province, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison under the ITE Law in 2020 for his coverage of the allegedly illegal seizure of land from an indigenous group by a huge palm oil company with accomplices within the local government. The Press Council’s role in this case was also overridden by the local prosecutor’s office, as RSF reported at the time.
Indonesia is ranked 113th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 11, 2022
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2021
- Event Description
After a journalist died under interrogation today and three others were arrested in the past few days, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the international community to condemn the escalation in terror against reporters covering the news in Myanmar and to implement targeted sanctions against the generals running the country.
Freelance photographer Soe Naing has become the first journalist to pay with his life for trying to report the news. After being detained for four days, he was declared dead this morning as a result of the force used during interrogation. He was arrested by soldiers while covering a silent street protest in the Yangon district of Latha on 10 December to mark Human Rights Day.
Zaw Tun, a freelance photographer who works for various media outlets, was arrested at the same time as Soe Naing. Several sources including a relative told RSF that Soe Naing’s body was handed over to his family this morning. Zaw Tun continues to be held.
Alarm signal
“With Soe Naing’s death, a new tragic threshold has been crossed this morning in the terror that Myanmar’s military are using against journalists,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk. “His death must serve as an alarm signal and push the international community to impose new targeted sanctions on the military junta that has been running the country since February, starting with its chief, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. The world can no longer look on without doing something.”
Two other reporters were arrested two days ago, on 12 December, in yet another sign of the ever-harsher crackdown on media personnel throughout the country.
One was Democratic Voice of Burma reporter Aung San Lin, who was arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night at his home in Pin Zen, a village in Wetlet, a district near the big northern city of Mandalay. RSF has been told that his arrest was a reprisal for his recent report about soldiers deliberately starting fires in order to target pro-democracy activists.
57 journalists detained
The other was Min Theik Tun, who was arrested a few hours later along with 11 other persons while covering a protest in Monywa, a town 100 km west of Mandalay, for a regional news agency, according to the Mizzima News website. Neither he nor Aung San Lin were able to talk with a relative or a lawyer.
RSF began sounding the alarm about the latest escalation in the persecution of journalists in Myanmar last week, after the violent arrests of two Myanmar Pressphoto Agency journalists, Kaung Sett Lin and Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, on 5 December. The latter, who was badly injured when arrested, is still in a serious condition, according to the latest information.
According to RSF’s press freedom violations barometer, which is constantly updated, at least 57 journalists are currently imprisoned in Myanmar.
Myanmar is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index that RSF published in early 2021.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Death, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to life
- HRD
- Artist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 11, 2022
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Dec 31, 2021
- Event Description
Police have detained at least eight NagaWorld union members on the evening of December 31, nearly two weeks after the casino workers’ union initiated a strike against alleged unfair dismissals and violations of the Labor Law.
Hundreds of terminated and active NagaWorld workers have been striking and protesting the termination of more than 1,300 workers, with one of the main demands being the reinstatement of around 300 workers who have refused to accept termination packages from the casino behemoth.
Phnom Penh Police chief Sar Thet confirmed Friday evening that at least eight union members were detained by the authorities, four of whom are being charged with incitement to cause chaos – an oft-used charge to target dissent in the country. The eight unioninsts include Chhim Sokhorn, who is a senior union leader.
Thet and labor group Central confirmed that union president Chhim Sithar was not one of the arrested unionists, despite her expressing concerns over imminent arrests.
“The ministry has opened negotiations for a solution, and authorities had called on them not to hold an illegal demonstration but they have not listened,” Thet said, adding that they routinely protested on public streets.
Sithar, the union’s president, said that the eight were arrested from the union’s office in Chamkarmon district.
“They surrounded [the office] quietly and arrested them at the union office. The [members] might not know because when it gets dark it gets more dangerous,” Sithar said.
“I am the one that they are mainly searching for. This is a threat to the right to expression, especially when they are leaders representing in the negotiations with NagaWorld.”
She said despite more than 10 days since negotiations began, there was no solution for the workers, but now authorities were arresting union members.
Negotiations among the Labor Ministry, NagaWorld representatives and the union have been at a standstill after the casino said last week its board would consider reinstating the laid-off staffers, according to a unionist.
Naly Pilorge, Licadho’s director, said there was no need to arrest the unionists and the casino company should work to resolve the dispute with workers.
“The authorities should release all detained union activists, who have done nothing wrong and have only peacefully advocated for their colleagues’ labor rights,” Pilorge said. “NagaWorld must work with the union to resolve the workers’ demands and comply with the Labor Law.”
Around 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, striking casino workers began holding each other’s hands as they faced down a team of an estimated 100 uniformed police officers.
Already, eight workers, including senior union leaders, had been arrested that evening from their union offices.
The protesters were now being prevented from leaving an area to the west of the casinos to go home, as authorities attempted to make further arrests.
“We are holding each other’s hands to prevent them from [more] arrests,” said Re Thearath. “They’re in pursuit of arresting people who have held the microphones.”
Around 9:30 p.m., police arrested a ninth worker, Touch Sereymeas, from in front of NagaWorld 2. Sereymeas had previously been misidentified as a Japanese agent in an anonymous Facebook page widely shared through government-aligned media channels.
About 150 workers remained near the Chuon Nath roundabout.
They were wary as reporters approached. “News media have distorted us a lot, especially Fresh News. They exaggerate and we are afraid of them distorting us,” Thearath said, referring to a news website that regularly serves as a government mouthpiece.
Some workers claimed that some plain-clothed officers had joined the protest pretending to be strikers, acting erratically and violently.
Around 11 p.m., more than 100 military police officers with riot shields and truncheons arrived on military trucks. Some of the soldiers carried assault rifles.
The workers were huddled near the entrance to the Phnom Penh Center, gradually moving south on Sothearos Blvd.
“We will still continue to demand justice in front of NagaWorld,” said a protester, Chhoun Sam An, despite the night’s turmoil. “We come here to protest because of the suffering, and we come from our heart.”
At midnight the workers dispersed. They said they had been successful in preventing the arrest of a 10th worker by banding together.
NagaCorp, to which the government has given a decadeslong monopoly license to operate in the capital, fired 1,300 workers last year amid major Covid-19 disruptions. Among the workers targeted for termination, however, were all top union leaders and representatives. Workers and labor groups have argued that this amounts to illegal union busting.
Around 300 workers are still contesting their terminations and pushing for reinstatement, and at one point last week the daily protests outside the casinos swelled to around 1,000 participants. Negotiations have largely stalled.
“How can they say we do it illegally, since we follow the law and procedures,” Sam An said of the strike. Workers had informed authorities, she said — though the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has deemed it illegal. “What about NagaWorld, which breached the law and silenced the union — [let’s see] whether any ministry takes any action.”
Phnom Penh police chief Sar Thet confirmed several of the arrests last night and accused the protesters of violating public order.
“The ministry has opened negotiations for a solution, and authorities had called on them not to hold an illegal demonstration but they have not listened,” Thet said. A municipal police spokesperson could not be reached on Saturday.
Chhim Sithar, the Naga union’s president who has spoken of her likely arrest, said by phone that she was in the dark about what was happening to her arrested colleagues.
“So far we haven’t gotten through them and we don’t know where they’ve taken them,” Sithar said.
But the workers had known to expect problems, she added. “Even though there were arrests, they will continue to protest until there is a solution.”
In a statement to shareholders last month, NagaCorp said casino operations would continue. “[T]he Board believes that the illegal strike has had no material negative impact on the overall business and operations of the Group.”
At least six NagaWorld union members were presented for questioning before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court Sunday afternoon, according to a local rights group, two days after authorities arrested 10 people in a crackdown on New Year’s Eve.
At least nine people were arrested from the Labor Rights Supporting Union office Friday evening, with the union releasing a statement over the weekend saying a tuk-tuk driver who ferried materials for the union was also arrested on Friday. A 10th individual was arrested outside NagaWorld 2.
The authorities have labeled the 14-day strike as an illegal demonstration, and hundreds of security personnel disrupted the workers’ protest on Friday night.
Am Sam Ath, Licadho’s deputy director for monitoring, said six individuals had been taken to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Sunday and then taken back to municipal police headquarters.
According to Licadho, the six unionists sent to court on Sunday were: Touch Sereymeas, Hai Sopheap, Re Sovandy, Kleang Sobin, Chhim Sokhorn and Sun Sreypich. Sam Ath said the remaining four union members were still at the police headquarters.
Phnom Penh police chief Sar Thet said on Friday that the arrested individuals were being investigated on alleged incitement charges.
The LRSU statement alleged that police had used excessive force during the arrests, surrounded the union’s office with cars, seized documents, and had now blocked the premises.
Ouk Sopheakmolyka, the partner of Touch Sereymeas, said it was disappointing that the authorities acted the way they did because the protest was against a private company and not the government. Sopheakmolyka added that some workers had congregated outside the police headquarters around 3 p.m. but did not stay longer than 60 minutes.
“The authorities are the ones who implement the law but then they abuse the law, and it is unacceptable,” said Sopheakmolyka. “This is sad because this is not a killing or robbery. They just protested about their work but the authorities’ actions against them was as if this was a serious crime and they had killed human beings.”
Sopheakmolyka added that the family was prevented from meeting Sereymeas and were told to deliver items and food when the union member was taken to court.
The LRSU union called for a strike on December 18 months after NagaWorld fired around 1,300 workers amid falling profits during the pandemic. Around 300 workers say they want to be reinstated, including top union leaders who were controversially part of the layoffs.
Chhim Sithar, LRSU’s president and one of the fired workers, said the arrests were aimed at disrupting the strike, but the protest would stop only when there was a fair solution.
“The workers’ nine points have not been solved yet and instead they arrested the [union] representatives, and the protest will not stop unless there is reasonable and acceptable compensation,” she said.
Reporters did not see any protesters outside NagaWorld over the weekend following Friday’s crackdown.
Municipal police spokesperson San Sokseyha has not responded to questions.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Labour rights, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 11, 2022
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Dec 18, 2021
- Event Description
Participants in a 10-hour strike in front of NagaWorld casino dispersed by 5 p.m. on Saturday after authorities barricaded strikers inside the park, though union members vowed to return on Sunday.
Workers started filing out of the park opposite NagaWorld 1, shortly after flatbed trucks with armed security personnel arrived, as seen in a livestream of the strike by labor rights group Central. Local officials continued to speak to union workers and attempted to convince them to leave the spot.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court decision from judge Ros Piseth, which was signed on Thursday but publicized during the strike Saturday morning, determined the strike illegal and threatened active NagaWorld employees on strike with “serious misconduct.” The text was read to strike participants over a sound system earlier in the day, but only resulted in cheers from the striking workers.
The company claimed in the decision that the union’s nine demands are still under deliberation in court and “have never been raised to resolve peacefully,” while also raising concerns about impacts to business and social instability.
According to an unofficial translation by Central, Piseth said that strikes are legal when a party in a labor dispute rejects the decision by the Arbitration Council, but he said the union raised new demands in its decision to strike that were not included in the dispute negotiations. Piseth continued that the union did not sufficiently meet with NagaWorld to prepare for the impact of the strike on its business.
Phnom Penh governor Khoung Sreng released a letter this afternoon once again calling for the strike to cease, this time as a violation of Covid-19 protocol as well as a violation of the law on peaceful demonstrations.
The letter, addressed to seven named union organizers, said that the striking workers failed to give written notice of their plans to demonstrate to provincial and municipal authorities. The Nagaworld union released a letter announcing the strike on November 24.
Authorities began placing barricades around Naga 1, the park in front of the building, and surrounding streets after reading the governor’s letter to strike participants around 2:30 p.m. Guards prevented anyone from entering and leaving, as well as approaching from Preah Sihanouk Blvd at the statue of the revered monk and Khmer dictionary author Chuon Nath.
A union member who requested anonymity confirmed that the strike would proceed tomorrow from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., without commenting on whether they had security concerns.
The same union member told VOD that authorities attempted to arrest union president Chhim Sithar in front of the union’s office early Saturday afternoon.
According to the member, a Tonle Bassac resident, who also happened to be a husband of a union member, was asked by village chief Uch Sam Oeun to monitor Sithar. The resident immediately reported the chief’s comment to Sithar, who left the office. The union member who spoke to VOD stayed to observe the office after Sithar left, and authorities showed up on four motorbikes about 10 minutes after she vacated the office. Sam Oeun showed up shortly after, the union member said, asking about the man he ordered to watch Sithar.
Sithar, who was fired earlier this year in a layoff of more than 1,300 workers, sent a note late Friday night warning that the strike would proceed, even as Phnom Penh City Hall authorities urged the workers to delay their strike.
According to Sithar, the union met with Phnom Penh officials Friday morning, but Nagaworld officials weren’t present. Authorities offered to broker a meeting between the union and the company on December 21 and 27, but authorities would instead speak for the union without allowing workers to talk.
The union held an emergency meeting on Friday evening on whether to accept the city’s proposal and refused, she said.
Among the union’s demands, which were released with a strike notice late last month, they urge Nagaworld to rehire the more than 300 workers who haven’t accepted termination compensation, as well as a recalculation of their layoff pay and benefits to match the standards set in the Labor Law.
The union also asked the company for justice on layoffs and other labor disputes, dating back to a mass layoff of union workers in 2009.
8:25 a.m.
Casino workers’ protests resumed before 7 a.m. Sunday, as authorities put up roadblocks on several locations along Sihanouk Blvd.
The street in front of NagaWorld 1 was completely blocked off, as around 100 workers gathered across the street near NagaWorld 2 and the National Election Committee headquarters, surrounded by dozens of officers and security in suits.
As workers continued to arrive, authorities prevented them from entering from the west past Sothearos Blvd. By around 7.45 a.m. around 100 further workers had gathered on the corner of Phnom Penh Center and began holding up signs and chanting slogans.
Hundreds of workers organized a strike outside the casino’s premises in Phnom Penh, demanding that NagaCorp rehire the more than 300 workers who haven’t accepted termination compensation, and to recalculate their layoff pay and benefits to match the standards set in the Labor Law.
A Phnom Penh court ruled the strike illegal on Thursday, a decision that was made public on Saturday. Local officials also deemed the congregation a violation of Covid-19 protocols and ordered the striking workers leave the park opposite NagaWorld 1. Workers left around 5 p.m. Saturday and said they would return on Sunday.
8:50 a.m.
Around 50 workers are close to NagaWorld 2 at the Chuon Nath roundabout and are now blocked by local authorities and private security guards. To the west on Sothearos Boulevard, more than a 100 workers are continuing their protest outside the Phnom Penh Center and their numbers are growing.
10:10 a.m.
The first major series of rallies since Covid-19 lockdowns continued with high spirits. Most wore red NagaWorld uniforms and white caps that they waved with loud cheers to passing traffic. Through a relatively chilly, overcast morning, workers sat on the grass on the corner of Sothearos and Sihanouk and regularly broke out into chants. Some had “strike” written across their cotton masks.
Inside a corner coffee shop, workers formed a long line for the toilets while others ate noodles and breakfast.
Fired casino worker Ment Kanika said the workers were not happy to be pushed away from protesting in front of NagaWorld.
“We want to be in front of the company to do the strike,” Kanika said. “They don’t want us to be in front of Naga.”
She said the rally would continue all day again until 5 p.m., when they would go home, and prepare to return again tomorrow.
“We’ll continue until we have a solution. We need the union,” she said. “We need stability in our jobs.”
As Kanika spoke, organizers reiterated the workers’ demands over magaphones.
She said it had been a long time since she had seen many of her colleagues, though some had kept in touch online.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has declared the strike illegal, but Kanika said this would not stop her.
“I’m not worried at all because we know what we do and we volunteer to do it. We do it from the heart.”
12:45 p.m.
The NagaWorld union president Chhim Sithar said striking workers were bracing for potential arrests after the municipal court banned the strike on Thursday.
Sithar told VOD on Sunday that employed workers could face disciplinary action from the company starting Monday, while those who don’t work for the casino could face criminal charges. She said she was “sure” there would be arrests.
“We already knew in advance and ready to stand up to fight against this unfair court order,” she said.
She estimated that 1,500 total active and laid off workers were participating in the demonstration. As of noon Sunday, there appeared to be around 300-400 workers at the strike.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Labour rights, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 11, 2022
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 13, 2021
- Event Description
Tipu Sultan, alias Mustafa Kamal, a former student leader at Visva Bharati University and a left-political activist was arrested by West Bengal police in a five-year-old case under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
On Wednesday, the cops in a midnight raid, stormed the house of Tipu Sultan and whisked him away from his residence in Gurupally, Santiniketan in Birbhum district, according to a GroundXero.in report.
Tipu was produced in Jhargram court on Thursday and the court remanded the activist in police custody for seven days.
The family members, activists and several rights organisations condemned the arrest and have alleged that Tipu has been falsely tagged to a five year old case with the sole purpose of harassing and intidiminate him into silence.
When the time of midnight raid and subsequent arrest, Tipu was not given a custody memo as per Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the police did not say where he was being taken or whether he was arrested or not, Groundxero.in reports.
Human rights organisations Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CPDR)- WB, anti-fascist citizen’s forums and student organisations have demanded his immediate release.
Rights groups alleged that the left activist was not produced in court within the mandatory 24 hours of his arrest and the police falsely showed his arrest on 13/10/2021.
“The manner of the arrest of Tipu and slapping of UAPA shows the Mamata Banerjee government is no different from BJP when it comes to dealing with political opponents and dissidents in her state,” read a solidarity statement.
Five year old case
In 2016, Belpahari police had arrested a youth named Jairam Murmu allegedly with a weapon and a poster bearing the Maoist party name. A case was filed against him under the draconian UAPA. However, there was no investigation into the incident from 2016 to 2021. Jairam was released within a year and now he is doing a job.
Tipu’s colleagues and family members allege that his name has been tagged into that “dormant case and he has been arrested now.”
“January 2016! We were college-going kids holding street corners. And weapons? The only weapons we had was our consciousness and the zeal to work for an egalitarian society. Needless to say, these are the weapons they fear the most. As for guns and bombs : none have been seized from him. After an illegal arrest they tagged him in a case that dates back 5 years! The ridiculousness of the charges is limitless,” one of Tipu’s friends said to the news website.
Second arrest
In November 2018, Tipu Sultan was arrested along with three other student leaders by the West Bengal police from Jangalmahal.
The police had claimed that Tipu and friends were “Maoist operatives” and the police recovered “Maoist leaflets” from their possession.
All four were charged under sections 149 (unlawful assembly), 120 (concealing design to commit offence), 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war), 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war), 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.
One year after the arrest, Tipu was released in 2019, as the police couldn’t produce even a chargesheet against him in court.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 30, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 30, 2021
- Event Description
Polisi membubarkan dan menangkap aktivis Papua yang akan melakukan aksi unjuk rasa di depan Kantor Kedutaan Besar Amerika Serikat di Jakarta Pusat, Kamis (30/9/2021) siang. Salah satu peserta aksi, Ambrosius Mulait, mengungkapkan bahwa massa aksi yang berjumlah 17 orang langsung diangkut paksa begitu tiba di depan Kedubes AS. "Kami belum aksi sama sekali, sudah dipaksa naik ke mobil dalmas (pengendalian masyarakat)," kata Ambrosius saat dikonfirmasi, Kamis. Ambrosius juga menyebutkan, polisi melakukan tindakan represif saat mengamankan peserta unjuk rasa dengan menyemprot gas air mata hingga terjadi bentrok fisik. "Ada teman-teman kami yang dapat pukul dari aparat," katanya. Kapolres Jakarta Pusat Kombes Hengki Hariyadi membenarkan ada 17 aktivis Papua yang diamankan. Hengki menyebutkan, petugas kepolisian tak membolehkan aksi unjuk rasa itu karena saat ini Jakarta masih berstatus pemberlakuan pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat (PPKM) level 3 untuk mencegah Covid-19. "Jadi intinya pada saat PPKM level 3 ini bahwa segala kegiatan yang berpotensi menimbulkan kerumunan itu dilarang, dalam hal ini penyampaian pendapat di muka umum ini dilaksanakan mereka tanpa izin, kemudian tanpa rekomendasi dari pihak pengamanan," kata Hengki. Adapun aksi unjuk rasa yang digelar para aktivis Papua ini bertujuan untuk menyampaikan enam tuntutan, yakni:
- Aksi dalam rangka memperingati Roma Agreement yang ke-59.
- Mendesak Presiden Joko Widodo menarik anggota TNI-Polri yang ada di Papua karena membuat situasi masyarakat Papua tidak nyaman
- Bebaskan tahanan politik Victor Yeimo yang mengalami sakit dan ditahan di Mako Brimob Jayapura
- Menolak perpanjangan otsus karena dianggap sudah gagal menyejahterakan masyarakat Papua
- Berikan hak untuk penentuan nasib sendiri (referendum)
- Menolak Rrasisme dan tuntaskan pelanggaran HAM di Papua.
- Impact of Event
- 17
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 25, 2021
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 13, 2021
- Event Description
Mr. John Miran Munda is a well-known labour leader and President of the Jharkhand General Kamgar Union and the Akhil Bhartiya Krantikari Adivasi Mahasabha. A resident of Joda Pokhar area within the limits of Jhinkpani Police Station in West Singhbhum district, he has been raising important issues of public interest such as lack of rehabilitation and compensation for those displaced by the ACC Cement mines and factory in the district, and illegal mining by the company leading to loss of royalty to the state exchequer. Mr. Munda is a trade union activist and has a record of upholding and protecting the rights of marginalised tribal communities.
Background of the incident: In 2008, ACC Cement Limited began operations in West Singhbhum district and owns a cement factory and two limestone mines in that district, which displaced several hundred tribal families in Jhinkpani and Tonto blocks. The Jharkhand General Kamgar Union (JGKU), which has been leading the struggle for recognition of the rights of workers and tribal communities residing in the area since 2009, alleges that the company did not compensate land losers or provide them with jobs, routinely violated laws and legal provisions and engaged in illegal mining. As JGKU’s president, Mr. Munda had organised and participated in numerous peaceful rallies and agitations during this period, and met senior government functionaries as part of various delegations. He was also arrested and imprisoned on several occasions, most recently in March 2020, after the local police and factory administration filed fabricated cases against him. In recent months, media reports indicate that limestone reserves in ACC Cement’s existing mines in the district have been fast depleting, and the company was keen to acquire the lease for another mine. The JGKU and the Akhil Bhartiya Krantikari Adivasi Mahasabha (ABKAM) strongly opposed this move, and wrote to various government authorities highlighting the company’s record of flouting various laws and government orders and sought their intervention. On August 4, 2021, Mr. Munda wrote to the Governor of Jharkhand on the official letter pad of the ABKAM and the letter was co-signed by the Pradhan of Kondwa Gram Panchayat and four other land owners. The signatories alleged that the company was trying to expand mining activities forcibly in violation of important laws and government orders, and specified some of these in the letter: • They stated that ACC Cement Limited had violated Order no 20 of the ministerial council dated October 25, 2019, which mandated that mining on 63 acres of land acquired earlier be commenced within 12 months or the land be returned to the land reforms department. The company had also not compensated land losers. • They stated that while the company was obtaining a new lease for pit F3, it had issued appointment letters to only 45 out of 175 persons who lost their land to pit F2, whereas those who would lose land to pit F3 were not being considered for jobs. Further, a probe by the mines department found ACC Cement carried out illegal mining worth Rs 900 crore in pit F2 and the company was directed to pay a fine in court. • Given that West Singhbhum was a Schedule V area, the company’s failure in returning land for which lease had expired back to the original owners was rendering tribal communities landless and if the company continued to take over their land through the government, landlessness would increase manifold. Mr. Munda and others stated that the company’s agents were threatening and intimidating tribal villagers and trying to acquire the lease for pit F3 by flouting existing laws, and demanded that illegal mining and attempts to terrorise locals be halted, tribal land losers be duly compensated and provided jobs, and land on which lease had expired be returned to original owners. The letter was received and signed by the Governor’s office on August 6, 2021. Details of the Incident: On August 2, 2021, the Superintendent of Police (SP), West Singhbhum, Mr. Ajay Linda approached the District Magistrate (DM) Mr. Ananyan Mittal vide letter no 387/DCB, asking that externment proceedings be initiated against ‘notorious history-sheeter’ Mr. Munda as his presence was disturbing peace in the area.
The DM issued a show cause notice to Mr. Munda under Section 3 of the Jharkhand Crime Control Act, 2002 on August 19, 2021, enlisting 29 cases where he was named as accused, and asking him to explain why he should not be externed. The HRD appeared before DM on August 27, 2021, and stressed that he was not a criminal, but engaged in protecting the rights of workers and tribal villagers affected by the ACC mine and factory, and that influential contractors had filed many false cases against him, and he had been acquitted in several of these cases. Mr. Munda asked that he be provided with copies of all recent complaints against him pertaining to the show cause notice and 15 days’ time to respond to the same, and reiterated these points when he appeared before the DM again on September 7, 2021. Disregarding the HRD’s plea and without providing him with a copy of the complaints, on September 13, 2021, the DM issued an order externing Mr. Munda from the limits of Tonto and Jhinkpani Police Station areas for six months; he was also required to mark his attendance at the Jaraikela Police Station, located over 130 km from his residence in Jhinkpani, every day during this period. The order stated that Mr. Munda was closely involved with other criminals, terrorised people in the area, routinely collected levies from contractors and businessmen and incited workers at ACC Cement and tribal villagers, leading to frequent disruptions in mining activities and loss of revenue for the state exchequer. It listed 29 cases in which the HRD was named as an accused, and noted that “his activities were disrupting peace and harmony in the Tonto and Jhinkpani Police Stations and nearby areas.” Complying with the order, Mr. Munda took up a house on rent in Manoharpur under the limits of Jaraikela Police Station and has been marking his attendance at the police station every day since. He has also not ventured into Tonto and Jhinkpani Police Station areas. Mr. Munda’s absence in the mining area has dealt a heavy blow to the movement to protect the rights of tribal communities. Restricted from entering his area, Mr. Munda is unable to confer on a day-to-day basis with other activists about violations of existing laws and ways to counter them through democratic means. The implications of this are grave, especially because very few people in the area are educated or conversant with laws and state institutions. We firmly believe that the externment order was issued to Mr. Munda in reprisal for his activism, and with the intent of muzzling dissent against the illegal mining. All 29 cases against him were lodged in Tonto and Jhinkpani Police Stations on complaints by policemen or contractors, indicating possible collusion of the police in targeting the HRD. Meanwhile, the local administration has taken advantage of Mr. Munda’s externment from the area to organise mandatory public hearings so as to secure the mine expansion lease. On November 1, 2021, the DM of West Singhbhum issued a notice to village mundas (traditional tribal leaders) in the mouzas of Dhokatta and Kondwa, informing them that a public meeting regarding land acquisition for the ACC Cement mine was scheduled the very next day. Residents were not provided with any information regarding the project, its impact etc, nor given time to reach the meeting from villages located in remote, hilly areas, in violation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Offline
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary, Police
- Source
Case shared by FORUM-ASIA member People's Watch
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 15, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 7, 2021
- Event Description
Activists in Indonesia have called for a thorough investigation after an explosion outside the home of the parents of a prominent human rights lawyer who represents those involved in the West Papuan independence movement.
The blast occurred outside Veronica Koman’s parents’ house in Jakarta on Sunday morning. If it was a targeted attack, it would be the first instance of bombs being used to target those working on issues relating to West Papua outside of the region, according to human rights groups.
Police said they were investigating and did not confirm whether the explosion was caused by a bomb. A letter was left at the time of the explosion, according to Amnesty International, which claimed to be written by “a militant who defended the nation”.
“If the police and [security] forces in the country and abroad cannot arrest Veronica Koman … we were called to scorch-earth wherever you hide, including your protector horde,” the letter said.
Michael Hilman, a Papuan human rights activist, said at a virtual press conference that Koman’s family had been repeatedly subjected to intimidation and threats.
Separately on Sunday, another of Koman’s relatives was sent a package containing a dead chicken alongside a letter that said “anyone who helps to hide Veronica Koman will end up like this”. On 24 October, Koman’s parents’ house was subject to an arson attempt by unknown assailants.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) condemned the terrorism perpetrated against the family. It said: “We also recommend the Indonesian police immediately investigate the case and ensure the legal process can be carried out properly in order to break the chain of impunity and prevent recurrence.”
According to Komnas Perempuan, the families of female human rights defenders are often targeted with intimidation. “
At a certain point, the efforts that have been made, the attacks that have been carried out both online and offline, actually show a fairly severe level of torture, which can actually be anticipated by the state in the context of the state providing protection,” she said.
Koman’s case is the latest in a series of incidents targeting human rights defenders, the media were told. Other figures recently targeted include the activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, who investigated politicians who have mining businesses in West Papua. Both are subject to criminal investigations after being reported to the police by the minister for maritime affairs and investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, one of the politicians who was mentioned in the document.
“This is evidence of discrimination and brutality on the Papua issue. Human rights violations, violence, crimes, are used to cover up other crimes in West Papua,” Azhar said.
Chief of the press division of the Bureau of National Police, Brig Gen Rusdi Hartono, said the explosion outside Koman’s parents’ home was being investigated, as were other incidents targeting human rights defenders.
“All incidents concerning citizens’ rights will be handled by the police,” he said.
Koman, an activist and lawyer, was appointed as the key advocate representing the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB), the most significant Indigenous youth movement in the Pacific region, focusing on nonviolent protest supporting independence.
In 2019, Indonesian police charged Koman for allegedly spreading provocation and fake news on social media after she reported police violence against anti-racism protesters in West Papua. Since then she has remained in exile due to safety concerns.
Koman continues to work on West Papua issues from abroad, helping Papuan human rights activists advocate for thousands of internally displaced people in the region who had to flee for safety due to the conflict between the Indonesian military and Papua liberation army.
West Papua, formerly Irian Jaya, is Indonesia’s easternmost province, annexed in 1965 through a controversial referendum. Since then, a low level of insurgency has arisen across the region. Thousands of people in the highland have been displaced. In recent violence, two babies were killed. The United Liberation Movement of West Papua blamed the Indonesian military; the police spokesperson Ahmad Mustofa Kamal accused the liberation army.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 15, 2021
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 3, 2021
- Event Description
Two days after an independent fact-finding team of Supreme Court lawyers visited Tripura and expressed discontent at the incidents of alleged vandalism in houses, shops and a few mosques in the aftermath of the vandalism in Bangladesh, Tripura Police booked them under different charges, including criminal conspiracy, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and asked for immediate deletion of social media posts and report before the police within November 10.
In a notice to the four Supreme Court lawyers from different organisations, including Lawyers for Democracy, National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO) and the PUCL, Tripura Police Sub-Inspector Srikanta Guha said they were booked in a case with charges of promoting disharmony enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, forgery, threatening, provocation to break public peace and criminal conspiracy under Sections 153A, 153 B, 469, 471, 503, 504 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The case was registered at the West Agartala Police Station on November 3 against social media posts purportedly circulated and statements made by the lawyers during their visit to Tripura.
During a visit here Tuesday, a fact-finding team comprising advocate Estesham Hashmi, a Supreme Court lawyer, advocate Amit Srivastav, Co-ordinator of Lawyers for Democracy, NCHRO national secretary Ansar Indori and PUCL member Mukesh Kumar claimed minority communities were targeted at Panisagar in North Tripura and alleged their houses were ransacked, women were misbehaved with and mosques were attacked.
The team visited Tripura for three days and went to areas of alleged attacks on minority communities in the aftermath of religious vandalism at Durga Puja pandals and temples in Bangladesh.
The lawyers demanded the police to register separate complaints filed by each victim, compensation for damage sustained in the alleged attacks, reconstruction of damaged religious places, action against people spreading fake news on social media, action on officials who might have failed to take proper steps during the purported cases of violence and initiate a judicial probe.
The notice claimed the statements were made for “promoting enmity between religious groups” as well as “provoking the people of different religious communities to cause breach of peace”.
“During the investigation, your involvement has been found in connection with the case. As such, there are reasonable grounds to question you to ascertain the facts and circumstances relating to the case. Hence, you are hereby asked to immediately delete these fabricated and false statements/comments made/circulated by you in the social media and also to appear before the police by November 10,” said a notice police sent to the lawyers.
In a video message Wednesday, DIG (Southern Range) G K Rao had said, “Some mischievous incidents” have been happening in the state since the last few days.
“There were some minor losses of property and some incidents of disturbance occurred. Tripura Police registered 11 cases filed earlier, including four in North Tripura, three in West Tripura, one in Gomati district and three cases in Sepahijala district,” the official said.
The official also said five persons were arrested so far in connection with these cases and notices were served to three others to appear before the police.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Censorship, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Online
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 9, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 16, 2021
- Event Description
Peri Asso (29) korban penembakan di Dekai, Kabupaten Yahukimo, Papua, meninggal dunia pada Minggu (22/8) dini hari sekitar pukul 02.20 WIT di RS Polri Bhayangkara, Kota Jayapura.
Korban tertembak saat aparat keamanan membubarkan unjuk rasa di Dekai, Senin lalu (16/8). Peri sempat mendapat perawatan di RSUD setempat, sebelum dievakuasi ke Jayapura Jumat (20/8).
Jenazah korban sudah diserahkan ke pihak keluarga di Sentani untuk dimakamkan.
Kapolda Papua Irjen Pol Mathius Fakhiri kepada Antara, Minggu petang membenarkan meninggalnya korban penembakan di Dekai saat menjalani perawatan di RS Bhayangkara.
"Saya masih menunggu laporan lengkapnya dari Kabid Dokkes Polda Papua," kata Mathius.
Ia menyatakan berdasar laporan Kapolres Yahukimo, situasi kamtibmas di wilayah itu relatif aman. Meski demikian, Mathius meminta anggotanya untuk bersiaga dan melakukan patroli guna memberikan rasa aman ke masyarakat
Aksi demo yang dilakukan warga di Dekai, 16 Agustus lalu, menuntut aparat membebaskan juru bicara KNPB Viktor Yeimo yang hingga kini masih ditahan di Mako Brimob Kotaraja.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 31, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 25, 2021
- Event Description
Amnesty International will close its two offices in Hong Kong by the end of the year, the organization announced today.
The local ‘section’ office will cease operations on 31 October while the regional office – which is part of Amnesty’s global International Secretariat – is due to close by the end of 2021. Regional operations will be moved to the organization’s other offices in the Asia-Pacific.
“This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” said Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty’s International Board.
“Hong Kong has long been an ideal regional base for international civil society organizations, but the recent targeting of local human rights and trade union groups signals an intensification of the authorities’ campaign to rid the city of all dissenting voices. It is increasingly difficult for us to keep operating in such an unstable environment.”
There are two Amnesty International offices based in Hong Kong: a local membership section focused on human rights education in the city; and a regional office which carries out research, advocacy and campaigning work on East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. All of the regional office’s work will continue from new locations.
“We are deeply indebted to Amnesty members and staff who over the last 40 years have worked tirelessly to protect human rights in and from Hong Kong. From successfully pushing for the full abolition of the death penalty in Hong Kong in 1993, to exposing evidence of excessive use of force by police during the 2019 mass protests, Amnesty in Hong Kong has shone a light on human rights violations in the darkest of days,” said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“In the wider region, our research and campaigning has tackled subjects including freedom of expression in North Korea, conscientious objection to military service in South Korea, the right to housing in Mongolia, Japan’s wartime atrocities against “comfort women”, and the crackdown on human rights lawyers in China.
“Moreover, Amnesty International Hong Kong’s education programmes – from classroom talks to a documentary film festival – have enhanced awareness of human rights not only in the city’s schools but among the general public as well. No one and no power can demolish that legacy.”
The national security law, imposed by the Chinese central government, was enacted on 30 June 2020. It targets alleged acts of “secession”, “subversion of state power”, “terrorist activities” and “collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security”.
Its sweeping and vaguely worded definition of “national security”, which follows that of the Beijing authorities, has been used arbitrarily as a pretext to restrict the human rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as to repress dissent and political opposition.
Amnesty documented the rapid deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong one year after the enactment of the national security law in a June 2021 briefing.
“The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions. The law has repeatedly been used to target people who have upset the authorities for any number of reasons – from singing political songs to discussing human rights issues in the classroom,” said Anjhula Mya Singh Bais.
“The pattern of raids, arrests and prosecutions against perceived opponents has highlighted how the vagueness of the law can be manipulated to build a case against whomsoever the authorities choose.”
A government crackdown targeting activists, opposition politicians and independent media has recently expanded to include civil society organizations. At least 35 groups have disbanded since the law was enacted, including some of the city’s largest unions and activist groups.
“There are difficult days ahead for human rights in Hong Kong, but Amnesty International will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong. We will fight for their rights to be respected and we will be vigilant in our scrutiny of those who abuse them,” said Agnes Callamard.
“While leaving the city that we have called home for decades is devastating, we do so proud of our achievements over that time, and confident that the strength of Amnesty’s 10 million-plus supporters worldwide will enable us to continue our work together to end human rights abuses everywhere.”
Background
Amnesty International is a global human rights movement of 10 million people, with operations in more than 70 countries. The organization holds governments around the world accountable to equal standards under international law.
Amnesty’s local Hong Kong section works principally on building awareness of human rights issues in the city and is funded primarily by individual donations from the Hong Kong public.
The Hong Kong regional office – which has a sister location in Bangkok – conducts research, campaigning and advocacy work across the region including on mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific islands.
The overwhelming majority of Amnesty’s income comes from individuals the world over. These personal and unaffiliated donations allow the organization to maintain full independence from any and all governments, political ideologies, economic interests or religions. Amnesty neither seeks nor accepts any funds for human rights research from governments or political parties.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Offline, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 29, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2021
- Event Description
Kepolisian Daerah (Polda) Sumatera Barat memanggil Direktur Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Padang Indira Suryani terkait kasus dugaan ujaran kebencian, pada Jumat (13/8). Hal ini diduga berawal dari unggahan LBH Padang di media sosial.
Perwakilan Tim Hukum LBH Padang Dechtree Ranti Putri mengatakan pihaknya menerima surat pemanggilan itu pada 12 Agustus 2021, sebagai saksi atas dugaan tindak pidana ujaran kebencian.
"Iya dipanggil, namun LBH Padang tidak bisa memenuhinya dengan beberapa alasan," katanya kepada CNNIndonesia.com, Jumat (13/8).
Pihaknya menduga, kasus ini erat kaitannya dengan unggahan akun Instagram LBH Padang yang mengkritik penghentian penyelidikan kasus dugaan penyelewengan anggaran Covid-19 di Sumbar.
Pantauan CNNIndonesia.com, pada Selasa (29/6) lalu, LBH Padang mengunggah karikatur mengenai penghentian penyelidikan penyelewengan anggaran Covid-19 dengan dugaan kerugian negara sebesar Rp4,9 miliar.
Diketahui, Polda Sumbar menghentikan penyelidikan kasus karena tak menemukan unsur kerugian negara.
Ranti menyampaikan, tidak dipenuhinya panggilan tersebut karena sejumlah alasan, di antaranya pemanggilan berjarak hanya satu hari dari proses pemeriksaan.
Pemanggilan ini, lanjutnya di luar prosedur dan melanggar hukum sebagaimana ketentuan Pasal 227 ayat (1) KUHAP berbunyi "semua jenis pemberitahuan atau panggilan oleh pihak yang berwenang dalam semua tingkat pemeriksaan kepada terdakwa, saksi atau ahli disampaikan selambat - lambatnya tiga hari sebelum tanggal hadir yang ditentukan, di tempat tinggal mereka atau di tempat kediaman mereka terakhir".
Kemudian pemanggilan dilakukan secara tidak patut, karena dalam proses panggilan petugas mesti bertemu sendiri dan berbicara langsung kepada yang dipanggil sebagaimana ketentuan Pasal 227 ayat 2 KUHAP.
"Dalam Pasal 227 ayat 2 KUHP itu jelas tertulis petugas yang melaksanakan panggilan tersebut harus bertemu sendiri dan berbicara langsung dengan orang yang dipanggil dan membuat catatan bahwa panggilan telah diterima oleh yang bersangkutan dengan membubuhkan tanggal serta tandatangan, baik oleh petugas maupun orang yang dipangil dan apabila yang dipanggil tidak menandatangani maka petugas harus mencatat alasannya," ujar Ranti.
LBH Padang, kata Ranti, telah mengirimkan surat kepada Polda Sumbar C.q Penyidik karena tidak bisa menghadiri panggilan ini, karena kesalahan prosedur formal dan melanggar hukum.
Selain itu, Indira selaku yang dipanggil atas kasus ini juga kebingungan dengan permasalahan pemeriksaan terhadap LBH Padang.
Ia mengaku tidak tahu menahu soal kasus apa yang akan diperiksa oleh Polda Sumbar terhadap LBH Padang.
"Kami bingung dengan surat panggilan saksi dari Polda Sumbar ini. Saat ini kami menunggu informasi dari kepolisian," jelasnya.
Sementara Kabid Humas Polda Sumbar Kombes Pol Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto mengatakan memang ada pemanggilan terhadap LBH Padang. Namun yang bersangkutan tidak datang.
"Secara tertulis dalam surat pemanggilan itu ketua LBH Padang, namun secara struktur organisasi beliau direktur, suratnya akan diperbaiki," kata Stefanus.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Online
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 14, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 2, 2021
- Event Description
Direktur Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Bali Ni Kadek Vany Primaliraing dilaporkan ke Polda Bali atas tuduhan dugaan makar karena memberikan bantuan hukum kepada mahasiswa Papua.
Pelaporan tersebut menjadi tanda tanya karena advokat dianggap ikut melakukan upaya makar disaat menjalankan mandat konstitusi.
Permasalahan itu bermula saat LBH Bali mendampingi aksi damai Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP) pada 31 Mei 2021.
Pendampingan itu juga didasarkan dengan surat permohonan pendampingan hukum Nomor 09/AMP-KK-BALI/III/2021 tertanggal 27 Mei 2021.
Dengan demikian LBH Bali sedang menjalankan mandat konstitusi yakni Pasal 1 Ayat 3, Pasal 27 Ayat 1, Pasal 28 Ayat 1 dan Pasal 34 Ayat 1 dalam UUD 1945 dan UU Nomor 16 Tahun 2011 tentang Bantuan Hukum.
"Pada poinnya melindungi serta menjamin hak warga negara akan kebutuhan akses terhadap keadilan (access to justice) dan kesamaan di hadapan hukum (equality before the law)," kata Vany kepada Suara.com, Rabu (4/8/2021).
Akan tetapi, Vany justru dilaporkan ke Polda Bali oleh pelapor Rico Ardika Panjaitan pada Senin, 2 Agustus 2021 atas dugaan tindak pidana makar dan dugaan pemufakatan makar.
Vany lantas menjelaskan kalau saat mendampingi klien, advokat dilarang membedakan perlakuan terhadap klien berdasarkan jenis kelamin, agama, politik, keturunan, ras atau latar belakang sosial dan budaya. Itu tertuang dalam Ayat 1 Undang-undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2003 yang mengatur tentang profesi advokat.
Kemudian pada Ayat 2 UU 18/2003 dijelaskan kalau advokat tidak dapat diindetikan dengan kliennya dalam membela perkara klien oleh pihak yang berwenang dan/atau masyarakat.
"Sehingga LBH Bali sedang menjalankan mandat konstitusi dan UU 40 tahun 2008 tentang Penghapusan Diskriminasi Ras dan Etnis," ujarnya.
Lebih jauh, Vany menganggap kalau pelaporan advokat sekaligus aktivitas Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) merupakan upaya kriminalisasi, sekaligus pelemahan kerja bantuan hukum serta rasisme terhadap teman-teman Papua.
Menurutnya hal tersebut juga menciderai konstitusi dengan melakukan pembatasan hak atas bantuan hukum.
Selain itu, pelaporan itu juga menjadi pertanyaan karena advokat yang tengah menjalankan mandat konstitusional tetapi malah dituduh makar dan menjadikan konstitusional RI sebagai korbannya.
"Bahkan logikanya LBH Bali sedang melaksanakan mandat konstitusi memberikan bantuan hukum, implementasi asas praduga tidak bersalah, asas persamaan di depan hukum, asas legalitas dan ini justru dapat menjadi Pelaporan Palsu sebagaimana di atur dalam Pasal 220 KUHP," tuturnya.
Vany juga menyayangkan aparat kepolisian yang tidak melakukan edukasi terhadap pelapor pada saat melakukan pelaporan. Sebagai tegaknya asas legalitas dan pendalaman pengetahuan konstitusi.
"Mengorbankan hidup orang lain khususnya orang miskin dan kelompok minoritas untuk kepentingan pribadi merupakan hal yang keji."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 14, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 14, 2021
- Event Description
Sekitar 23 mahasiswa Universitas Cenderawasih (Uncen) ditangkap oleh polisi saat menggelar unjuk rasa menolak Otonomi Khusus Papua Jilid II di beberapa lokasi berbeda, Selasa (14/7).
"Berdasarkan jumlah keseluruhan, yang ditangkap ada 23 orang massa mahasiswa yang ditangkap masing-masing dari 3 tempat yang berbeda," kata Direktur LBH Papua, Emmanuel Gobay saat dikonfirmasi, Selasa (14/7).
Gobay menyebut penangkapan juga dibarengi aksi represif aparat kepolisian sehingga mengakibatkan lima mahasiswa terluka. Para mahasiswa yang ditangkap langsung dibawa ke Mapolres Jayapura.
Aksi represif terhadap lima mahasiswa Papua terjadi di kawasan Uncen Bawah, Abepura, dengan jumlah korban 3 mahasiswa. Lalu satu orang lain mengalami kekerasan di Unecn Atas Waena dan yang lainnya di sekitar wilayah Dok 8.
"Alasan penahanan massa aksi mahasiswa dan Pemuda ini dikarenakan mereka tidak membubarkan diri saat diminta bubar sehingga pihak kepolisian mengamankan masa aksi ke Mapolresta Jayapura," jelas dia.
Gobay menyebut pihaknya sudah meminta keterangan dari Polda Papua atas penangkapan 23 mahasiswa Uncen tersebut.
Dikatakan dia bahwa polisi menyatakan tidak ada pelanggaran hukum lain yang dilakukan oleh massa aksi. Penangkapan dilakukan karena massa tak mau bubar saat diminta membubarkan diri.
"10 orang diangkut dari Uncen bawah, 10 orang diangkut dari Uncen atas dan 3 orang diangkut dari Dok 9," tukasnya.
Kabid Humas Polda Papua, Kombes Ahmad Musthofa Kamal mengonfirmasi penangkapan sejumlah mahasiswa Uncen tersebut.
Para mahasiswa itu masih berada di Polres Jayapura. Namun Kamal belum bisa merinci jumlah mahasiswa yang ditangkap. Alasan penangkapan, menurutnya, karena mahasiswa mengabaikan arahan kepolisian.
"Sudah diingatkan untuk tidak keluar kampus (saat unjuk rasa). Dan izin tidak diberikan karena situasi Kota Jayapura zona merah," jelas Kamal.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 14, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 15, 2021
- Event Description
Sebanyak 50 mahasiswa Papua yang sempat ditangkap aparat kepolisian saat menggelar aksi unjuk rasa menolak pengesahan Revisi Undang-Undang Otonomi Khusus (RUU Otsus) Papua, di depan MPR/DPR, Senayan, Jakarta sudah dibebaskan.
"Sudah diperbolehkan pulang tapi masih menunggu barang-barang [yang disita]," kata pendamping hukum mahasiswa dari PBHI Julius Ibrani kepada CNNIndonesia.com, Kamis (15/7).
Julius mengatakan mahasiswa tersebut ditangkap aparat dengan alasan telah melanggar ketertiban protokol kesehatan di tengah pandemi virus corona (Covid-19).
"Sekitar 50 orang yang ditangkap dan ditahan secara sewenang-wenang saat melakukan aksi," ujarnya.
Secara terpisah, Koalisi Kemanusiaan Papua mengecam keras penggunaan kekerasan yang diduga dilakukan aparat saat menangkap massa unjuk rasa.
Koalisi Kemanusiaan Papua merupakan kemitraan sukarela yang terdiri dari sejumlah organisasi seperti Amnesty International Indonesia, Imparsial, Biro Papua PGI, dan lain-lain.
"Kami memandang tindakan tersebut melanggar hak atas kebebasan berekspresi serta hak atas kebebasan berkumpul warga yang sedang menyampaikan aspirasi mereka secara damai," kata Koalisi Kemanusiaan Papua melalui keterangan tertulis.
Koalisi menyatakan unjuk rasa yang dilakukan mahasiswa merupakan aksi damai sebagai respon atas kebijakan pemerintah. Menurut mereka, seharusnya negara menjamin keamanan para demonstran.
Hak atas kebebasan berekspresi dan berkumpul, kata mereka, seharusnya dijamin melalui UU No. 12 Tahun 2005 tentang Pengesahan Kovenan Internasional tentang Hak-hak Sipil dan Politik.
Sementara tindakan aparat dinilai melanggar Pasal 11 ayat (1) huruf b dan Pasal 13 ayat (1) huruf a Peraturan Kapolri No. 8 Tahun 2009 yang menegaskan larangan melakukan intimidasi, ancaman dan siksaan fisik.
Sebelumnya, salah seorang mahasiswa yang turut mengikuti aksi, Ambrosisus Mulait mengatakan puluhan mahasiswa Papua yang menggelar aksi di MPR/DPR ditangkap polisi.
Ia mengatakan aparat mengamankan mahasiswa dengan alasan melanggar protokol kesehatan. Ambrosius bersama massa aksi lainnya sudah berkumpul di Senayan sejak pagi.
CNNIndonesia.com sudah menghubungi Kabid Humas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Yusri Yunus dan Direktur Reskrimum Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Tubagus Ade Hidayat terkait penangkapan ini, namun belum mendapat jawaban.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 14, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 26, 2021
- Event Description
Kapolres Jayapura Kota Kombes Pol Gustav Urbinas memastikan melarang ada demonstrasi di masa pandemi covid-19.
Larangan ini mengugurkan wacana Koalisi Rakyat Papua untuk menduduki kantor Gubernur Papua menuntut Sekda Papua Dance Flassy meletakkan jabatannya.
"Kami sudah menerima surat ijin keramaian dari pihak Koalisi Rakyat Papua, namun kami menolak ijin tersebut," kata Urbinas kepada Tribun-Papua.com, Sabtu (26/6/2021) melalui gawainya.
Dikatakan, pihaknya telah mengeluarkan Surat Tanda Terima Pemberitahuan (STTP), dan pihaknya sudah membalasnya.
"Kami sudah keluarkan STTP dengan penjelasan tidak merekomendasikan aksi unjuk rasa tersebut," ujarnya.
Ia menegaskan akan membubarkan secara paksa apabila tetap melakukan aksi tersebut.
"Sudah jelas, ada surat pemberitahuan penolakan aksi, apabila memaksakan diri, kami bubarkan," tegasnya.
Kata dia, perintah pembubaran apabila ada titik kumpul masa sudah disampaikan di Polsek Jajaran.
"Kami akan bubarkan," tegas Gustav kembali.
Untuk personil Polresta Jayapura Kota nantinya akan diperkuatan dari Polda dan Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 14, 2021
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Oct 5, 2021
- Event Description
Very early yesterday morning, officers with the police Rapid Action Battalion raided Raka’s home in Uttara, a suburb of Dhaka, and took her and her three sons to the battalion’s headquarters in Dhaka, according to news reports and Kanak Sarwar, a journalist and Raka’s brother, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview.
Sarwar, who lives in exile in the United States, told CPJ that he believed that the arrest was in retaliation for his journalism and that Raka, who is a homemaker, had not committed any crime.
Police repeatedly questioned Raka about Sarwar, asking why he opposed the Bangladesh government and calling him “a freedom fighter,” Sarwar told CPJ, saying that he was able to briefly speak on the phone with his sister in detention. He said that authorities released Raka’s sons after about 30 hours, but she remains detained in a cell with no bed.
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka ordered Raka to be detained for five days, Sarwar said, adding that she suffers from asthma and has experienced difficulty breathing in custody as she is recovering from COVID-19. He also said that police broke several items inside the house during the raid, including closets and jewelry boxes.
Sarwar told CPJ that he believes all authorities’ accusations against his sister are false.
“Punishing exiled journalist Kanak Sarwar by arresting his sister, Nusrat Shahrin Raka, is a crude and barbaric form of retaliation that should shame the government of Bangladesh,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “Authorities must immediately release Raka, cease targeting critical journalists or their family members, and allow the media to operate without interference.”
In a press release issued yesterday, which CPJ reviewed, the Rapid Action Battalion alleged that Raka was involved in “destroying peace and order in the country by spreading false, defamatory, and provocative information about the government and important personalities of the state on social media” and accused her of involvement with an unnamed group engaging in “conspiratorial propaganda activities” with Sarwar.
The press release also claimed that authorities seized a mobile phone, passport, methamphetamine, and anti-state content from Raka’s home, and that she revealed during interrogation that she was an active member of an anti-state propaganda and conspiracy ring.
The Rapid Action Battalion filed two complaints at the Uttara West police station under the Digital Security Act and Narcotics Control Act, which CPJ reviewed.
The Digital Security Act complaint alleges that Raka violated three sections of the act: the publication of offensive, false, or threatening information; defamation; and the transmission or publication of content that deteriorates law and order. Each of those offenses can carry a prison sentence of three to seven years and a fine of 300,000 to 500,000 taka (US $3,497 to $5,827), according to that law.
The other complaint alleges that Raka possessed narcotics; under the Narcotics Control Act, Raka could face up to three years in prison if charged and convicted, according to Sarwar, citing her lawyer.
Sarwar told CPJ that a fake Facebook page had been created in recent weeks using Raka’s name, email address, and phone number, and that account published posts criticizing the government. Sarwar said that Raka filed a complaint to the Uttara West police station about that account on October 1, which CPJ reviewed.
The police complaint under the Digital Security Act cited posts made on that Facebook page, and attributed them to Raka.
Sarwar is the former senior correspondent for the privately owned broadcaster Ekushey TV; authorities held him from March 3 to November 16, 2015, on accusations of sedition after Ekushey TV broadcasted a speech by Tarique Rahman, the son of an opposition leader, according to CPJ research and Sarwar. He now operates the YouTube channel Kanak Sarwar News, which covers Bangladesh politics and has been critical of the ruling Awami League.
On December 8, 2020, the Bangladesh High Court directed authorities to block Sarwar’s social media pages after he interviewed a politician in Bangladesh on YouTube, as CPJ documented at the time.
CPJ emailed the Uttara West police station for comment, but did not receive any reply. CPJ called and messaged Ashique Billah, spokesperson of the Rapid Action Battalion, but did not receive any response.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 14, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 21, 2021
- Event Description
A Hong Kong group that once campaigned for China's embattled human rights lawyers announced on Tuesday it would disband after being investigated by national security police under a city-wide crackdown on public dissent and peaceful opposition.
The China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG) said in a statement on its website that it had received a letter of enquiry from the Hong Kong Police dated Aug. 25, 2021.
"The CHRLCG has decided to dissolve in September 2021 and has already activated the voluntary liquidation procedure," the statement said.
"Directors of the CHRLCG are going to resign from their directorships soon."
The group is the latest in string of civil society groups to disband following investigation by national security police.
The pro-democracy Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU) will vote on Oct. 3 on whether to disband after being denounced in the Beijing-backed media, a typical precursor to investigation under the national security law.
The denunciations usually focus on accusations that a given activist group or non-government organization has done something that could be in breach of the law imposed on Hong Kong by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from July 1, 2020.
Several organizations, including protest march organizers the Civil Human Rights Front, the Professional Teachers' Union, and Wall-fare, a prison support group for those in custody because of the 2019 protest movement, have disbanded following similar articles, or after being criticized by Hong Kong's leaders.
And the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance said it had recently received a letter from the Registry of Trade Unions alleging that its funds were used for "political purposes."
Three are denied bail
The CHRLCG's decision to disband came as three activists linked to the Hong Kong activist group Student Politicism were denied bail on Tuesday following their arrest on subversion charges under a draconian national security law.
West Kowloon Court principal magistrate Don So rejected bail applications from lawyers acting for group convenor Wong Yat-chin, 20, and former members Chan Chi-sum, 20 and Jessica Chu, 18.
The trio embraced each other and cried in court when they heard bail had been denied, with the case adjourned until November following a request from the prosecution.
Judge So said he didn't believe the defendants would refrain from further actions "endangering national security" if they were released, meaning that the trio will now spend the Mid-Autumn Festival in jail instead of with their families.
Wong and Chan said they would reapply every eight days, while Chu waived her right to further bail hearings.
Their supporters also hugged each other, or wiped away tears when the decision was announced, while others chanted "release political prisoners!" and "Inhumane!"
Wong said in a message posted to social media by his lawyer that his fate was perhaps the result of the times Hongkongers are now living through.
"I hope we can all live bravely and openly, so we can face this together," Wong said. "[Let's] face fear, challenge fear, and conquer fear."
He also told people to "take care of themselves" and enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival.
According to the indictment, Wong, Chan, and Chu conspired with others in Hong Kong to "organize, plan, implement or participate in acts of force, or the threat to use force, or other illegal means to subvert state power, namely, to overthrow or undermine the current political system of the People's Republic of China ... and overthrow the central government or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government."
Their alleged actions dated from Oct. 25, 2020 to June 16, 2021, it said.
'Subversive acts'
Police had early alleged the trio had carried out "subversive acts" including warning people not to use the government's LeaveHomeSafe COVID-19 tracking app, and "inciting hatred of the government" via street booths.
Meanwhile, the host of an English-language talk show for government broadcaster RTHK was reportedly pulled from the show following an episode focusing on the ongoing crackdown on civil society groups under the national security law.
"Backchat" co-host Hugh Chiverton confirmed to Stand News on Tuesday that he was still at the station, but hasn't been heard on air since the civil society episode, which hasn't yet been uploaded to the archive section of the RTHK website.
The episode had featured former City University politics lecturer and pro-democracy activist Joseph Cheng.
Chiverton referred all queries about the show to RTHK's communications team, who told the Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) that it wouldn't comment on "internal editorial matters of individual programmes."
"RTHK reviews the programme content from time to time to ensure compliance with RTHK Charter, the Producers' Guidelines and the Communications Authority's Codes of Practice," it said in a statement posted to Twitter by HKFP.
Chiverton and Koh had earlier interviewed Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam about the national security crackdown, during which Lam warned Koh that she was "treading on dangerous lines" after the host asked her about the government's failure to communicate with protesters during the 2019 anti-extradition movement.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to work
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 24, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 22, 2021
- Event Description
Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan lodged a defamation complaint against rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti on Wednesday over a video alleging business motive behind current security operations in Papua with Luhut’s involvement.
Luhut himself came to the Jakarta Police headquarters to report the case and “defend my name and that of my children and grandchildren”.
The retired army general said he made the decision after his two attempts to demand public clarification and apology from the two activists went unanswered.
"They didn’t respond during the two occasions, prompting us to take legal action under both criminal and civil laws," Luhut told reporters.
"There is no such thing as absolute freedom, everything has a consequence. I have the right to defend my rights. I have asked them to present evidence [on the allegation] and there was none,” he added.
In the video published on Haris’ YouTube account last month, he interviewed Fatia, who is the coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras), an NGO focusing on human rights issues.
Both discussed allegations that the current military operation in Papua was actually meant to protect mining businesses in the easternmost province.
Fatia implied that mining company Toba Sejahtera Group, in which Luhut is a shareholder, had mining projects in the district of Intan Jaya, Papua.
“It’s fair to say that Luhut has a role in mining businesses in Papua,” Fatia said in the podcast video.
“The core of human rights problems in Papua is militarism. And it turns out that behind the militarism approach – supposedly to restore security and peace in Papua – there are economic motives.”
At one point of the talk show, both activists called the minister “Lord Luhut”.
In an interview with Kompas TV earlier this month, Haris said he had responded to the reprimand by inviting Juniver Girsang, an attorney for Luhut, to become a guest in his podcast and present Luhut’s views to ensure a fair exchange of opinions.
In the same interview, Juniver said his client had no slightest interest in attending and increasing views and revenues of a podcast program that already insulted him in public.
The Jakarta Globe has reached Haris for comments.
In a separate news conference, a lawyer representing both activists said Luhut as a state official is not immune from criticism.
“If he cannot be criticized, there will be no voice of the people. Once we lost people’s voice, democracy is gone,” lawyer Asfinawati said.
“Fatia criticized Luhut in his capacity as a state official, nothing is personal,” she added.
Luhut’s attorney meanwhile said that in addition to the criminal suit, he also planned to file a Rp 100 billion ($7 million) civil case against the activists.
“If judges accept the lawsuit, the Rp 100 billion money will be donated to the Papuan people,” Juniver said.
It’s not the first time a close aide of President Joko Widodo involved in a feud with activists that led to legal motions.
On August 20, Presidential Office Chief of Staff Moeldoko filed a defamation complaint against two Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activists over allegations that the former military chief had cashed in on the distribution of Covid-19 medication Ivermectin and misused authority to join in rice export program.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Related Events
- Indonesia: NGO staff issued legal warning for reporting army involvement in gold mining business
- Date added
- Sep 23, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 7, 2021
- Event Description
CHRD condemns the ongoing persecution against the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement of China (“the Hong Kong Alliance”), and in particular, the arrest on Thursday of chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, vice-chairs Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho on the charge of “inciting subversion”, which could carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
The three are scheduled to appear at court in West Kowloon at 9:30am on Friday.
Their arrest stems from the Hong Kong Alliance’s decision not to cooperate with a police request made on August 25 to provide detailed information related to their interaction or material support from several foreign groups and unspecified “foreign or Taiwan political parties and other groups with a political purpose, including at their Hong Kong branches” dating back to 2014. The police charged them under Article 43(5) of the National Security Law (NSL), alleging that the Hong Kong Alliance and its members were “foreign agents”.
Committee member Tsui Hon-kwong was also arrested on Thursday, and on Wednesday, Hong Kong Alliance committee members Simon Leung, Tang Ngok-kwan and Chan To-wai were also arrested due to their non-compliance.
On Thursday, the Hong Kong police also shut down the Tiananmen Massacre Museum, which was run by the Hong Kong Alliance. Police dismantled the displays and hauled away historic photos and exhibits about the Tiananmen Massacre.
“The Hong Kong Alliance had always upheld the vision for a China that was ruled democratically, where the rule of law mattered, and where human rights were genuinely respected. The Central Government and their local allies are simply using the National Security Law to crush that democratic vision and ensure that there is no significant opposition to the increasingly dictatorial rule of Xi Jinping as head of the Chinese Communist Party”, said William Nee, CHRD’s Research and Advocacy Coordinator.
“Despite the fact that Article 39 of the NSL is clear that the law can only be applied to acts committed after it came into effect, and despite the fact that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told the UN that the NSL would not be used retroactively, the police are now on a retroactive fishing expedition looking for anything going back to 2014. This makes a complete mockery out of Carrie Lam’s promises and shows that the procedural safeguards supposedly built into the NSL aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. The Hong Kong Alliance is courageous for refusing to comply with requests that are so blatantly against international and Hong Kong law,” Nee added.
“If the the claims that provisions under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be respected in Hong Kong under the NSL are to be taken seriously, then the international community must take actions to ensure that all members of the Hong Kong Alliance are immediately and unconditionally released”.
Background
Every year since 1989, the Hong Kong Alliance has organized an annual Tiananmen Vigil in Hong Kong, to commemorate the hundreds, if not thousands, killed by the People’s Liberation Army in Beijing and other cities in 1989. The vigil was usually attended by which 100,000 to 200,000 people and served as a focal point of Hong Kong’s civil society.
In recent days, several state-run media reports made detailed allegations against the Hong Kong Alliance. And Xinhua, the official outlet of the Central Government, carried a statement by the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that supported the Hong Kong police’s actions against what it deemed an “anti-China” organization.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer, NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- China: Hong Kong WHRD and lawyer arrested ahead of Tienanmen commemoration, China: pro-democracy group labelled as foreign agent harassed
- Date added
- Sep 12, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 26, 2021
- Event Description
On August 26, 2021, human rights defender Haris Azhar and woman human rights defender Fatia Maulidyanti were issued one subpoena by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment concerning the posting of a talk show on Haris Azhar's YouTube channel. In the subpoena, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidyanti were asked to explain the motive for posting the video to the Coordinating Minister. In addition, the two defenders were asked to apologize in five days to the Minister through Haris Azhar's YouTube channel, mass media, and online media and promise not to repeat the act. The subpoena mentions that if an apology is not made, legal actions will be taken against the human rights defenders. Haris Azhar is a human rights defender in Indonesia. He previously served as the Coordinator of Commission for the Disappeared and Victim of Violence (KontraS) a nation wide group and community of NGOs operating in Indonesia since 2010. Haris Azhar has contributed to human rights and public interest litigation cases, events, campaigns and publications for promoting and defending human rights in Indonesia and South East Asia. The human rights defender had also served as a member of the Executive Committee of FORUM-ASIA and has been the Deputy Chair of INFID-Indonesia, which are both prominent human rights organizations. Fatia Maulidiyanti is a woman human rights defender and the Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), a prominent human rights organization in Indonesia established in 1998. She has been involved in various civil society movements since she was in the university, namely student press, working on various human rights issues such as death penalty, business and human rights, unfair trial, human rights defenders and human rights in conflict. She is also the founder of a book donation community for death-row inmates called Books For Tomorrow. In the online video for which the human rights defenders are facing legal action, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti discussed the research results of several human rights organizations, such as KontraS, Walhi, Jatam, YLBHI, and Pusaka, about the business of Indonesian Army officials and retirees behind the gold mining business and their plan to exploit the Blok Wabu area in Intan Jaya, Papua. The subpoena issued by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment has mentioned that Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti will face charges under Article 27 paragraph (3) of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law concerning defamation, and Articles 310 and 311 of the Criminal Code concerning attacking someone’s honor and reputation with accusations and defamation respectively. However, the Criminal Code also contains relevant justifications for the posting of the talk show under Article 310 paragraph (3), which states, “it does not constitute defamation if the act is carried out in the public interest”. Human rights defender Haris Azhar has been a target of similar reprisals in the past. On 28 July 2016, the human rights defender published an article on Facebook alleging the involvement of Indonesian police officials in corrupt activities, including the acceptance of bribes from an international drug trafficking network. On 2 August 2016, three government agencies, the BNN, the TNI, and the National Police, filed a joint defamation complaint against Haris Azhar under the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Law. Following public pressure, on 10 August 2016, the National Police announced that they have set up an independent team to investigate the alleged involvement of security officials in drug trafficking. It has been observed by human rights defenders in Indonesia that government officials are abusing their power by using the Electronic, Information, and Transactions Law to silence activists or human rights defenders in the country.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the subpoena issued against Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar as it believes that they are being targeted for their peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 6, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 19, 2021
- Event Description
Indonesian security forces have used discriminatory excessive force and racially abused protesters peacefully opposing the renewal of the Papuan Special Autonomy Law, new research by Amnesty International has revealed.
Papuan protesters told how they were targeted with water cannons, kicked and punched, and beaten with guns and rubber batons in peaceful protests during the last month. At least one person was injured after security forces opened fire on protesters on 16 August. Three protesters reported being called “monkey” while being arrested during protests in July.
Amnesty International has analysed videos and photos which show police using unlawful force on peaceful protesters, and verified injuries suffered by protesters.
“The reports of assault – both physical and verbal – that we have gathered reveals the true contempt the security forces have for the rights of Papuans.
“The Indonesian authorities must immediately investigate the reports of use of discriminatory excessive force and racial abuse against protesters, and also ensure the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is respected.”
To date, protests against the controversial renewal of the Papua Special Autonomy Law have taken place in several cities, from July 14 to August 16. Amnesty International interviewed 17 people who participated in protests in the cities of Jakarta, Jayapura, Sorong and Yahukimo, and verified their accounts using open source video footage.
The protests have also called for the release of Victor Yeimo, a pro-independence activist from Papua facing life imprisonment for his political views.
A protestor who participated in the demonstration in Sorong on July 19 told Amnesty International that police officers beat him as he was arrested. He said: “I was kicked in the stomach and on my head. I was arrested because I only asked the National Police Chief for help to free the protesters who were arrested by the police.” The arrest and beating were corroborated by another protestor and video footage.
A protestor in Sorong criticized the excessive use of force by security forces. He said: “They just want us Papuans not to speak out about our rights. That’s why every time we take action, it’s always forced to disband like that.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Minority Rights, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 23, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 16, 2021
- Event Description
Indonesian security forces have used discriminatory excessive force and racially abused protesters peacefully opposing the renewal of the Papuan Special Autonomy Law, new research by Amnesty International has revealed.
Papuan protesters told how they were targeted with water cannons, kicked and punched, and beaten with guns and rubber batons in peaceful protests during the last month. At least one person was injured after security forces opened fire on protesters on 16 August. Three protesters reported being called “monkey” while being arrested during protests in July.
Amnesty International has analysed videos and photos which show police using unlawful force on peaceful protesters, and verified injuries suffered by protesters.
“The reports of assault – both physical and verbal – that we have gathered reveals the true contempt the security forces have for the rights of Papuans.
“The Indonesian authorities must immediately investigate the reports of use of discriminatory excessive force and racial abuse against protesters, and also ensure the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is respected.”
To date, protests against the controversial renewal of the Papua Special Autonomy Law have taken place in several cities, from July 14 to August 16. Amnesty International interviewed 17 people who participated in protests in the cities of Jakarta, Jayapura, Sorong and Yahukimo, and verified their accounts using open source video footage.
The protests have also called for the release of Victor Yeimo, a pro-independence activist from Papua facing life imprisonment for his political views.
On August 16, security forces opened fire on protesters in Yahukimo, injuring one person. One protestor told Amnesty International he heard multiple gunshots, and that several bullets were also found close to where the protest took place.
In a protest in Jayapura on the same day, protesters confirmed the use of water cannons, and beatings with rubber batons and guns by security forces. Amnesty International has verified video showing the use of water cannons against peaceful protesters and security forces beating them with rubber batons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Minority Rights, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 23, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jul 6, 2021
- Event Description
The Chinese social media platform WeChat has deleted dozens of accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ groups at universities in recent days, social media posts have revealed.
Screenshots of notices sent to the holders of the deleted accounts said they had broken laws and regulations governing online content, amid concerns that the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is now targeting gay content and activism.
Many of the accounts were deleted at around the same time on Tuesday evening, Reuters quoted one of the account-holders as saying.
Some of the accounts had disappeared by Wednesday, while others carried notices that they had been suspended due to regulatory violations.
Others were renamed "Unnamed Official Account."
An online post titled "Tonight, we are all unnamed official accounts" listed some of the affected groups, which included ColorsWorld at Peking University, Purple at Tsinghua University and RUC Sex and Gender Research Group at Renmin University.
Similar groups at Shanghai's Fudan University, Wuhan University, and Nanjing University also had their accounts shut down.
The move by censors comes after the cancelation of Shanghai's decade-old Pride event in 2020. The organizers, ShanghaiPRIDE, gave no reason for the decision, but local activists said the group had likely come under political pressure from the authorities.
The organization had previously been legally permitted to run the event by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
But ShanghaiPRIDE had also been involved in ongoing civil society activities in support of the LGBTQ community in China, including running seminars for the parents of LGBTQ people.
Activists said at the time that the cancellation of Shanghai Pride likely meant all LGBTQ+ groups would be affected.
The organizers of a planned LGBTQ+ conference in the northern city of Xian were forced to cancel in 2017 after official pressure.
Crackdowns by government censors
Government censors have since carried out a number of crackdowns on LGBTQ representation on social media, in books, comics, TV, and film.
In 2020, education authorities in Jinan, provincial capital of Shandong province, called for the "strengthening of political and ideological education" for students of foreign-invested schools, at both primary and secondary level.
The guidance was to include the view of homosexuality as "corrupt behavior imported from the West [that is] inconsistent with core socialist values."
Activists said the crackdown stemmed in part from a conservative attitude to sexuality under the indefinite rule of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping, and partly from a fear that civil organizations are a threat to party rule.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, and removed from official psychiatric diagnostic manuals in 2001.
More and more highly educated urban Chinese have begun coming out in recent years, and while some find acceptance among their peers, social attitudes still strongly favor heterosexual marriage and children.
How many Chinese identify as LGBTQ+ is unknown. The country’s health and family planning ministry has estimated that there are between five and 10 million gay men in China, but activists say the actual number is far higher.
LGBTQ activists say there have been a growing number of anti-discrimination lawsuits filed by the community in China since around 2010, as well as some rare though unsuccessful bids to register same-sex marriages.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Censorship, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Internet freedom, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, SOGI rights
- HRD
- SOGI rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 19, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 30, 2021
- Event Description
On 30 June 2021, Hong Kong woman human rights defender and lawyer Chow Hang-tung was re- arrested after the police revoked her bail, under which she was released from an earlier arrest on 4 June 2021. On 2 July 2021, the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court denied her bail. The woman human rights defender’s arrest came on the eve of the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer to Chinese rule and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Chow Hang-tung ( 鄒幸彤 ) is a barrister and woman human rights defender in Hong Kong. She has advocated for the protection and promotion of labour rights, as well as for the rights of persecuted human rights defenders in mainland China. She is one of the current vice-chairs of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (the Hong Kong Alliance), a grassroots advocacy group established in 1989 in Hong Kong to campaign for the release of Chinese political prisoners, democratic reforms in China, and accountability for the extrajudicial killings and other violations by the Chinese authorities during the lethal crackdown on pro- democracy protests in June 1989. As a barrister in Hong Kong, she has also provided legal assistance to peaceful activists and protesters targeted by police and judicial actions for their involvement in pro-democracy activities. Chow Hang-tung is now facing the charge of “inciting others to knowingly participate in unauthorised assemblies” in relations to events on both 4 June and 1 July 2021. The woman human rights defender is being remanded in custody until the next court hearing, which is scheduled to take place on 30 July 2021. The court will review her bail on 9 July 2021. The woman human rights defender and over two dozens activists, including those affiliated with the Hong Kong Alliance, have already been facing prosecution for participating in the peaceful candlelight vigil on 4 June 2020 marking the 1989 massacre of civilians and protesters in Beijing. Many of these activists are also being prosecuted, with some already convicted, in relation to their peaceful role in other pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020.
In a public post on Facebook earlier in the day on 30 June 2021, Chow Hang-tung suggested she was being surveilled and followed. Later that evening, police took the woman human rights defender into custody near her law office with the charge of “inciting others to participate in unauthorised assembly”. She was initially detained at the New Territories South Regional Police Headquarters and was later transferred to the Tsuen Wan Police Station. Chow Hang-tung was able to meet her lawyers on the morning of 1 July 2021. On 28 June 2021, the Hong Kong police announced its decision to ban, for the second consecutive year, a planned pro-democracy assembly due to be held on 1 July, citing COVID-19-related restrictions on public gatherings. Chow Hang-tung provided legal assistance to the organisers to appeal the ban. On 29 June 2021, the body responsible for reviewing police objections to public gatherings upheld the ban.
In the early morning of 4 June 2021, police arrested Chow Hang-tung as she left her office and accused her of “publicising and promoting unauthorised assembly”. This was in connection to the banned candlelight vigil which the Hong Kong Alliance had hoped to organise later that evening in Victoria Park, which was surrounded by a heavy police presence. She was released on bail afteraround 33 hours in detention. In the weeks following her release, Chinese government-ownedmedia outlets in Hong Kong published articles attacking Chow Hang-tung for her legal aid work and advocacy. Since the People’s Republic of China resumed control of Hong Kong on 1 July 1997, pro- democracy protests have been an annual tradition to mark the anniversary in the city. The Hong Kong Alliance organised many peaceful protests on 1 July since 1997. Since 1989, the Hong Kong Alliance also organised the annual candlelight vigil on 4 June to mark the 1989 massacre of civilians and pro-democracy protesters in China, until the Hong Kong police banned it in 2020 and 2021. Chow Hang-tung’s case is the latest indicator of a rapidly shrinking civic space and expanding government campaign of politically motivated and rights-abusing arrests and prosecution of human rights defenders and pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong. This trend has accelerated since the unilateral impositon of a draconian “national security law” a year ago. According to human rights monitors, as of 9 June 2021, at least 10,340 individuals have been arrested, 2,676 prosecuted, and 1,504 are on trial for protest-related offences. According to Hong Kong police figures compiled by reporters, at least 113 individuals have been arrested for alleged violations of Hong Kong’s national security law, and 61 of them have been formally charged, as of 23 June 2021.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 21, 2021
- Event Description
Victor Mambor, journalist and editor of the Papua-based Tabloid Jubi, has become the target of a terrorist act this week.
A car that he owns which was parked on the road near his home in the Papuan capital of Jayapura was vandalised by unknown individuals between 12 midnight and 2am on Wednesday, April 21.
The windscreen of Mambor’s Isuzu Double Cabin DMax was smashed by a blunt object. The rear and left-side windows were also damaged by a sharp instrument.
The left-side front and back doors were also spray painted with orange paint.
The Jayapura branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) chairperson, Lucky Ireeuw, suspects that the vandalism act was committed over reporting by Tabloid Jubi which a “certain party” disliked.
Tabloid Jubi and its website are known for consistently presenting the public with reports on human rights violations in Papua.
“This act of terror and intimidation is clearly a form of violence against journalists and threatens press freedom in Papua and more broadly in Indonesia,” said Ireeuw in a press release on Thursday, April 22.
‘Terrorism suffered’ “It is strongly suspected that the terrorism suffered by Victor is related to reporting by Tabloid Jubi which a certain party dislikes.”
Prior to the vandalism of his car, Mambor has suffered a series of attacks.
“Digital attacks, doxing, and disseminating a flyer on social media the content of which painted Tabloid Jubi and Victor Mambor in a bad light, playing people off against each other and threats of criminal attacks on the media and Victor personally,” Ireeuw said giving examples of the attacks.
The incident has already been reported to the authorities and Ireeuw is calling on the police to immediately investigate and arrest the perpetrators.
Ireeuw slammed the attack against Mambor and Tabloid Jubi and urged whoever committed it to stop such actions immediately.
“We appeal to all parties to respect the work of journalists and respect press freedom in the land of Papua,” he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jun 5, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Feb 18, 2021
- Event Description
The spokesperson of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Timika area, Emanuel Dogopia, was taken from his parents’ house in Timika, the center of Mimika regency in Papua, by the police. He was released nine hours later, after the police ordered him to sign a statement that he would not post anything opposing “NKRI” or the United State of Republic of Indonesia.
KNPB headquarters’ spokesperson, Ones Suhuniap, told Jubi that the police took Dogopia’s personal belongings when he was “relaxing” at his parent’s house at 2:30 pm.
On Thursday evening, Dogopia, who was just released at 11 pm, told Jubi that the police returned his laptop, handphone, arrows, knife, and other personal belongings except for his KNPB flag. He said although returned, his computer could not start anymore.
“The police accused me of uploading the recruitment of native Papuans as police officers on my Facebook account. I said, I never uploaded that video. He asked the police, why did they arrest him while the video was already circulating widely on social media.
Dogopia said when he was at the police precinct, an officer slapped him and asked him to give the officer his cell phone. I told them when they arrested me, my cell phone fell on the front yard.
Before he was released, the police made him sign a statement that he would not post anything on social media that opposed “NKRI”. Dogopia agreed to sign. He said he did not object to the request as long as the police did not make him sign a statement that he had to stop his political activities with the KNPB. “I would rather be in jail if they asked me that,” he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 30, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 16, 2021
- Event Description
A journalist in West Flores was allegedly mistreated by a group of people while doing coverage. AL is suspected of being abused by a contractor with the initials of SD along with his workers after covering the visit of a number of members of the DPRD Flores Barat to monitor the construction of the Bale Puskesmas in Klubagolit District on Saturday, January 16.
The journalist was assaulted for covering the allegations of corruption of the construction of health facilities which later were found not to be in accordance with the budget plan.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Corporation (others)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 30, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 9, 2021
- Event Description
Indonesian authorities should drop politically motivated treason charges and unconditionally release an activist detained for peacefully advocating Papuan independence, Human Rights Watch said today. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo should publicly direct security forces involved in counterinsurgency operations in Papua to act in accordance with international law or be held to account.
On May 9, 2021, a special police unit, Satgas Nemangkawi, arrested Victor Yeimo, a spokesman for the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB) in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province. Police charged him with treason for a 2019 statement, made during anti-racism protests and ensuing riots in Papua and West Papua, calling for a referendum on independence. Papua’s police chief, Mathius Fakhiri, said that the police are still “digging up” cases against Yeimo: “Let him get old in prison.”
“Indonesian police should investigate the deadly violence and arson attacks in Papua in 2019 but not use that as a pretext to crack down on peaceful activists,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “An independent investigation is still needed into the role of the security forces, and the authorities need to prosecute those responsible for wrongdoing.”
For decades, successive Indonesian governments have discriminated against the Indigenous people of Melanesian origin in the resource-rich and isolated provinces of Papua and West Papua, Human Rights Watch said.
Yeimo, 38, is a prominent activist who helped set up the KNPB after the fatal shooting of Opinus Tabuni, a Papuan celebrating International Indigenous People’s Day on August 9, 2008. No one was ever arrested for his killing.
Yeimo and others were arrested in 2008 and 2009 for advocating a United Nations-administered independence referendum in Papua and West Papua provinces. On his Facebook page, Yeimo has repeatedly written about racism against Papuans and called for negotiations between the West Papuan independence movement and Indonesia’s government. He has spoken at conferences in Indonesia and internationally about Papua’s environmental and human rights problems.
In August 2019, Papuans took part in protests across at least 30 cities in Indonesia in response to a racist attack by Indonesian militants and soldiers on a West Papuan student dorm in Surabaya. Videos showed some Indonesian soldiers repeatedly banging on the dormitory’s gate while shouting words such as “monkeys.” Police shot teargas into the dormitory and arrested dozens of Papuan students. Videos of the attack circulated widely and triggered widespread protests, including looting and arson attacks in Jayapura, Manokwari, Sorong, and Wamena.
At least 43 Papuan protest leaders and KNPB activists were charged with treason and sentenced despite the fact that they were not involved in violence. The activists included Surya Anta Ginting, the coordinator of the Front of the Indonesian People for West Papua, who was convicted along with five other Papuan activists, in April 2020. They were sentenced to between eight and nine months in prison.
In Balikpapan, seven KNPB activists and Papuan student leaders were sentenced to between 10 and 11 months for treason in June 2020. These included Buchtar Tabuni, another KNPB founder, and Agus Kossay, the KNPB chairman, who were jailed for their pro-independence speeches. The police then also put Yeimo, who had given interviews to international media, on their “wanted” list, though they took no further action at the time.
Human Rights Watch takes no position on Papuan claims to self-determination, but supports everyone’s right, including independence supporters, to express their political views peacefully without fear of arrest or other forms of reprisal.
Yeimo’s May 9 arrest came as Indonesian military operations in Papua intensified in response to the April 25 killing in an ambush of I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha Karya, a Special Forces (Kopassus) brigadier general, in the Central Highlands. Nugraha is the first general to be killed in five decades of low intensity conflict in Papua. Yeimo called the death of General Nugraha a “sacrifice” caused by the reluctance of the Indonesian government and parliament to find a political solution in Papua.
President Jokowi responded to the killing by ordering the army and police to hunt down and arrest every member of the group responsible for the general’s death. The Jokowi administration later declared an unnamed “armed criminal group” a terrorist organization, apparently referring to the West Papua National Liberation Army.
The national police have dispatched an additional 12 companies (about 1,200 officers) from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and the Moluccas, while the military has sent 400 troops from the 315/Garuda Battalion from Bogor, south of Jakarta. Human rights groups in Indonesia have expressed concerns that the government’s labeling the armed group “terrorist” could encourage serious abuses by the security forces in Papua.
“Papuan opposition to Indonesian rule and military and police oppression has often been met with further abuses,” Adams said. “The Indonesian authorities should ensure that all security force operations in Papua are carried out in accordance with the law and that peaceful activists and other civilians are not targeted.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 24, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 9, 2021
- Event Description
Dozens of Papuan students from dari Front Mahasiswa Peduli Papua (Formalipa) admitted to being victims of police violence in Denpasar. The alleged incident occurred when they held a demonstration in the Renon area, Denpasar, Tuesday (9/3/2021). This was revealed by representatives of Formalipa in a press conference held at the LBH Bali office, Denpasar, Wednesday (10/3/2021).
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 19, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 22, 2021
- Event Description
Police officer from the Jayapura City Police arrested five students demonstrating carrying the Bintang Kejora flag on Monday (22/3/2021). The police also disband a demonstration demanding that Government of Indonesia open access for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Papua. The rally was initiated by students of the students of Universitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura (USTJ) on campus. Initially, the protesters had time to postpone their action, because they saw that the police were already on campus.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 19, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 5, 2021
- Event Description
A group of Papuans staged a rally to protest the Special Autonomy for Papua in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday (5/3/2021). The demonstration against Papua Special Autonomy was violently be disbanded by the Police from Polrestabes Semarang. Deputy city police chief of Semarang, AKBP I.G.A. Perbawa Nugraha, argued that the dispersal of the demonstration was carried out because it violated the rules for imposing restrictions on community activities which are currently being implemented in the city of Semarang to prevent the spread of the corona virus. 30 participants were arrested as result of the dispersal.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 18, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 27, 2021
- Event Description
The police forcibly dispersed a number of people who held a demonstration in front of the DPR RI Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (27/1). The demonstration was disbanded because it was deemed to have violated the Covid-19 health protocol. It is known that there were two groups of masses who held demonstrations in front of the DPR building, a group known to supports Papua's Special Autonomy. The number is about 70, according to the police. 15 participants to the event were arrested by the police
- Impact of Event
- 16
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 18, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 11, 2021
- Event Description
The Director of LBH Makassar Muhammad Haedir revealed that two protesters at the commemoration of International Women's Day in Makassar, South Sulawesi were detained for 24 hours at the Makassar Police Headquarters. He said the chronology of the arrests began when the protesters demonstrated their voices on various women's issues last Monday (8/3). When the masses were preparing to disperse, continued Haedir, suddenly there were community organizations that accused them of supporting the Papua issue
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to Protest, Women's rights
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 13, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 16, 2021
- Event Description
Several longtime pro-democracy advocates on Friday learned their fate for organizing one of Hong Kong's largest-ever street protests during the height of anti-government demonstrations.
Nine pro-democracy activists, including media mogul Jimmy Lai, 73, and former lawmakers Lee Cheuk-yan, 64, Leung Kwok-hung, 65, Cyd Ho, 66, and Au Nok-hin, 33, were jailed after being found guilty this month of involvement in an August 2019 march that attracted hundreds of thousands of protesters.
District Judge Amanda Woodcock of Hong Kong's West Kowloon Magistrates Court also suspended sentencing for four other activists because of their age and accomplishments, according to The Associated Press.
Lai, who was additionally charged under the national security law on Friday for the second time and now faces six charges total, received 14 months in jail, as did activist Lee Cheuk-yan, after they had both pleaded guilty of organizing and participating in the rally on August 19, 2019, and of participating in another illegal assembly less than two weeks later.
Not surprised
Former Legislative Council lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan had expected Friday's outcome. When speaking with VOA in March about Beijing's electoral reforms for Hong Kong, he admitted that he, with four outstanding trials for illegal assembly looming over him, was likely to face jail.
"I think is important not to lose hope and always to do something to 'light a candle in darkness' so people can see the hope and see a lot of people doing different things in the society that show we are holding on to our values," he said. "It is important we hold on.
"If I go to the jail, I think it will be a good time to reflect on my life experience," he told VOA in an audio call.
Ho and Au received eight and 10 months behind bars, respectively, while Leung received the stiffest sentence, 18 months. Au and Leung were already in custody in relation to other cases.
The four remaining activists — "father of democracy" Martin Lee, 82, Margaret Ng, 73, Albert Ho, 69, and Leung Yiu-chung, 67 — received suspended sentences.
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau, who was at the court for the sentencing, told VOA that it was a "very, very bad day for Hong Kong."
"So many people who have fought for democracy and human rights and rule of law for so many years have been given such heavy jail sentences for engaging in peaceful and nonviolent protests," she said. "It's very, very sad. But we know everybody, including judges and the government, are under a lot of pressure from Beijing, and they really want to teach Hong Kong people a lesson."
Lau said the length of sentences didn't come as a surprise, as they were notably longer than they had been for activists charged with illegal assembly.
"We know times have changed," said Lau. "Beijing is breathing down on us very heavily, and everybody feels the pressure."
Under the "one country, two systems" agreement signed by Britain and China in 1997 after the city was transferred back to Chinese rule, Beijing promised that Hong Kong would retain a "high degree of autonomy" until 2047.
A controversial extradition bill sparked Hong Kong's monthslong anti-government protests in 2019 that often turned violent. In response, Beijing implemented the national security law for Hong Kong, prohibiting secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
Dozens jailed
Since the security legislation came into force, dozens of activists have been jailed while others are awaiting trial or have fled the city. To limit the election of pro-democracy opposition, China's national legislature recently approved a major electoral overhaul for Hong Kong's political system, expanding the number of pro-Beijing voices on Hong Kong's Legislative Council.
Veteran political analyst Joseph Cheng believes the crackdown is meant to "eliminate" the pro-democracy movement.
"These arrests and court cases plus the changes, the so-called 'perfection of the electoral laws,' actually means there is no room for the operation for a pro-democracy movement, meaning there is no tolerance in Hong Kong," he said.
Cheng admitted the scrutiny could spell the end for the veteran activists, but there are now hopes for a younger generation to take the lead.
"You may say the older generation of activists, they probably will no longer be active given their age and given the tremendously difficult situation in the two, three years ahead," Cheng told VOA. "In this way, it is the end of their participation among the first generation like Martin Lee, Lee Cheuk-yan and so on. We certainly pin our hopes on the younger generation."
But for Hong Kong's younger activists, the risks are greater than ever. Yat-Chin Wong, 19, organizer of pro-democracy political group StudentPoliticism, told VOA that "now even just a few words [and you] may be arrested."
"The current red line is erratic, and there is no good way to avoid risks," he said.
Wong, who spent his childhood in China before moving to Hong Kong while in primary school, told VOA in January that national security officers had warned him about his activism in the city, while mainland Chinese authorities had questioned his relatives in Sichuan province.
- Impact of Event
- 9
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 25, 2021
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Mar 15, 2021
- Event Description
At least 25 people were shot dead Monday as anti-coup protesters in multiple cities braved increasing violence by security forces following a bloody weekend that killed scores of protesters in Myanmar’s largest city, witnesses said.
The junta that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb. 1 also imposed a 24-hours shutdown of mobile internet service in an attempt to cut off lines of communication among protesters and other members of a nationwide civil disobedience movement (CDM) that has opposed military rule for six weeks.
The suspension of internet service forced court officials in the capital Naypyidaw to postpone the videoconference trial hearing of the 75-year-old deposed leader, who has been under house arrest since the coup and is facing a handful of what supporters say are spurious charges.
Aung San Suu Kyi faces charges of alleged incitement, violation of telecommunication laws, possession of “illegally” imported walkie-talkie radios, violation of the Natural Disaster Management Law for breaching COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during the 2020 election campaign, and corruption.
Eleven of the protesters killed Monday were slain in violent crackdowns in the cities of Mandalay, Yangon, and Magway, and in Shan state, witnesses said.
In Myingyan, a town in central Myanmar’s Mandalay region, five protesters died and 13 were seriously injured when police and soldiers sprayed tear gas and shot live rounds at crowds.
RFA has recorded at least 170 deaths as of Monday, including 60 deaths across the country on Sunday, the bloodiest day since the coup.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is "appalled by the escalating violence in Myanmar at the hands of the country’s military," his spokesman said in a statement.
"The killing of demonstrators, arbitrary arrests and the reported torture of prisoners violate fundamental human rights and stand in clear defiance of calls by the Security Council for restraint, dialogue and a return to Myanmar’s democratic path," said spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a watchdog group, said that as of Monday, 2,175 people had been arrested, charged, or sentenced in relation to the military coup, with 1,856 still being held or with outstanding warrants. More than 70 people are in hiding, it said.
In Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, two men died when police and soldiers fired at anti-junta protest column, witnesses said. Rallies were held in other parts of the city, with schoolteachers staging a sit-in protest and attorneys riding motorbikes on town streets in defiance of the military.
One column of about 3,000 protesters set out around 9 a.m. Monday from Thonzu Pagoda, but were confronted and shot at by 50 police officers and soldiers an hour later near the Electric Power Corporation office, said a protester in Mandalay’s Myingyan township.
“Three people died at the private clinics we sent them to,” he said. “An elderly Muslim woman from a nearby house who opened her doors to protesters to hide them also was killed by gunfire. The other two were middle-aged men.”
At least five people in all died amid the violence, including two from a university student union, and four of the many wounded protesters are in critical condition, he said.
Violence in Yangon townships
In Hlaingthaya township, a factory zone west of Yangon, a bystander died at a road intersection when police and soldiers fired indiscriminately, witnesses said. At least 50 people died near the same site on Sunday when police and soldiers positioned on a flyover fired at civilians on the streets below with live rounds.
In Yangon’s Tamwe township, groups of young people held an anti-junta rally on Kyaikkasan Road, where one man died by police gunfire Sunday afternoon. Similar protests were reported in three other townships in Yangon, the country’s former capital and commercial center.
In one a video that went viral on social media, policemen on Sunday were recorded dragging away Khant Nyar Hein, an 18-year-olf first-year medical student who was shot in the street during a protest in Tamwe. Authorities asked his family to retrieve his body Monday morning, said his father.
The military regime has declared martial law in six Yangon satellite townships — North Okkalapa, North Dagon, South Dagon, Dagon Seikkan, Hlaingthaya, and Shwepyitha — areas overseen by the Yangon region military commander.
The Chinese Embassy in Yangon said in a statement Monday calling for legal action after Chinese workers were wounded and trapped a day earlier when Chinese-funded garment factories were set ablaze in an industrial zone.
In Shwepyitha township, local residents tried to extinguish a fire at the Solamoda Garments Co. Ltd. factory and spread to a nearby backpack factory. But the buildings were still burning at the time of publication Monday.
RFA was unable to obtain first-hand details about the fires because of the growing number of arrests of or threats against journalists by local authorities.
Sunday’s factory zone protest deaths prompted an appeal for pressure on apparel manufacturers to support workers from Simon Billenness, executive director of the International Campaign for the Rohingya.
“The young, mostly female, garment workers are the forefront of the civil disobedience movement” and had launched a general strike on March 8 to support restoring democracy, he wrote.
“But the apparel factory owners are intimidating and even firing workers for going on strike and taking part in pro-democracy protests,” added Billenness.
He said major textile buyers sportswear maker Adidas, Zara clothing brand owned by Indetex Group, and Lidl supermarket chain are among the global brands that have “significant market power” to “support the garment workers by demanding that the factory owners stop intimidating workers who join CDM protests.”
Germany-based Adidas, the only one of the three firms to respond to an RFA request for comment, said on March 12 that six of its 525 suppliers are located in Myanmar.
“We are in close exchange with other brands, industry associations and civil society organizations about the current situation,” said Stefan Pursche, senior manager for media relations at Adidas.
Rubber bullets, live rounds
Also on Monday, two men were killed and four others were injured when security forces opened fired on a group in Aunglan township, Magwe region, a resident said.
“When people fled the scene, police took away five motorcycles left on the roads,” the local said. “A huge crowd later surrounded the police station and that was when they started shooting. They used both rubber bullets as well as live rounds, and six people got hit.”
In Pathein, the capital of Ayeyarwady region, police and military attacked residents as they prepared for nighttime protests, killing three people and critically injuring another five, a witness told RFA.
In Aungban, a major trading town in the southern Shan state, one protester died and two others were injured during a crackdown by police and soldiers, witnesses said.
The Naypyidaw hearings for detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who faces similar charges, were rescheduled for March 24 because of the internet service shutdown.
The police notified Yuyu Chit and Min Min Soe, two junior attorneys from Aung San Suu Kyi’s defense team, that they would receive a signed transfer of power of attorney to represent the state counselor at the hearing, said defense attorney Khin Maung Zaw.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team submitted applications for seven attorneys to represent her at court, but only two were approved, he added.
Now that military authorities have extended the internet service shutdown from nighttime to around-the-clock, companies and ordinary residents say they are having problems conducting business.
Phone lines and internet service were first shut down on Feb. 1, but available the next day. The services were suspended gain on Feb. 6-7, but resumed the following day. As of Feb 15, internet service has been cut off daily between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Monthly internet service subscribers with fiber optic lines said they were able to go online Monday morning, but that Wi-Fi services provided by the companies Ooredoo and Telenor were not available.
An Ooredoo spokesperson said she did not know when the company would be able to make the service available. A computer-generated reply to phone queries said that internet service had been suspended temporarily in accordance with instructions from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
“The military authorities want to control the communications between protesters of the Spring Revolution,” said a man from Yangon’s Insein township who declined to give his name. “Wi-Fi is not available everywhere, but with the mobile data, they can communicate very easily.”
Rural residents, women stuck
Others said they believed it was an attempt by the junta to stop people live-streaming violent acts committed by soldiers and police during protests.
Rural residents who depend on mobile internet service to transfer money and conduct business online said they were stuck, especially since nearly all banks have remained closed for weeks. Women whose husbands are migrant workers and routinely transfer remittances online also are in a bind.
“There are many women here who need to go to hospital for various reasons, and some of their husbands who are in Thailand, China or Malaysia now find it impossible to send money home,” said a man who works at a money transfer services in Yinmabin, Sagaing region.
RFA could not reach military regime spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the shootings or internet shutdown.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Killing, Use of Excessive Force
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 16, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 3, 2021
- Event Description
On 3 March 2021, West Papuan human rights defenders Roland Levy and Kelvin Molama, wereforcibly taken from their respective student dormitories in East Jakarta and Central Jakarta, by agroup of plain-clothes individuals. It was only later confirmed that the individuals who had detainedthem were part of the Criminal Research Unit of Polda Metro Jaya regional police. Both defendersare currently detained at the Polda Metro Jaya police station.Roland Levy is a West Papuan student human rights defender. As a coordinator of the AlliansiMahasaswa Papua - AMP (West Papua Student Alliance) for Jakarta, he leads discussions ondemocracy, human rights violations and the rights of freedom of the press, and is involved in mediaoutreach for the Alliance. He has also coordinated initiatives focused on the State’s responsibility toresolve tribal conflicts in Timika in 2017, and West Papua’s right to self-determination. KelvinMolama is a West Papuan student human rights defender and an active member of the AMP. Hehas been actively involved in the group’s human rights activities including the organisation ofdiscussion forums and protests against the human rights violation in West Papua.On the morning of 3 March 2021, fourteen plain-clothes individuals in four vehicles entered thepremises of Yahukimo student accommodation and forcibly removed human rights defender KelvinMolama. The individuals, believed at the time to be police or intelligence officials, did not presentany warrant for detaining the defender. Other residents of the dormitory witnessing the detentionwere prevented from taking photos of the incident. At about the same time, fellow student humanrights defender Roland Levy was also taken away by plain-clothes individuals from his studentdormitory in the Senen area of Central Jakarta. No warrant was presented for his arrest.Later that day, individuals close to the human rights defenders were able to confirm that bothdefenders had been detained by officials from the Criminal Research Unit of Polda Metro Jaya.Roland Levy and Kelvin Molama have both been threatened with formal arrest under Article 170and Article 365 of the Criminal Code, which relate to of violence and theft. The exact reason fortheir arrest has yet to be provided to the human rights defenders, yet they remain detained at thePolda Metro Jaya police station, where they have had access to their lawyers.Human rights defenders on the ground believe that the arrests were made as a pre-emptivemeasure, to slow the momentum of the growing protest movement in West Papua, and intimidateand discourage those involved in the movement. Since the peaceful demonstrations led by WestPapuan student human rights defenders in August 2019, many of these defenders have beensubjected to relentless threats, intimidation and harassment by Indonesian officials. VeronicaKoman, a lawyer and woman human rights defender who worked closely with the defenders hasbeen targeted with various forms of harassment, such as the inclusion of her name on the country’swanted list and threats that an Interpol red notice would be issued in her name.Front Line Defenders is extremely concerned for the safety of Roland Levy and Kelvin Molama, asit believes they are being targeted for their legitimate and peaceful work for the protection of humanrights. Front Line Defenders condemns the increasingly hostile environment for human rightsdefenders in Indonesia, specifically those from West Papua, working on the rights of West Papuansand human rights issues more broadly.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 11, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 23, 2021
- Event Description
A court in Hong Kong on Tuesday denied an application for bail from jailed democracy activists Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam pending their appeal against their sentence on charges related to "illegal assembly" during a mass siege of police headquarters on June 21, 2019.
Chow, who looked thinner and paler than in previous court appearances, wiped away tears in court as High Court judge Andrew Chan said he would be referring the case to the Court of Appeal, effectively denying the application for bail.
Some supporters shouted out encouragement to Chow, while Lam made the five-finger gesture of the 2019 pro-democracy movement representing five demands made by protesters, including fully democratic elections, an amnesty for jailed protesters, and accountability for police violence.
The hearing was also attended by outspoken Cardinal Joseph Zen. Police officers cordoned off the area around the court entrance with traffic barriers, and journalists weren't allowed to get close enough to take photos.
Lawyers for Lam and Chow later said the pair will both serve out their sentences, with Lam due to be released in April and Chow in June.
Chow, 24, was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment in Dec. 2 after pleading guilty to charges relating to "illegal assembly."
She was taken after sentencing to the medium-security Lo Wu Correctional Institution near the border with mainland China, but was later transferred to the Tai Lam Women's Correctional Institution, a Category A facility.
Category A prisoners, of whom there are only a few hundred in a city of seven million, are often people who have been convicted of murder or drug trafficking.
Fellow activist and former 2014 student leader Joshua Wong, who co-founded the now-disbanded political party Demosisto with Chow, is also believed to have been placed in Category A.
Fellow activists Joshua Wong, 24, and Lam, 26, were jailed for 13-and-a-half-months and seven months respectively by the West Kowloon District Court on Dec. 2, 2020.
All three defendants pleaded guilty to charges of "inciting others to take part in an illegal assembly" and "taking part in an illegal assembly," and their sentences were reduced in recognition of the guilty plea.
Oaths of allegiance
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong authorities are gearing up to require sitting members of the District Council to take an oath of allegiance to Hong Kong.
Secretary for mainland and constitutional affairs Eric Tsang said politicians whose oaths were deemed "insincere" would be stripped of their seats on the council.
Pro-democracy candidates swept to a landslide victory in the last District Council elections in November 2019, which came after several months of mass protest over Hong Kong's vanishing freedoms.
"The law will fulfill the constitutional responsibility of the government," Tsang said.
"You cannot say that you are patriotic but you do not love the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party or you do not respect it - this does not make sense," Tsang added. "Patriotism is holistic love."
The move came a day after a top ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official in charge of Hong Kong said that only patriots should be allowed to hold public office.
Under the draft legislation, any district councilor who fails the loyalty test will be sent to court for formal disqualification, and banned from taking part in elections for five years.
Mass disqualifications
Political commentators have warned that the authorities are gearing up for the mass disqualification of opposition politicians from the council, who currently hold nearly 90 percent of seats.
Tsang said four district councilors -- Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen, Fergus Leung, and Tat Cheng -- have already been earmarked for disqualification.
“The returning officers at the time have already concluded that the four do not genuinely uphold the Basic Law. So theoretically speaking, they won’t be qualified to stay on as district councillors," Tsang told reporters in comments reported by government broadcaster RTHK.
A recent poll by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) found that several different measures of freedom in Hong Kong were at their lowest level since the handover.
Academic freedom, freedom of association, and freedom of movement all dropped to their lowest ebb in a survey carried out in early February 2021, while press freedom and freedom of speech also returned low scores.
HKPORI deputy chief executive Chung Kim-wah said the freedom of movement figure reflects people's concerns over growing entry and exit controls at Hong Kong's borders, particularly after China said it would no longer recognize the British National Overseas (BNO) passport.
"First they were talking about countermeasures and non-recognition, and then we had the announcement that the BNO wouldn't be accepted as a travel document any more," Chung told RFA. "There were also rumors that there would be restrictions on people trying to leave."
"Our survey conducted at the beginning of this month reflects people's feelings on the BNO [issue]," he said.
Following the imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong, the U.K. launched an immigration scheme for BNO passport-holders that offers a potential pathway to work, study, and eventual citizenship to around five million of Hong Kong's seven million residents, drawing Beijing's ire.
Crackdown on dissent, opposition
The CCP imposed the draconian National Security Law for Hong Kong on the city from July 1, 2020, ushering in a crackdown on peaceful dissent and political opposition.
The law was described as "one of the greatest threats to human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong since the 1997 handover" by legal experts at Georgetown University's Asian Law Center.
The report found that the authorities "have made vigorous use of the [law] over the past seven months, with over 100 arrests by the newly-created national security department in the Hong Kong police force."
"The vast majority of initial ... arrests would not be considered national security cases in other liberal constitutional jurisdictions," the report said.
It said there are "serious concerns" that the law is being used to suppress the basic political rights of Hong Kong residents.
"Prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights to free expression, association, or assembly ... violate Hong Kong and Beijing’s commitments under international human rights law," it said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 27, 2021
- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Initial Date
- Jan 29, 2021
- Event Description
A court in Kazakhstan has upheld a three-year parole restriction on Kazakh activist Maks Boqaev upon his expected release from prison on February 4.
The Atyrau City Court in the country's west on January 29 rejected Boqaev's appeal, saying "the hearing did not find grounds to consider that Maks Boqaev's rights and interests had been violated by the lower court's decision."
Boqaev disputed the lower court's January 22 decision to impose restrictions on him after his release next week, calling the move politically motivated.
The 48-year-old activist was arrested and sentenced to five years on extremism charges in 2016 after he organized unsanctioned protests against land reform in Atyrau.
The United States, European Union, and the United Nations have urged Kazakh authorities to release Boqaev.
Human rights organizations in Kazakhstan have recognized Boqaev as a political prisoner. Kazakhstan's government has insisted that there are no political prisoners in the country.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to fair trial
- HRD
- Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 1, 2021
- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Initial Date
- Jan 10, 2021
- Event Description
An aggressive crowd-control tactic known as “kettling” has been taken to such an extreme against a few dozen protesters in Kazakhstan that human rights groups are calling it torture.
Police in Almaty also used loudspeakers to intimidate the handful of anti-government demonstrators on January 10 -- repeatedly playing a song by a Kazakh pop star who later performed for a celebration of U.S. President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Kettling has caused controversy in the West, where it is used to contain crowds of more than 1,000 people that are deemed by authorities to include violent participants.
Rather than trying to arrest violent individuals or disperse a crowd en masse, police temporarily trap everyone together within a small area -- only gradually allowing people to leave. Usually, crowds are blockaded for a few hours or less.
In London and Washington, Seattle, Chicago, New York, and Toronto, kettling has been used during the past 20 years to contain massive anti-war rallies, anti-globalization demonstrations, and protests by the Black Lives Matter movement.
The tactic also was used against demonstrators near President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2017.
Critics argue that kettling increases the potential for violence -- rather than defusing tensions -- because it traps people together in close proximity.
Some courts in the United States and Britain have deemed kettling to be illegal because it targets entire groups indiscriminately and because individuals who aren’t part of a demonstration can also be trapped within police barricades.
Kazakh 'Kettling'
When a few dozen Kazakh activists tried to march in Almaty on January 10, the day of Kazakhstan’s recent parliamentary elections, the apparent goal of authorities was to snuff out democratic dissent and intimidate people from staging future demonstrations.
The incident was part of a wider, ongoing policy of crackdowns that has cast doubt on President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev’s pledge to make political reforms and improve human rights in the former Soviet republic, which is the largest country in Central Asia.
The security forces in Almaty surrounded two groups of about a dozen people who were calling for constitutional reforms and an end to the dominant rule of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev’s Nur Otan party.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, police wearing masks and riot gear forced one group to stand bunched together in freezing temperatures for nine hours without food, water, or an opportunity to use a bathroom.
Another group that included a pregnant woman and two children was forced to stand together like canned sardines for seven hours.
Meanwhile, police took turns in rotating shifts so they could rest, eat, and stay warm.
At least one demonstrator collapsed with hypothermia and had to be taken away in an ambulance before authorities allowed the protesters to leave.
Psychologically Chilling
Inga Imanbai, a freelance journalist known for critical reports about the Kazakh government, was among those who were kettled and forced to stand in the cold for hours.
“First, there were police provocations for about 40 minutes,” Imanbai told RFE/RL. “Then they brought in loudspeakers and played the song Blizzard Again [super loud] about 20 times in a row. I accepted it as a kind of psychological pressure.”
Blizzard Again is a love song by the internationally renown Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen.
With lyrics in the Kazakh language, Kudaibergen repeatedly sings the chorus refrain: “My heart is freezing. I feel the chill in my soul.”
Imanbai explains that the innocuous love song, when used as a psychological weapon against hedged-in Kazakh protesters, has an even more chilling connotation.
In that context, she says, the title Blizzard Again hints at a deadly crackdown launched by Soviet authorities in December 1986 against thousands of young Kazakhs who dared to stage anti-Kremlin protests in the streets of Alma-Ata -- now known as Almaty.
The unexpected and unprecedented “December” protests were a response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s removal of Dinmukhamed Kunaev as first secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan.
Gorbachev replaced the ethnic Kazakh leader with an outsider from Russia named Gennady Kolbin.
The December protests were tolerated for two days. But on the third day, Soviet security forces launched a brutal crackdown codenamed Operation Blizzard.
The actual death toll from Operation Blizzard may never be known.
Officially, Soviet authorities claimed three people were killed. But witnesses say the real number was much higher.
Many young Kazakhs who took part in the protests were later sent to Soviet prisons or expelled from their universities.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the December protest movement was used by Nazarbaev and his successive governments as a symbol of Kazakh independence.
That has ensured that all Kazakhs remember Operation Blizzard and, for them, brings an ominous double meaning to the song title Blizzard Again.
International View
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the U.S.-based nongovernmental group Human Rights Watch have condemned the kettling operations of police in Almaty as “repressive tactics against peaceful demonstrators.”
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concludes that crowd-control tactics like kettling should only be used by authorities in exceptional cases.
The OSCE’s guidelines on freedom of peaceful assembly state: “Tactics of holding protesters in a confined space, known as ‘kettling,’ and other such tactics are characterized by the fact that they do not distinguish between those who participate and those who do not participate in the meeting, or between peaceful and nonpeaceful participants.”
The United Nations’ Human Rights Committee (OHCHR) says police operations to surround and block a group of demonstrators should “only be applied if necessary.”
A body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the OHCHR, says such measures should be applied in proportion to the need to “suppress actual committed violence or to eliminate the imminent threat of violence.”
In many cases, the OHCHR concludes, specific individuals should be targeted rather than entire groups.
It says “particular attention should be paid to blocking, as far as possible, only those directly involved in the violence” and limiting the duration of kettling operations to “the minimum time necessary.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement, Use of Excessive Force, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to health, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 23, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2020
- Event Description
Polres Gorontalo Kota membubarkan aksi aliansi mahasiswa Papua yang digelar di gerbang kampus Universitas Negeri Gorontalo (UNG), Selasa (1/12/2020).
Sejatinya, aksi ini digelar oleh aliansi mahasiswa Papua di Gorontalo untuk memperingati lahirnya Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) yang jatuh pada 1 Desember.
“Aksi ini terpaksa dibubarkan karena tidak memiliki izin,” kata Kapolres Gorontalo Kota, AKBP Desmont Harjendro AP SIK, saat dikonfirmasi wartawan.
Dikatakan Kapolres pula, bahwa di masa pandemi ini pihaknya harus benar-benar mencegah kerumunan dan hal-hal lainnya yang berpotensi bertambahnya virus corona.
Pembubaran aksi oleh pihak kepolisian pun awalnya telah dilakukan secara persuasif, namun sayang tidak diindahkan oleh mahasiswa Papua tersebut. Olehnya, polisi pun melakukan upaya paksa untuk membubarkan aksi.
“Tadi memang nyaris terjadi gesekan dengan massa aksi, namun semuanya bisa dikendalikan,” tandas mantan Kapolres Bone Bolango itu. Sebelumnya, aliansi mahasiswa Papua menggelar aksi Free West Papua (Fri-WP) dalam rangka memperingati HUT OPM ini menyampaikan beberapa tuntutannya, di antaranya memprotes pemerintah yang dianggap selalu mendeskripsikan masyarakat Papua dan mengeroyok kekayaan di tanah Papua.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 20, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2020
- Event Description
Beredar informasi soal pembubaran massa aksi oleh aparat berpakaian preman sekira pukul 13.35 WIT di depan Pasar Barito, Gamalama, Ternate Tengah. Kapolres Ternate AKBP Aditya Laksimada membenarkan hal tersebut.
"Iya," ujar dia ketika dihubungi Tirto, Selasa (1/12/2020). Aditya menambahkan tidak ada penangkapan peserta aksi, hanya pembubaran demonstrasi saja. Massa berunjuk rasa menolak Otsus Papua jilid II, cabut Undang-Undang Cipta Kerja, dan berikan demokrasi bagi rakyat Papua. Aditya menyebut tiga hal dasar pembubaran. Pertama, massa tidak memiliki Surat Tanda Terima Pemberitahuan (STTP), meski sudah menginformasikan kepada kepolisian. Kedua, massa menimbulkan kerumunan yang rawan penyebaran virus COVID-19. Ketiga, Polri mencegah hasutan dan ujaran yang mengarah kepada perpecahan bangsa.
Pemerintah dan aparat Indonesia kerap menyebut 1 Desember sebagai "hari ulang tahun Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM)." Masalahnya 1 Desember bukanlah hari ulang tahun OPM, meski itu memang sangat terkait erat dengan upaya memerdekakan diri Papua dari Indonesia.
Pernyataan ini disampaikan Juru Bicara Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat-Organisasi Papua Merdeka (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom. "1 Desember itu hari para tokoh Papua dan pemerintahan Belanda mengumumkan embrio negara. OPM berjuang untuk pengakuan itu," katanya, Selasa (12/11/2019).
Pada 19 Oktober 1961, Nicholaas Jouwe, EJ Bonay, Nicholaas Tanggahma, dan F. Torey membuat manifesto politik yang mendesak Belanda agar "Papua mendapatkan tempat sendiri sama seperti bangsa-bangsa merdeka."
Kemudian, pada 1 Desember 1961, di kantor-kantor Hoofd van Plaatselijk Bestuur (HPB)--pemerintahan daerah--penduduk Papua berkumpul merayakan pengibaran bendera Papua Barat--Bintang Kejora--untuk kali pertama di samping bendera Belanda. Nyanyian religi 'Hai Tanahku Papua' dijadikan lagu nasional.
Sebagaimana Indonesia, Papua Barat juga diakui kemerdekaanya oleh Kerajaan Belanda. 1 Desember, dengan begitu, adalah simbol pengakuan Belanda atas berdirinya negara Papua Barat.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 20, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 16, 2020
- Event Description
Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua meneriakkan referendum usai diadang kepolisian saat hendak berdemonstrasi di kawasan Istana Negara, Jakarta, Senin (16/11).
Saat polisi menutup akses jalan ke Istana, orator Roland Levy menyebut pengadangan sebagai bentuk represi terhadap demokrasi. Polisi melarang mahasiswa Papua berdemonstrasi di Istana meski telah menyampaikan pemberitahuan dari pekan lalu. Polisi memasang kawat berduri dan menutup akses menuju Istana.
"Ini bukti pembungkaman terhadap demokrasi. Ini juga terjadi di Tanah Papua," kata Roland di depan barikade kawat berduri.
Roland pun meminta rekan-rekannya untuk melantangkan perlawanan. Mereka menyanyikan lagu Papua Bukan Merah Putih, lagu yang menyatakan penolakan pengakuan Papua sebagai bagian dari wilayah Indonesia.
Mereka pun melanjutkan aksi dengan orasi-orasi politik di depan kawat berduri. Para mahasiswa Papua menyatakan tiga tuntutan, yakni penolakan operasi Blok Wabu bekas PT Freeport Indonesia, penolakan perpanjangan otonomi khusus Papua yang berakhir 2021, dan menolak UU Cipta Kerja.
Di tengah-tengah aksi, orator Roland Levy berulang kali meneriakkan referendum. Ia juga meneriakkan tuntutan untuk memerdekakan Papua.
"Referendum?" ucap Roland.
"Yes," kata massa.
"Papua?" ucap Roland lagi.
"Merdeka," saut massa.
"Otsus?" teriak Roland.
"Tolak," sambut massa.
Massa pun tetap bertahan di kawasan Patung Arjunawiwaha. Demonstran menyampaikan orasi politik secara bergantian tentang potret ketidakadilan si Tanah Papua.
Sejumlah kelompok masyarakat Papua memperjuangkan referendum agar Papua bisa memisahkan diri dari Indonesia. Tuntutan ini menguat sejak akhir tahun 2019.
Pada 17 Agustus 2019, ada aksi rasisme oknum aparat kepada mahasiswa Papua di Surabaya, Jawa Timur. Aksi rasisme itu pun memicu gelombang demonstrasi besar-besaran oleh mahasiswa Papua di berbagai daerah.
Dari aksi itu, sejumlah tokoh pemuda Papua ditangkap dan dipenjara. Beberapa di antaranya adalah aktor yang berunjuk rasa di Jakarta, seperti Ambrosius Mulait dan Surya Anta Ginting.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 15, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 30, 2020
- Event Description
Semestinya Natan Weya, mahasiswa Universitas Pattimura (Unpatti) dan 20 kawan, menggelar demonstrasi peringatan tahunan 1 Desember Papua beberapa hari lalu. Tapi semua batal karena tempat tinggal mereka dikepung sejak malam sebelumnya. Reaksi ini dianggap tak patut.
TNI-Polri menyambangi asrama yang terletak di Jalan Ir. M. Putuhena, Kecamatan Teluk Ambon, Kota Ambon, ketika para penghuni sedang mempersiapkan demonstrasi pada Senin 30 November 2020 sekitar pukul 22.30 WIT. Datang pula seorang dosen Unpatti--yang dikenal Natan mengajar di Fakultas Ekonomi tapi tak tahu siapa namanya, Ketua RT, dan sekretaris desa.
Ketua RT mengatakan ia hendak mengecek apa betul ada penghuni baru di asrama itu. Tentu alasan ini tak masuk akal karena aparat turut serta. Para penghuni pun meminta 'tamu' angkat kaki, apalagi mereka datang hampir tengah malam.
Para tamu memang pergi, tapi itu hanya awal dari intimidasi.
"Setelah itu TNI, Polri, dan intelijen memblokade dua jalan tempat tinggal kami. Dibantu warga setempat," jelas Natan kepada reporter Tirto, Selasa (1/12/2020). Selain blokade, sekira pukul 03.30, teriakan makian terdengar empat kali. "Mereka melontarkan kata-kata makian [seperti] anjing, babi, binatang, goblok, dan segala macam. Tapi kami mahasiswa Papua tidak membalas." Terjadi pula pelemparan batu.Para penghuni tentu saja ketakutan. Perut mereka kosong tapi tak bisa keluar.
Seorang penghuni asrama, Abner Holago, lewat Facebook mengatakan rombongan berdiri di depan pintu menanyakan jumlah penghuni asrama dan apakah ada selain orang Papua dan yang bukan penghuni. Perdebatan mulai terjadi ketika rombongan memaksa masuk ke ruang tamu. Dia juga menayangkan beberapa video lain.
Para penghuni dituding “tidak memperingati 17 Agustus, tidak tahu terima kasih.” Juga menerima kalimat makian seperti 'semerlap' yang artinya 'biadab'.
Pemantauan oleh “[aparat] berpakaian preman” terus berlangsung meski intensitasnya berkurang. Para penghuni pun gagal menggelar demonstrasi. “Tapi kami bisa keluar beli makan dan minum. Mereka hanya pantau-pantau dengan motor, lewat-lewat saja,” katanya.
Kasubag Humas Polresta Pulau Ambon dan Pulau-Pulau Lease Ipda Izak Leatemia membantah apa yang mereka lakukan disebut pengepungan. Ia bahkan bilang video yang beredar bohong belaka. “Video hoaks yang disebarkan melalui akun FB bernama Abner Holago memang membuat marah warga setempat, namun tidak ada pengepungan jalan masuk maupun mes mahasiswa ini,” ujar dia, Selasa, dikutip dari Antara.
Dolvis juga membantah ada pengepungan. “Saya bersama perangkat RT dan masyarakat masuk mes itu hanya untuk menanyakan ada orang yang dicurigai. Karena ketika kami masuk, ada yang lari ke belakang,” katanya. Izak bilang awalnya asrama itu didatangi oleh warga dari salah satu desa di Pulau Haruku, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah. Lantas Ketua RT 011/06 Dolvis da Costa beserta pejabat Desa Wayame Nur Alan La Saleman, anggota Bhabinkamtibmas dan personel Babinsa turut serta. Tujuannya untuk menanyakan identitas tamu.
Ketika para penghuni menolak, ada yang merekam kejadian itu dan membuat narasi seolah-olah mereka dikepung aparat. Kemudian rombongan balik badan. Meski demikian, guna menjaga situasi kondusif, personel polsek berjaga-jaga--yang bagi mahasiswa dianggap pengepungan dan membuat mereka takut.
Diskriminasi Bagi Direktur Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Papua Emanuel Gobay, apa yang terjadi di Ambon ini memperkuat fakta diskriminasi dan stigma kerap kali menimpa orang-orang Papua. Orang-orang Papua sering dicurigai berlebihan karena etnis mereka. Sulit membayangkan kejadian serupa menimpa orang-orang non-Papua.
Stigma dan diskriminasi ini juga dipraktikkan oleh aparat. “Aparat keamanan itu bagian dari pemerintah, bertanggung jawab untuk melindungi,” kaya Gobay kepada reporter Tirto, Rabu (2/12/2020). Ia lantas mengutip Pasal 28 I ayat (4) UUD 1945, yang menyebut “perlindungan, pemajuan penegakan dan pemenuhan hak asasi manusia adalah tanggung jawab negara, terutama pemerintah.”
Selain itu, ia juga menegaskan masuknya aparat tanpa izin ke rumah merupakan tindak pidana sebagaimana yang diatur dalam Pasal 167 KUHP. Gobay berharap tak ada lagi kejadian pelanggaran hak konstitusi warga negara seperti ini.
Musni Umar, sosiolog dan Rektor Universitas Ibnu Chaldun, mengatakan dampak dari peristiwa ini tak lain adalah para mahasiswa “merasa dibenci” oleh lingkungan yang berbeda dari mereka. Itu semua hanya akan “mempertajam polarisasi” dan jelas-jelas “tidak ada yang diuntungkan.” Kepada reporter Tirto, Rabu, dia bilang bila kebencian menguat, maka bisa saja orang-orang Papua semakin teguh pendiriannya untuk memisahkan diri dari Indonesia. Oleh karena itulah dia bilang aparat semestinya bisa mengambil hati mereka secara bijak dan tanpa pendekatan kekuasaan. “Kalau rakyat, jangan diperlakukan seperti itu. Harus dilindungi,” katanya. Sementara menurut Koordinator Badan Pekerja Kontras Fatia Maulidiyanti, sulit melepaskan peristiwa ini dengan fakta bahwa itu terjadi satu hari sebelum peringatan 1 Desember. “Pengepungan juga bukan pertama kali terjadi. Ini bentuk ketidakadilan [yang] terus melembaga dan tidak pernah ditindaklanjuti oleh pemerintah,” katanya kepada reporter Tirto, Rabu.
Pengepungan serupa terjadi pada 16 Agustus tahun lalu. Asrama Mahasiswa Papua di Jalan Kalasan Nomor 10, Surabaya, Jawa Timur, dikepung aparat dan ormas karena para penghuninya dituduh merusak bendera merah putih--yang kemudian tak terbukti. Mereka juga diteriaki makian binatang. Asrama yang sama pada awal September dilempari karung berisi ular.
Pengepungan ini lantas memicu aksi protes besar-besaran di Papua dan di tempat lain selama berbulan-bulan.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 14, 2021
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 17, 2020
- Event Description
Pembahasan soal otonomi khusus (otsus) Papua, yang akan berakhir pada 2021 nanti, terus berlanjut. Baru-baru ini salah satu forum legal yang membahas itu justru direpresi aparat, dalam hal ini kepolisian. Orang-orang yang terlibat ditangkapi karena dituduh merencanakan makar.
Salah satu orang yang ditangkap adalah Wensislaus Fatubun pada 17 November lalu. Ia berstatus Tenaga Ahli Majelis Rakyat Papua (MRP), representasi kultural di Papua yang memiliki wewenang tertentu dalam rangka perlindungan hak-hak orang asli Papua yang dibentuk berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 21 Tahun 2001 tentang Otonomi Khusus Bagi Provinsi Papua.
Ia ditangkap ketika MRP tengah menyelenggarakan rapat dengar pendapat (RDP) wilayah, salah satu program kerja yang tujuannya mendengarkan aspirasi orang asli Papua (OAP) tentang otsus, berlangsung pada 17-18 November kemarin di gedung Vertenten Sai atau Aula Katedral Merauke.
Setelah RDP wilayah, mekanisme selanjutnya adalah menggelar RDP umum yang diikuti oleh MRP Papua-Papua Barat dan Forum Komunikasi Pimpinan Daerah Papua-Papua Barat.
Pada 15 November, sekitar pukul 22.00, Kapolres Merauke AKBP Untung Surianata bertemu dan meminta Pastor Hengky Kariwob (Vikjen Keuskupan Agung Merauke), Pastor John Kandam (Sekretaris Uskup), dan Pastor Anselmus Amo (Direktur SKP KAMe) di Keuskupan untuk tidak memfasilitasi RDP. Pastor Anselmus lantas menelepon Canisius Mandagi, Uskup Agung Keuskupan Agung Merauke. Uskup menegaskan RDP dapat dilakukan karena itu bukan kegiatan politik.
Setengah jam kemudian, beberapa polisi datang ke Hotel Grand Mandala, Hotel Pangkat, dan Hotel Valentine, tempat para peserta dan penyelenggara RDP menginap. “MRP diminta untuk ke polres malam itu juga untuk bertemu dengan kapolres,” ucap Fatubun dalam keterangan tertulis Kamis (19/11/2020).
Fatubun bersama Koordinator Tim RDP MRP wilayah Anim Ha, seorang staf MRP dan dua orang anggota MRP lain ke Polres Merauke untuk bertemu kapolres, tapi batal karena yang bersangkutan ternyata sudah pulang. Melalui ajudannya, kapolres bilang bertemu esok pagi saja. Pukul 08.46 keesokan harinya, mereka kembali menyambangi polres. Karena Kapolres lagi-lagi tak di tempat, rombongan menyerahkan surat kepada sespri kapolres dan memberikan nomor telepon untuk koordinasi.Sekitar pukul 11.00 sekelompok orang dari Buti berdemonstrasi di kantor Bupati menolak RDP MRP. Massa meminta agar otsus dilanjutkan dan pemekaran Provinsi Papua Selatan. Enam jam berikutnya, Fatubun cs memutuskan membatalkan RDP karena situasi tak kondusif dan mereka dalam pantauan kepolisian.
Pukul 22.00, polisi datang lagi ke hotel. Kali ini dengan membawa senjata laras panjang.
Pada 17 November, pukul 08.00 pagi, seorang pria berbaju merah dan bukan tamu duduk di depan hotel. Tim RDP curiga orang itu ialah intelijen. Dia hanya diam sekitar 30 menit lalu pergi. Satu jam berikutnya, ada dua orang yang diduga sebagai intelijen polres menyambangi penginapan. Mereka menanyakan ke pihak hotel soal jumlah dan penghuni kamar. Lantas mereka angkat kaki.
Pukul 10.00, ketika Fatubun sedang duduk di depan hotel, Kapolres Merauke bersama anak buahnya datang. Beberapa dari mereka membawa senjata laras panjang. Mereka menggeledah hotel dan kamar tim RDP. Saat itulah Fatubun ditangkap. “Sebelum menangkap saya, kapolres bertanya asal, pekerjaan, [serta] kepentingan saya di Merauke. Mereka minta KTP saya,” katanya.
Fatubun dimasukkan ke mobil Dalmas, sementara barang bawaannya dijadikan barang bukti. “Di mobil Dalmas, saya melihat Koordinator Tim RDP MRP, dua staf MRP, dan seorang peserta diborgol seperti saya.” Ia dan rekan-rekannya diinterogasi dan baru dibebaskan pada 18 November sekira pukul 16.45.
Kapolres Merauke AKBP Untung Surianata menyatakan dalam penggeledahan pada pagi jelang siang tanggal 17 November, ia dan rombongan menemukan sebuah pisau. “Lalu kenapa kami tangkap mereka? Karena ada buku makar, buku untuk mengajak merdeka di berbagai tempat, yang buku kuning itu,” ujar Untung kepada reporter Tirto, Kamis. Untung bilang buku itu sempat dibuang ke luar dari jendela hotel.Buku kuning itu berjudul ‘Pedoman Dasar Negara Republik Federal Papua Barat’, edisi pertama yang terbit Januari 2012, dikeluarkan oleh Sekretariat Negara Republik Federal Papua Barat. Kata sambutan buku ditulis oleh oleh Presiden NRFPB Forkorus Yaboisembut.
Berdasar berkas yang didapatkan reporter Tirto, ditemukan juga dokumen Polisi Negara Republik Federal Papua Barat Nomor: 001/KKP-NRFPB/IV/2012 yang ditandatangani oleh Wakil Kepala Kepolisian Negara Republik Federal Papua Barat Letnan Jenderal Fery Fernando Yensenem tentang Penunjukan Kepala dan Wakil Kepala Kepolisian Negara Bagian Ha-Anim.
“Sementara kita (Indonesia) punya pangdam, kapolda, bupati, dan gubernur. Karena mereka makar, kami tegas begitu tak apa. Ini bukan kasus maling ayam atau sandal jepit,” katanya, lalu mengatakan kalau apa yang mereka lakukan lebih baik karena di negara lain para terduga makar dapat ditembak mati.
Ada 54 orang yang ditangkap dan dibawa ke kantor polisi. Dia bilang “harusnya semua [jadi] tersangka karena ada buku itu.”
Dua dari mereka dinyatakan positif COVID-19 setelah dites. Ini alasan mengapa mereka akhirnya dibebaskan. “Kami juga punya tahanan. Nanti rawan.”
Pembungkaman Ketua MRP Timotius Murib mengkritik penangkapan ini. Ia bilang apa yang dilakukan polisi sama saja melawan lembaga dan program negara. MRP itu lembaga legal, pun dengan acara yang mereka selenggarakan. “Berarti secara tidak langsung kepolisian menolak [pembahasan] otonomi khusus karena menolak RDP,” katanya kepada reporter Tirto, Kamis.Murib tak tahu ihwal ‘buku kuning’ yang jadi alasan polisi menangkapi para peserta dan penyelenggara. Namun ia menduga buku itu milik peserta rapat, bukan milik anggota atau tim MRP. Peserta rapat saat itu adalah Barisan Merah Putih, organisasi pemuda serupa, serta perwakilan adat. Total peserta 35 orang per kabupaten. Sementara dari MRP yang hadir sekira 20-an orang. Sebanyak 2 anggota dan 9 staf sekretariat diciduk.
Sebelum penangkapan, tepatnya pada 14 November 2020, Kapolda Papua Irjen Pol Paulus Waterpauw menerbitkan maklumat bernomor Mak/1/Xl/2020 tentang Rencana Rapat Dengar Pendapat pada Masa Pandemi COVID-19. Maklumat itu melarang RDP diikuti lebih dari 50 orang; peserta wajib mengikuti protokol kesehatan (swab/PCR, 3M) dan menyediakan tempat cuci tangan atau cairan pembersih tangan; lalu bagi pelanggar akan ditindak oleh kepolisian.
“Maklumat ini dikeluarkan untuk mencegah penyebaran COVID-19, karena khawatir rapat yang mengundang berkumpulnya orang dapat menimbulkan klaster baru,” ujar Kabid Humas Polda Papua Kombes Pol Ahmad Musthofa Kamal dalam keterangan tertulis, Sabtu (14/11/2020).
Bagi pengacara dari Perkumpulan Advokat HAM Papua Michael Himan, maklumat tersebut “sangatlah politis dan terlalu abstrak.” Ia mengatakan demikian untuk mengomentari bagian lain dari maklumat, angka 3 huruf c. Di sana disebutkan siapa pun yang terlibat RDP “dilarang merencanakan atau melakukan tindakan yang menjurus tindak keamanan negara, makar, atau separatisme atau pun tindakan lainnya yang dapat menimbulkan pidana umum atau atau perbuatan melawan hukum lainnya dan konflik sosial.”
Kepada reporter Tirto, Rabu (18/11/2020), ia mengatakan RDP bukan termasuk tindakan penyerangan, apalagi makar. Selama dilangsungkan secara damai, tindakan menyampaikan pendapat tidak dapat dianggap makar.
Lagipula maklumat itu bukan produk hukum yang tidak memiliki kekuatan hukum bagi orang luar. Maklumat sekadar informasi bagi internal Polri. “Pernyataan tersebut bertentangan dengan ketentuan Perkap 15/2007. Kepolisian tidak memiliki kewenangan untuk membuat peraturan yang berlaku eksternal.” Atas dasar itu Himan menyimpulkan maklumat, dan penangkapan, telah melanggar hak kebebasan berekspresi masyarakat Papua.
Kritik serupa disampaikan Direktur Eksekutif Yayasan Keadilan dan Keutuhan Manusia Papua Theo Hesegem, kepada reporter Tirto, Rabu. Ia pertama-tama mengatakan bahwa otsus pada dasarnya adalah bentuk tawaran politik yang diberikan pemerintah pusat terhadap aspirasi merdeka orang Papua. Pusat Data dan Analisa Tempo pada 2019 lalu menulis Otsus adalah “jalan tengah bagi kelompok pro kemerdekaan Papua dan pemerintah pusat.”
Ketika itu aspirasi untuk merdeka memang sedang tinggi-tingginya di tanah Papua. Keputusan Kongres Rakyat Papua (KRP) II yang diadakan Presidium Dewan Papua (PDP) di Gedung Olahraga Cenderawasih APO, Kota Jayapura, 29 Mei sampai 4 Juni 2000, bulat menyebut rakyat Papua ingin lepas dari Indonesia.
Maka, “bila ruang [ekspresi] masyarakat dilarang, tidak mengevaluasi atau RDP, [maka] isu Papua merdeka akan semakin menguat di akar rumput.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 14, 2021
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 23, 2020
- Event Description
Democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam on Monday pleaded guilty to public order charges in a Hong Kong court hearing, before being held in police custody pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 2.
Wong, 24, admitted organizing an illegal assembly, while Chow pleaded guilty to taking part in an illegal assembly, while all three pleaded guilty to inciting people to attend an illegal gathering, charges which carry maximum jail terms of three years.
"Hang in there, everyone, keep going!" Wong told the court, before being taken away by correctional service officers.
Lam raised his hand, palm and fingers splayed to signify the five demands of last year's protest movement, while Chow made no response to the decision to hold the three in custody pending sentencing.
Dozens of supporters chanted "Release Joshua Wong! Release Agnes Chow! Release Ivan Lam" outside the court building, as well as repeating the five demands of the protest movement, which include fully democratic elections and accountability for widespread police violence.
The three were formerly leaders of the political party Demosisto, which disbanded just before the ruling Chinese Communist Party imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong on July 1, banning peaceful criticism of the authorities.
Wong had earlier told reporters that he wouldn't be surprised if the three were placed behind bars following the hearing at West Kowloon Magistrate's Court.
He said 23 activists, journalist, and democratic politicians had been arrested as the crackdown on peaceful dissent gathered pace.
Many arrests and raids have come after their targets were denounced in the pro-China media or by Chinese officials.
Defense lawyers called on the court to take into account the youth of the defendants and the fact that Chow, who, unlike Wong and Lam has never served time in jail before, had no prior convictions.
Magistrate Lily Wong said she would rule out a community service sentence for Lam due to his previous convictions.
Expected to be jailed
Joshua Wong, who was out on bail before the hearing, had earlier told reporters the trio had decided to plead guilty to avoid interrogation and investigation.
"But it also means that the three of us could be remanded in custody immediately," he said, calling on Hongkongers to support each other.
"We will want to call on the people of Hong Kong at this difficult time of white terror and persecution under the national security law ... to support each other through this low point in the pro-democracy movement," he said.
Chow said she felt "uneasy" at the thought of going to jail for the first time.
"It's entirely likely that I may be in jail for the first time in my life, and I have a lot of anxiety about what the future will bring," she said.
"But never forget that there are brothers, sisters, and friends who have suffered far worse than us," she said, calling for greater public pressure on China over the 12 Hongkongers currently detained by Chinese police after trying to flee to democratic Taiwan by speedboat.
Lam said he had made mental preparation for being remanded in police custody pending sentencing.
"Our case ... shows that the legitimacy of the Hong Kong police force has been blown to smithereens," Lam said. "Was the siege of police headquarters a crime, or was it necessary to achieve justice and fight for democracy?"
"I believe that the people of Hong Kong know the answer to that already," he said. "We have no regrets, and we will keep up the struggle."
The case against Wong relied on public comments he made on June 21, 2019, ahead of a mass protest over police violence that resulted in the siege of police headquarters in Wanchai, as well as a message on his phone detailing the timing and arrangements for the protest.
On the day in question, crowds of mostly young people wearing black converged on immigration and tax headquarters in Wanchai, sparking temporary shutdowns of the offices, before gathering in their thousands outside police headquarters to call for the release of those already arrested, and to demand an apology for police violence against unarmed protesters the previous week.
Some activists barricaded a vehicle gate in the barbed-wire wall of the fortress-like compound, prevented police vans from getting in or out, and taped up CCTV cameras to avoid being identified. Others blocked nearby highways with makeshift walls, cones, and traffic barriers, taking over several major traffic routes.
Police in uniform lined up inside the glass atrium of their own headquarters, with officers watching warily as the crowd chanted "Release them! Release them!" and "Apologize! Apologize!" on the street outside, where someone had taped a large poster to the building that read "Struggle to the bitter end."
The crowd also chanted: "Retract the designation of rioting! Stop arresting citizens!"
London-based rights group Amnesty International had earlier condemned police violence during protests on June 12 as violating international law, after evaluating video footage of the clashes.
Wong joined the June 21 protest just three days after his release from an earlier jail sentence related to the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement.
'Poisoned judicial system'
The U.S.-based Hong Kong Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) condemned the decision to remand Wong, Chow, and Lam in custody pending sentencing.
“We condemn Magistrate Lily Wong’s decision today to jail Wong, Chow, and Lam while awaiting sentencing for exercising their rights to protest," the group's managing director Samuel Chu said in a statement.
"Make no mistake, when they pled guilty in court today, it was not a judgment on them, but rather a judgment against a poisoned Hong Kong judiciary system no longer independent or capable of rendering justice," Chu said.
Since the beginning of November, Hong Kong authorities have arrested a public radio show producer, pro-democracy lawmakers, a primary school teacher, owners of small businesses who have expressed support for the protest, [among others], the HKDC said, calling for the trio to be released immediately.
"We cannot remain silent or surrender to the terror," it said.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- China: pro-democracy leader arrested for participating in an allegedly unauthorised assembly in 2019
- Date added
- Nov 28, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 24, 2020
- Event Description
Ribuan orang dari Petisi Rakyat Papua (PRP) Wilayah Meepago berkumpul untuk aksi tolak Otonomi Khusus Jilid II, Kamis (24/9/2020), sekira pukul 06.30 di daerah Siriwini, Karang Tumaritis, Universitas Satya Wiyata Mandala, Kalibobo, SP, dan Wadio/Wonerejo. Tempat tujuan aksi damai yakni kantor Bupati Kabupaten Nabire dan mereka telah mengirimkan surat pemberitahuan demonstrasi empat hari sebelumnya ke pihak Polres Nabire. Juru Bicara PRP Jefry Wenda mengatakan polisi tidak menerbitkan tanda terima surat. “Kami sadar tugas polisi untuk mengamankan jalannya aksi, tidak ada alasan membatasi aksi,” ucap dia ketika dihubungi Tirto, Jumat (25/9/2020). Saat aksi berlangsung, anggota TNI dan Polri datang untuk berjaga. Aparat berseragam dan bersenjata lengkap, mobil water canon pun dikerahkan, mereka datang lebih dahulu ketimbang massa. Begitu demonstran datang, polisi mulai menangkap sebagian massa. “Sekitar 100 orang dibawa ke Polres Nabire. Kesalahan polisi, dong tak tahu kalau ada barisan massa yang cukup besar, ribuan [orang datang] dari arah SP hingga Wadio. Mereka longmarch,” jelas Jefry. Ada polisi, lanjut dia, yang merampas ponsel massa, mengancam, dan pemukulan ‘yang tidak parah’. Mengetahui rekannya ditangkap dan digiring ke kantor polisi, massa menyambanginya. Mereka membatalkan orasi di depan kantor bupati. Kehadiran massa ke Polres Nabire guna meminta kepolisian melepaskan kawan-kawannya. Perwakilan massa dan polisi bernegosiasi. Hasilnya, di depan markas polisi itu demonstran yang juga ditemani oleh kepala-kepala suku setempat, dipersilakan berorasi dan membacakan sembilan tuntutan yang isinya, jika disarikan, yakni: Menolak perpanjangan Otsus Jilid II di Papua dan Papua Barat; memberikan rakyat Papua untuk menentukan nasib sendiri via referendum; penarikan aparat; juga mengutuk penembakan terhadap pendeta. Usai pembacaan tuntutan, 100 orang peserta aksi itu dibebaskan. Massa mulai membubarkan diri sekitar pukul 17.30. Jefry menyatakan para demonstran paham agar tak terprovokasi karena penangkapan, namun watak kepolisian ia sebut reaksioner dan arogan. “Berhadapan dengan mereka itu sudah konsekuensi kami.” Rencana aksi lanjutan tolak Otsus Jilid II akan berlangsung, belum diketahui waktu pastinya. Menurut Jefry, rakyat perlu berekspresi karena otsus di sana dianggap tak bermanfaat, ‘hanya menciptakan raja-raja baru di Papua yang menindas orang Papua’. Kabid Humas Polda Papua Kombes Pol Ahmad Musthofa Kamal menyangkal ada penangkapan massa. “Tidak ada. Mereka pasca-orasi di Polres Nabire, bubar. Massa mau ke kantor bupati, karena bupati tidak ada, maka massa diarahkan ke polres dan temu beberapa tokoh,” ucap dia ketika dikonfirmasi Tirto, Jumat (25/9). Sementara, berdasarkan keterangan tertulis dari Koalisi Penegak Hukum dan HAM Papua pada 23 September, ada tujuh demonstran yang ditangkap dalam aksi serupa di Timika yaitu Petrus Aim, Fredy Yeimo, Ardi Murib, Dorlince Iyowau, Melvin Yogi, Penehas Nawipa, dan Deborius Selegani. Demonstrasi damai itu dibubarkan paksa oleh polisi. Kepala Sekretariat United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Markus Haluk menyatakan kurang dari satu pekan ini banyak rentetan pelanggaran yang menimpa orang Papua, seperti penembakan yang berakibat kematian Pendeta Yeremia Zanambani di Hitadipa; aparat gabungan TNI-Polri merazia KTP dan kartu mahasiswa terhadap mahasiswa Papua di asrama Kota Manado, Tomohon.dan Tondano; maupun pengepungan dan intimidasi dari ormas di Kota Makassar bagi pendukung Petisi Rakyat Papua. Markus berpendapat, selama 57 tahun (1963-2020) Indonesia menduduki Papua, ruang demokrasi dibungkam dengan hukum dan senjata militer. ”Pembunuhan terhadap rakyat dan bangsa Papua terjadi depan mata rakyat pun selalu disangkal dan dianggap hal biasa. Nyawa manusia Papua dianggap benda yang tidak ada nilainya,” kata dia dalam keterangan tertulis, Jumat (25/9).
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 11, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 29, 2020
- Event Description
Perkumpulan Advokat HAM Papua (PAHAM) mengecam tindakan aparat gabungan TNI dan Polri membubarkan paksa demonstrasi mahasiswa Universitas Cenderawasih, Papua, Senin (28/9) kemarin. Pembubaran demonstrasi oleh disebut sebagai kejahatan terhadap hak warga negara menyampaikan pendapat di muka umum.
"Pembatasan dan Pembubaran paksa aksi mahasiswa Uncen yang dilakukan oleh aparat gabungan Polri dan TNI pada aksi penolakan Otonomi Khusus mahasiswa Uncen pada 28 September 2020 di Kampus Uncen adalah tindakan kejahatan," kata advokat PAHAM, Gustaf Kawer dalam keterangan resmi yang diterima CNNIndonesia.com, Selasa (29/9).
PAHAM menyebut pembubaran paksa oleh TNI dan Polri itu diwarnai aksi kekerasan dan penembakan terhadap para demonstran.
Gustaf mengingatkan bahwa Undang Undang melarang siapapun membubarkan demonstrasi secara paksa, sebagaimana diatur Pasal 18 ayat (1) dan (2) UU N 09/1998 Tentang Kemerdekaan Menyampaikan Pendapat Di Muka Umum, bawah.
Beleid pasal tersebut mengancam pidana satu tahun penjara kepada siapapun yang dengan kekerasan atau ancaman kekerasan, menghalang-halangi hak warga negara menyampaikan pendapat di muka umum yang telah memenuhi ketentuan undang-undang.
PAHAM membeberkan kronologi pembubaran demonstrasi mahasiswa Uncen oleh TNI dan Polri kemarin. Kawer menuturkan unjuk rasa ini digelar di Kampus Uncen Abepura dan Kampus Uncen Waena, oleh mahasiswa yang tergabung dalam Front Mahasiswa dan Rakyat Papua.
Awalnya mahasiswa bertujuan melakukan longmarch aksi penolakan Otonomi Khusus jilid II ke Kantor Gubernur Papua.
Sekitar pukul 09.00 WITa mahasiswa telah berkumpul dan melakukan orasi penolakan Otsus, serta menyerukan referendum. Aksi di Kampus Uncen Waena, kata Gustaf, mendapat penjagaan ketat oleh aparat gabungan polisi dan TNI,
"Aparat melarang mahasiswa melanjutkan aksi dan memaksa mahasiswa untuk bubar dari tempat aksi. Sementara aksi di Kampus Uncen Abepura dibubarkan paksa oleh aparat gabungan Polisi dan TNI," kata Gustaf.
Menurut Gustaf pembubaran paksa di Kampus Uncen Abepura terjadi sekitar pukul 10.50 WITa. Aparat disebutnya membubarkan paksa dengan cara memukul para mahasiswa peserta demonstrasi.
Tindakan aparat itu dibalas mahasiswa dengan melemparkan batu. Dalam suasana ricuh itu, Gustaf menyebut polisi melepaskan tembakan dan mengejar mahasiswa.
"Massa demonstran mundur dan lari menyelamatkan diri, lalu kemudian masa aksi mahasiswa kembali berkumpul dan menduduki ruas jalan di samping kampus Fakultas Hukum Uncen Bawah," ujar Gustaf.
Ia menyebut dalam insiden ini polisi menangkap tiga mahasiswa yang merupakan penanggung jawab aksi yaitu Ayus Heluka, Salmon Tipogau dan Kristian Tegei.
"Polisi juga memukul 2 mahasiswa hingga terluka dan berdarah, yaitu Yabet Lukas Degei dan Selius Wanimbo. Yebet Lukas Degei dipukul di bagian kepala belakang hingga kepalanya terluka dan berdarah, sedangkan Selius Wanimbo dipukul dengan popor senjata di bagian badannya hingga terluka dan berdarah," imbuh Gustaf.
Polda Papua sendiri saat dikonfirmasi usai insiden terebut membantah telah melakukan pembubaran paksa aksi mahasiswa di sekitar Universitas Cendrawasih.
"Tidak ada bentrok, Polri bubarkan paksa setelah laksanakan negosiasi," kata Kabid Humas Polda Papua Kombes Ahmad Musthofa Kamal saat dihubungi CNNIndonesia.com.
Kamal enggan menjabarkan secara rinci aksi unjuk rasa yang terjadi itu, termasuk soal kondisi yang terjadi sehingga mengharuskan aparat keamanan membubarkan paksa para demonstran.
Dalam sejumlah video yang beredar di media sosial, puluhan aparat TNI/Polri terekam berjaga di sekitar Gapura Uncen atas di Jayapura.
Beberapa diantaranya terlihat mengenakan pakaian dinas lengkap dengan pelindung tubuh dan helm. Kendaraan taktis milik kepolisian dan beberapa aparat yang membawa senjata pelontar gas air mata juga terlihat terparkir di lokasi unjuk rasa.
Video lain juga menunjukkan massa aksi mulai kocar-kacir usai terdengar beberapa kali suara letupan yang terdengar seperti tembakan. Meski demikian, Kamal enggan menjawab soal dugaan suara tembakan itu dalam unjuk rasa.
Pembubaran paksa oleh aparat juga disebut PAHAM telah melanggar SOP pengendalian aksi masa damai (Hijau) sebagaimana diatur dalam Pasal 8 Peraturan Kapolri No 16 Tahun 2006 tentang Pedoman Pengendalian Masa.
"Aksi mahasiswa ini masih dalam situasi tertib atau damai (hijau) yang mestinya dalam penanganan polisi tidak melakukan pembubaran paksa, pemukulan dan penembakan," ucap Gustaf.
"Tindakan yang dilakukan oleh kepolisian adalah melakukan pengawalan dan pengawalan, melakukan negosiasi dan perundingan, sebagaimana diatur dalam huruf a sampai m pasal 8. Sebaliknya bukan polisi melakukan pembubaran paksa dan penembakan seperti yang terjadi dalam kasus ini," imbuhnya.
Atas tindakan paksa aparat gabungan, PAHAM mendesak pemerintah menghentikan segala bentuk pembatasan hak menyampaikan pendapat warga dan kekerasan terhadap warga.
PAHAM juga meminta Kapolri dan Panglima TNI mengubah pendekatan kekerasan dalam penegakan hukum dan Keamanan di Papua.
"Kapolri segera mengevaluasi kinerja Kapolda Papua, Kapolresta Jayapura dan Kapolsek Abepura dan mengganti dengan polisi Papua yang lebih profesional," kata Gustaf.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 11, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 29, 2020
- Event Description
Sembilan massa aksi dari Front Rakyat Papua (FRP) yang hendak melakukan aksi penolakan Otsus jilid II di Timika pada, Rabu (23/9/2020) ditangkap aparat kepolisian dari Polres Mimika, Papua.
Kepada Suara Papua, Helena Kobogau, aktivis Papua membenarkan adanya penangkapan kesembilan massa aksi tersebut oleh aparat kepolisian.
“Massa aksi baru kumpul di lapangan Timika indah, lalu mereka diangkut saja begitu,” katanya saat dihubungi suarapapua.com, Rabu (23/9/202020).
Sejauh ini katanya, kesembilan orang yang ditahan orang tersebut masih ditahan di polres. “Kemungkinan besok baru mereka akan dibebaskan,” ujar Kobogau.
Adapun kesembilan massa aksi yang ditahan pihak kepolisian, yaitu Petrus Aim, Fredy Yeimo, Ardi Murib, Dorlince Iyowau, Melvin Yogi, Penehas Nawipa, Deborius Selegani dan Demianus Magai.
Sumber suarapapua.com di Timika menjelaskan, awalnya aparat kepolisian menangkap empat massa aksi saat mereka mendahului yang lain di titik kumpul pada pukul 08.10.
“Saat penangkapan terjadi, cuma mereka empat saja. Mereka ditangak ketika menunggu massa aksi lainnya. Begitu tiba-tiba truk aparat datang dan langsung kasih naik mereka ke dalam truk itu,” bebernya.
“Pas masuk jam setengah 7 malam baru kami dapat info kalau teman-teman yang ditahan itu sebanyak sembilan orang.”
Ada delapan belas (18) pernyataan sikap yang dicantumkan FRP yang sesuai rencana dibacakan dalam aksi tersebut, terutama mengenai penolakan Otsus jilid II.
Dalam keterangan tertulis yang diterima suarapapua.com, Front Rakyat Papua (FRP) menyatakan Otsus sendiri lahir karena adanya tuntutan rakyat Papua saat itu yang menuntut kemerdekaan untuk memisahkan diri dari Indonesia.
Sementara dalam perjalanannya, Otsus sendiri tidak memberikan banyak manfaat yang dirasakan oleh orang Papua. Terhitung sejak diberlakukannya Otsus, banyak peristiwa yang terjadi di tanah Papua, mulai dari pembunuhan di luar hukum, kekerasan seksual, penyiksaan dan termasuk perampasan lahan.
Sementara, dikutib dari seputarpapua.com, Kapolres Mimika, Papua, AKBP I Gusti Gde Era Adhinata mengatakan, pihaknya mengamankan sembilan orang warga yang diduga hendak melakukan aksi demo damai di lapangan Timika Indah, Rabu (23/9/2020).
Dari sembilan orang tersebut, tujuh orang diamankan saat pagi hari, kemudian pada siangnya kembali diamankan dua orang. Kini mereka berada di ruang Satuan Intelkam Polres Mimika untuk diinterogasi secara intensif.
Sejumlah warga tersebut diamankan lantaran sebelumnya hendak melakukan aksi demo damai menolak Otsus jilid II, tapi rencana aksi demo itu tidak diizinkan aparat setempat.
“Pagi tadi ada sekitar tujuh orang yang kita imbau tapi mereka menolak, kita amankan untuk kita interogasi,” kata Kapolres saat ditemui di Lapangan Timika Indah.
“Kita akan interogasi mengapa dia melakukan seperti itu.Tentunya nanti setelah kita interogasi, kita beri imbauan-imbauan dan nanti kita akan pulangkan,” sambungnya.
- Impact of Event
- 9
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 11, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 16, 2020
- Event Description
A journalist working with The Caravan magazine was on Friday allegedly assaulted by a senior police officer in North Delhi and detained for nearly four hours while he was reporting on protests against the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in the area.
“Today [Friday] afternoon, the Delhi Police assaulted The Caravan India’s staffer Ahan Penkar while he was reporting,” the magazine tweeted. “ACP [Assistant Commissioner of Police] Ajay Kumar kicked and slapped Penkar inside the Model Town station premises. Penkar repeatedly told the police that he was a journalist and prominently displayed his press ID.”
However, the deputy commissioner of police, North West Delhi, on Saturday said that Penkar was seen protesting and was detained, after which he had said he was a journalist. The police have sent him a notice on the matter.
Penkar was reporting on a protest concerning the alleged rape and murder of a teenager in North Delhi, the magazine added. “Students and activists had gathered outside the Model Town police station to demand the registration of an FIR in the case,” it said. Caravan also shared a photo of the injuries on Penkar’s back.
Penkar later submitted a complaint to Delhi Commissioner of Police SN Srivastava. The journalist said that he saw a group of people gathered around the police station, demanding that the police file an FIR in the rape case.
Penkar said he was speaking to the 14-year-old girl’s aunt when the police began taking the protestors inside the station. He held up his press card and kept repeating that he was reporting the news, but the police took him inside too.
The journalist said that the police forcibly took his phone from him and deleted all the videos that he had recorded while reporting. “The police was abusing us the whole time and threatening us,” Penkar said in his complaint. “After a little time, the ACP Ajay Kumar came into the room holding a steel rod and threatened to beat us with the rod.”
Penkar added that Kumar kicked him in the face, back and shoulders. He also said that the police officer stamped on his ankle and threatened to register a case against him and others. The journalist added that he also saw the police beat up a Muslim man and a Sikh boy. He demanded an FIR against the police officers who assaulted him.
In August, three journalists from magazine were attacked by a mob in North East Delhi’s Subhash Mohalla neighbourhood while they were reporting on a story.
Journalists Prabhjit Singh, Shahid Tantray and their colleague were covering communal tensions that broke out in the area on the night of August 5, following the foundation-laying ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. In his complaint to the police, Singh said that had he not intervened, Tantray would have been beaten to death by the mob since he was a Muslim.
At a meeting organised by the Press Club of India on August 13, the journalists said that the Delhi Police had been helpless and scared of the mob.
Several journalists’ organisations had expressed outrage over the attack on Singh, Tantray and their colleague and demanded a first information report against the accused. The Editors Guild of India called the attack on the journalists “reprehensible” and demanded that the police take quick action against the guilty.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 19, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 24, 2020
- Event Description
Adv. Varsha Deshpande is a well-known activist in Maharashtra and is based out of Satara district. She has worked for many years against social malpractices such as female foeticide and child marriages. She is also the founder president of the organizationcalled ‘Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal’ which works with Dalit women for self-employment and has also established Free Legal Aid Center in 1996 with the help of Maharashtra Legal Aid Society.
Ms. Tamanna Mujawar and Ms. Aishwarya Jadhav, both residents of Satara,had money dealings in the past due to which a dispute broke out between them. Ms. Jadhavhad borrowed Rs. 15000 from Ms. Mujawar of which she had returned Rs. 12,500.Since they were unable to resolve the issue,Ms. Jadhav approached the Free Legal Aid Centre on August 24, 2020. However unable to resolve the issueeither, both wereaskedby the WHRD to visit the Satara City police station.
On August 25, 2020, the Satara City Police registered an FIR against Adv. Varsha Deshpandebased on a complaint filed by Ms. Mujawaralleging that the WHRD had physically assaulted her and demanded a ransom.The complaint stated that whenadispute croppedup between her and Ms. Jadhav at the Free Legal Aid Centre, Adv. Deshpande threatened her that she would initiatea legal case against her and also slapped her. Ms. Mujawar also accused Adv. Deshpande of demanding aransom of Rs. 50,000, failing which shewould file a complaint against her.Based on her complaint,the Satara city policestationcharged the WHRD under sections 384 (extortion) and 323 (causing voluntary hurt) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).In her complaint, Ms. Mujawarsaid that the Ms. Jadhav had asked her to come to Adv. Deshpande’s office at 2.30 p.m. However, Adv. Deshpandehas clearedthat she hadnever called Ms. Mujawar to the office and the latter had come on her own volition. On August 26, 2020, Ms. Jadhav filed a police complaint stating that she had approached Adv. Deshpande as she wanted help on how to get out of her current predicament. However,in her office,Ms. Mujawar started a verbal fight with Adv. Deshpande. She also alleged that Ms. Mujawar was forcing her into a prostitution and blackmailing racket. Ms. Mujawar allegedly demanded that Ms. Jadhav pay her the amount due with interest when she refused to do Ms. Mujawar’s bidding. Based on Ms. Jadhav’s complaint the Satara city policestationhave filed an FIR under sections 452 (House Trespass), 342 (Wrongful Confinement), 323 (Voluntary Hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (Criminal Intimidation), and section 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 which pertains toprocuring, inducing or taking an individual for the sake of prostitutionagainst Ms. Mujawar. No one has yet been arrested.We believe that the Ms. Deshpande, a longstandingwoman Human Rights Defenderof repute,has been implicated in a false case by the Satara police since she hasbeen vocal about police inaction on several occasions in the pastregarding sexual harassment of women. Recently,the WHRD had also complained to the state DGP about SDPO Mr. Sameer Sheikh and his handling of cases.Since there seems to have been a recent history with Mr. Sheikh as well as the facts of the above case, we are inclined to believe that the case against Adv. Deshpande is fabricated and false and has been filed with a malicious intent.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 6, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 11, 2020
- Event Description
The Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), a scholarship program managed by the Finance Ministry, has demanded human rights lawyer Veronica Koman to return the scholarship funds she obtained from the program that amounts to Rp773.8 million.
The LPDP president director, Rionald Silaban, confirmed the information to Tempo on Tuesday, August 11. �That is correct, LPDP has asked Veronica Koman Liau to return the entire scholarship funds we have granted.�
According to Rionald, the LPDP scholarship contract requires recipients who study abroad to return to Indonesia after they had completed their studies. He claimed that LPDP, through numerous methods, attempted to summon Veronica Koman upon this specific requirement.
�The person had refused to return to Indonesia,� said Rionald.
However, Veronica denied she had ignored the rule and in a written statement mentioned that she had returned to Indonesia in September of 2018 after completing her Masters of Laws at the Australian National University.
Rionald Silaban did not answer Tempo�s question regarding Veronica�s confirmation.
In October of 2018, Veronica Koman claimed to have conducted a human rights advocacy and served at the Human Rights Advocates Association for Papua (PAHAM Papua) based in Jayapura. She continued to venture into an advocacy mission at the United Nations in Switzerland in March 2019 before returning to Indonesia again.
�While in Australia in August of 2019, I was summoned by the Indonesian police and my name was then included in their most-wanted list (DPO) in September of 2019,� said Veronica who was subjected to death and rape threats during the time as she voiced against the narrative echoed by authorities in August - September of 2019.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access to funding
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 16, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 22, 2020
- Event Description
Mr. Gajendra Singh isa journalist based in Churu district for around five years,working for First India Newsfor last two years. He reports from Sardarshahar Tehsil on all matters. On July 22, 2020, in Sardarshahar of Churu district, the residents of Kaka Colony went inside the office of the executive engineer of the city's water department Mr. Govind Prasad Sharma to give a memorandum for concerns related to water. Mr. Sharma allegedly told the residents that requestwill not be metat which point the residentsof Kaka Colony asked the executive engineer to give the same in writing. At this point, Mr. Sharma allegedly started misbehaving and started abusing the residents telling them to get out of his office. He allegedly threatened the residents that he would take action on grounds that they were crowding in his office and not maintaining social distance.Mr. Gajendra Singh was accompanying the residents of the colony at their request. Before coming to the office of the executive engineer, they had given a similar memorandum at the Sub Divisional Magistratewhose proceedings had been recorded by Mr. Singh. Here too,Mr. Singh started recording the proceedings. Mr. Sharma demanded that Mr. Singh stop recording and even threatened tocharge him with obstructing a public servant, if he didn’t stop. He then pushed the journalist and even triedto snatch themobilewith which Mr. Singhwas recording. When the residents left the premises,Mr. Singh decided to take Mr. Sharma’s view to ensure that hisreporton the incident has both sides. At this point, Mr. Sharma again assaulted Mr. Singh and pushed him outside the premises.Both instancesof assaults and abuses were recorded on camera and there is also CCTV footage that has recorded the incident.The same was aired by news channels.Mr. Singhhas submitted a written complaintto the Sub Divisional Magistrateof Sardarshahar, Ms. Rina Champa,on the same eveningof the incidentwho stated on record that an inquiry will be initiated. However, there has been no inquiry report, nor has any action been taken against Mr. Sharmawhocontinues to hold his office.We are greatly concerned with this blatantmisuse of powerand criminal assault of a journalist by a government employee who was a coveringnews of a delegation for redressal of citizensgrievances.This is also a clear abuse of power by a public servant against the public they serve. It appears that the Executive Engineer was provoked by seeing Mr. Singh recording his abuse ofthe citizens and thus physically assaulted him. This is not only a criminal act, but an action to prevent a journalist from their right to obtain information in public interest. Our Constitution gives journalists the right to exercise freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(a) of the Indian Constitutionwhichis crucial to the work of HRDs, including journalists. The right to freedom of expression encompasses three different aspects: 1) the right to hold opinions without interference; 2) the right of access to information; and 3) the right to impart information and ideas of all kind. On the aforesaid it is stated that Declaration on Human Rights Defenders seeks to protect the monitoring and advocacy functions of defenders by recognizing their right to obtain and disseminate information relevant to the enjoyment of human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 31, 2020
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jul 14, 2020
- Event Description
A prominent blogger faces a possible jail term for allegedly defaming Islam after he opposed political and Islamist propaganda against a Buddhist monk and temple in Chittagong, a south-eastern district of Bangladesh.
Asad Noor, a Muslim who turned self-declared atheist, was charged under the Digital Security Act (DSA), a controversial cyber law, for allegedly spreading rumors against Muslims amid an ongoing dispute between Buddhists and Muslims in the Rangunia area of Chittagong.
A leader of a local branch of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, filed the complaint against Noor on July 14, said Mahbub Milkey, the head of Rangunia police station.
�Asad Noor is accused of spreading rumors and defaming Islam via Facebook and other digital platforms,� he said on July 17.
Several hardline Islamist groups have been staging protests over the past few days, demanding a Buddhist monk called Sharnankar be punished for allegedly defaming Islam on Facebook. �The monk has fled the area, and we don�t know where he is now. We have deployed additional police in the area and will seek to avert any possible breakdown in law and order,� the police station chief said.
Noor, however, defended the monk in a video blog, saying that a fake Facebook ID for the monk was created recently as a part of a conspiracy to target him and the temple.
The aim was to grab the temple and the property. Noor also alleged that Ershad Mahmud, younger brother of information minister, Hasan Mahmud, was also involved in the plot.
�I have been accused of defaming Islam by hurting religious sentiments of Muslims because I have protested against a conspiracy against the Buddhist community here,� Noor said in a Facebook post on July 16.
�The fabricated charge against me shows there is no freedom of expression in this country, and the legal system is being exploited to cover up crimes and misdeeds of the ruling class and their cohorts,� he added.
Jyotirmoy Barua, a human rights lawyer, also alleged that there was a plot to target Buddhists in Rangunia similar to one in 2012 that sparked anti-Buddhist violence in the Ramu area of Cox�s Bazar.
�Rangunia is now the �Wild, Wild West� of Bangladesh. An unusual calm prevails in the area, and tensions are running high among local Buddhists and Muslims over the Buddhist monk and the temple,� he said.
�The monk is a man of meditation and prayer, and never uses Facebook. Those who protest against the conspiracy are being forced to leave the area, including local Muslims,� Barua said on July 16.
Holy Cross Father Liton H. Gomes, secretary of Catholic Bishops� Justice and Peace Commission, criticized the alleged attempts to target Buddhists as well as the blogger Noor.
�We have always feared the DSA was repressive and slated for abuse, and it continues to threaten free speech. What Noor said in his video could be countered in a similar manner without filing a lawsuit.
Also, the motives of Muslims protesting against the monk and the temple should be properly investigated,� Father Gomes said.
Bangladesh has experienced several bouts of communal violence against minority Buddhists and Hindus under the pretext of hurting religious sentiments of Muslims in recent years. In all cases, doctored Facebook pages were used to stoke tensions and violence.
In 2012, Muslim mobs destroyed 19 Buddhist temples and 100 Buddhist houses in the Ramu area of Cox�s Bazar and in Patiya, in Chittagong, after a Buddhist man was accused of defaming Islam on Facebook.
In 2013, local Muslims vandalized 26 Hindu houses in the Santhiya area of Pabna district, for Facebook posts defaming Islam, allegedly circulated by a 10th grader Hindu boy.
More recently, in 2017, Hindus in Thakur Para area of Rangpur district came under attack over Facebook posts allegedly made by a local Hindu man that allegedly defamed Islam.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 29, 2020
- Event Description
West Bengal authorities must immediately release journalists Suraj Ali Khan and Safikul Islam, as well as Islam�s wife, Alima Khatun, and drop all the charges against them and investigations into their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
At about 3 a.m. on June 29, police arrested Khan and Islam at Islam�s home in Arambagh, in the Hoogly district of West Bengal, for alleged extortion, and also arrested Khatun, their lawyers, Pintu Karar and Samim Ahammed, told CPJ over the phone.
Khan works as a reporter and Islam as an editor and owner at Arambagh TV, a news channel on YouTube that has about 130,000 followers, their lawyers said. Police also detained Islam and Khatun�s two children during the arrests, but later released them, Ahammed said. CPJ could not determine on what grounds police were holding Khatun.
The journalists� arrests were prompted by a complaint filed just after midnight on June 29 by a local resident, whose name was not disclosed, who alleged that Islam and Khan had photographed him cutting down a tree on government land, a criminal offense, on March 16, and then extorted money from him in exchange for not publishing the image, Ahammed said.
The journalists� lawyers told CPJ that they believe the arrests were actually retaliation for Islam and Khan�s reporting on alleged corruption in government funds distributed to private clubs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
�The arrests of Arambagh TV editor Safikul Islam and reporter Suraj Ali Khan, as well as of Islam�s wife, are clear attempts to intimidate the journalists and force them to stop their critical reporting,� said Aliya Iftikhar, CPJ�s senior Asia researcher, in New York. �The three should be released immediately and all investigations into them dropped. West Bengal police must cease harassing journalists for their work.�
Karar and Ahammed told CPJ that they have moved their case to the state High Court after a lower court refused to grant bail, and said the next hearing is set for tomorrow.
If charged and convicted with extortion, the journalists could face up to three years in jail and a fine set by a judge, according to the Indian penal code.
According to documents reviewed by CPJ, the West Bengal police have also opened five other investigations into Islam and Khan in recent months. In two cases opened on April 28 and others opened on May 6, 13, and 14, police have investigated the journalists for alleged cheating, forgery, defamation, public mischief, criminal conspiracy, wrongful restraint, provocation that will break public peace, criminal intimidation, disobeying a public servant, obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions, causing grievous harm to a deter public servant from his duty, and assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, according to those documents.
Police are also investigating Khan and Islam for allegedly violating sections of the Disaster Management Law, which was invoked in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for making false statements and printing or publishing news without conforming to rules under the Press and Registration of Books Law, according to those documents.
On June 2, the Calcutta High Court instructed the police not to take any coercive action against Islam or Khan in relation to the investigations, as the journalists assured the court that they would cooperate with authorities and would be physically present at the police station whenever summoned for questioning, according to Karar.
Islam and Khan followed the court�s instructions and appeared before the Arambagh police for questioning on June 10, Karar said.
CPJ emailed Hooghly Rural Superintendent of Police Tathagata Basu, who oversees the police responsible for the journalists� arrests, for comment, but did not receive any reply. In a press conference held on July 4, Basu denied wrongdoing on the part of police and claimed that Islam was being investigated for fraud and that Arambagh TV was run illegally, without government permission.
Ahammed told CPJ that no regulatory permission is required under Indian law to run an internet-based news outlet.
Previously, in early May, Arambagh TV posted two videos in which Islam and Khatun separately claimed that mobs of 30 to 40 people had surrounded their homes and threatened them over their coverage.
In June, the West Bengal police opened an investigation into the editor of Bengali-daily Anandabazaar Patrika following a complaint from a senior bureaucrat over the newspaper�s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, as CPJ documented at the time.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 17, 2020
- Event Description
Dozens killed in rallies
More than 40 people were killed in August and September 2019 after anti-government protests turned violent in Papua and West Papua provinces, which make up the Indonesian half of New Guinea island.
The unrest was sparked by perceived heavy-handed and racist treatment of Papuan students by security personnel on Java Island. It prompted the government to send police and military troops to the Papua region and block the internet for three weeks.
Papuan activists and their supporters, inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, recently went on social media using the hashtag �PapuanLivesMatter� to denounce what they see as racist treatment across Indonesia of Papuans.
Protests broke out across the United States sparked by a video that showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, who said he could not breathe and later died, as other officers stood nearby.
On Wednesday, Amnesty International urged the Indonesian government to release the seven who were convicted in Balikpapan.
�We deeply regret the court�s decision. Although the sentences are much lighter than those demanded by the public prosecutors, we believe the prisoners of conscience should not have been arrested, jailed and prosecuted,� AI Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement.
The Papua region was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-administered ballot known as the Act of Free Choice. Many Papuans and rights groups said the vote was a sham because it involved only about 1,000 people.
The provinces of Papua and West Papua make up one-fifth of Indonesia�s land mass but only 5.9 million of Indonesia�s 270 million people live there.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to liberty and security, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2020
- Event Description
Student journalists from the University of Lampung (Unila) were the targets of digital attacks on June 10, amid preparations to hold an online discussion on racism in Papua. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia condemn the digital attacks and call the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation immediately.
Writing for the student publication, Teknokra, two journalists, Chairul Rahman Arif and Mitha Setiani Asih received threats after they planned an online discussion on racial discrimination against Papuans. While Chairul received intimidating messages on WhatsApp, sending him his identity card and threats to his parents� security, the attacker sent Mitha dozens of food deliveries despite not ordering food and hacked Mitha and the publication�s Instagram and Facebook account.
One of the planned speakers for the discussion, Tantowi Anwari, who works for the Journalists Association for Diversity (Sejuk) and his wife also received threats.
AJI notes the same pattern of attacks, hacking a person�s social media account, sending anonymous messages and calls on WhatsApp and receiving unexpected food deliveries has been used many times against human rights and media freedom activists in Indonesia.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 26, 2020
- Event Description
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has urged the police to investigate the alleged doxing (dissemination of personal information) and intimidation of a journalist working for popular news outlet Detik.com following his report on President Joko �Jokowi� Widodo�s plan to monitor �new normal� preparation measures in malls in Bekasi, West Java.
�We demand the police investigate the alleged crime of doxing and threats of violence and murder against the journalist until the perpetrators are brought to court,� AJI Jakarta chairman Asnil Bambani and AJI Jakarta advocacy team head Erick Tanjung said in a joint statement on Thursday.
The harassment was apparently inspired by an article titled �Jokowi to lead the opening of several malls in Bekasi this afternoon amid pandemic� published by Detik.com on Tuesday.
Asnil said the journalist obtained all of the information from the Bekasi administration�s head of external publication.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 3, 2020
- Event Description
A Bangladeshi journalist reported missing in March as cases were being filed against him under the Digital Security Act is now in jail after officials said they found him near the border with India.
Border guards on Sunday arrested Shafiqul Islam Kajol, 51, as he walked into Bangladesh from India with no passport. Police brought him to a court in southwestern Jessore district, on the West Bengal border, and he was sent to jail, according to multiple accounts.
Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who oversees both police and the border guards, said Monday that he was flummoxed by the case.
�Actually, I do not know where he had been for 54 days. But he was arrested from the Benapole border while coming to Bangladesh from India. We have to investigate,� Khan told BenarNews.
�I spoke with my father. I do not know where he had been for 54 days. Now, our main target is to get him out of jail,� Kajol�s son, Monorom Polok, told BenarNews.
According to his lawyer, Kajol was initially granted bail on a charge of illegal entry, but was then rearrested under Section 54 of the Bangladeshi criminal code, which allows detention of a person based on �reasonable suspicion.�
�The court granted him bail for the intrusion case. Later, police told the court they had again arrested Kajol ... as he faced three cases under the Digital Security Act in Dhaka,� lawyer Debashish Das told BenarNews.
�The judge asked police to submit an updated report on existing cases against Shafiqul by May 19, and then he will rule about it,� Das said.
Missing since early March
Kajol, a photojournalist and editor of the fortnightly magazine Pokkhokal, had been missing since March 10, a day after a lawmaker with the ruling Awami League lawmaker Saifuzzaman Shikhor filed a criminal defamation suit against him and 31 others.
Awami League activists filed two more cases against Kajol on March 10 and 11. One of them accused Kajol of committing extortion by �obtaining information illegally� and publishing �false, intimidating and defamatory� material on Facebook and Messenger, according to Amnesty International.
The Digital Security Act, which went into effect in September 2018, includes harsh prison sentences for online defamation, insulting a person�s religion and other offenses. Critics have complained that it impedes free speech.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom advocacy group, on Sunday urged police to release Kajol and drop all charges against him.
�Bangladesh police must immediately put an end to the long ordeal of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, missing for 53 days, and release him from custody,� said Steven Butler, CPJ�s Asia program coordinator.
�Kajol is a victim, not a criminal. It�s an abuse of authority to subject Kajol to detention and interrogation.�
Kajol resurfaced on World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty International noted in a separate statement. It said that while many governments were justified in combatting misinformation about COVID-19, some were using the moment �as a pretext to crack down on critical voices.�
In Bangladesh, �at least 20 journalists have been recently intimidated, assaulted or harassed by members of the ruling party, and in some cases detained and accused of criminal offenses by the police for reporting pilferage, corruption and lack of accountability in the relief distribution meant for the poor during the lockdown,� it said, citing the Forum for Freedom of Expression, Bangladesh.
Amnesty noted that BenarNews itself had been blocked since it reported on an internal U.N. memo leaked in late March estimating that Bangladesh could see as many as two million deaths as a result of the pandemic without interventions.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Bangladesh: missing media worker is arrested as soon as he shows up after nearly 2 months (Update)
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 25, 2020
- Event Description
The Indonesian government should immediately release at least 70 Papuan and Moluccan activists imprisoned for peacefully voicing their political views, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should adopt measures to ensure that police and prosecutors, especially in the eastern provinces, protect free expression rights in accordance with a 2018 constitutional court ruling.
From April 25 to 27, 2020, the police in Maluku arrested 23 activists, including at least two children, who allegedly participated in flag-raising ceremonies commemorating the 70th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Republic of South Moluccas (Republik Maluku Selatan, RMS) in 1950. The police indicated that seven of the activists will be charged with treason under article 106 of the criminal code, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
�Detaining and prosecuting Papuan and Moluccan activists for peacefully voicing their political views backtracks on the government�s commitments to free expression,� said Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch. �These activists should never have been imprisoned, and detaining them in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic could be deadly.�
On April 25, three activists walked openly into the Moluccan police headquarters in Ambon, the capital of Maluku province, carrying the RMS flag. They shouted �Mena muria,� a popular salute among Moluccan people, traditionally used among boat rowers that means, �You go, I follow.� Police arrested the three men � Johanes Pattiasina, Simon Viktor Taihutu, and Abner Litamahuputty � as well as four other activists who unfurled the flags in some other towns.
On April 24, a court in Jakarta, Indonesia�s capital, convicted six Papuan activists for treason and sentenced them to between eight and nine months in prison. The five men and one woman were involved in a rally on August 28, 2019, outside the State Palace in Jakarta, during which they unfurled the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence. The rally, involving more than 500 people, was held to protest racist attacks by the police against Papuan students in Surabaya, Java Island, on August 17.
The six activists are among 63 political prisoners in prison for peacefully expressing their political beliefs. On April 15, 2020, their lawyers submitted information on their cases to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Human Rights Watch, along with Amnesty International, Kontras, and other human rights groups, have for more than a decade pressed the Indonesian government to release political prisoners.
In May 2015, President Joko �Jokowi� Widodo pardoned and released five Papuan prisoners from Abepura prison, Jayapura. He publicly promised to release all Moluccan and Papuan prisoners, and said he wanted �to stop the stigma of conflict in Papua and to create a sense of peace.� His administration gradually released nearly 100 political prisoners, mostly by reducing sentences.
In January 2018, Indonesia�s Constitutional Court rejected a judicial review to annul the criminal code�s six treason articles, including article 106, but found that those articles were often disproportionally applied against political activists raising the Morning Star flag in Papua and the RMS flag in the Moluccas Islands.
President Jokowi should drop all charges for peaceful political expression, order the release of all political prisoners, and review the failure of law enforcement officers, especially in the Moluccas Islands and Papua and West Papua provinces, to follow the Constitutional Court ruling, Human Rights Watch said.
Concerned governments, including the United States, European Union member countries, and Australia, should raise the situation of Indonesia�s political prisoners in bilateral meetings. The Polish government should raise concerns about the treatment of Jakub Skrzypski, a Polish national who was arrested in West Papua and sentenced in May 2019 to five years in prison under article 106.
Human Rights Watch takes no position on claims to self-determination in Indonesia or in any other country. Consistent with international law, however, Human Rights Watch supports the right of all individuals, including independence supporters, to express their political views peacefully without fear of arrest or other forms of reprisal.
�President Jokowi succeeded in releasing many political prisoners in his first five years in office,� Harsono said. �Jokowi�s second term should not produce as many political prisoners as his predecessor. These cases are a bitter betrayal of his government�s prior policy and contrary to a top court ruling.�
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 24, 2020
- Event Description
An Indonesian court sentenced six activists to prison on Friday after finding them guilty of treason for participating in a protest last year calling for a self-determination referendum in the restive Papua province.
Surya Anta, Ambrosius Mulait, Charles Kossay, Dano Tabuni, and Arina Elopere were ordered to serve nine months, while Isay Wenda was handed an eight-month prison term during a hearing at the Central Jakarta district court via video link to observe social distancing measures imposed to suppress the COVID-19 pandemic.
�The defendants are guilty of treason," Judge Agustinus Setya Wahyu Triwiranto said during the sentencing.
The activists were arrested in August 2019 after taking part in a rally in Jakarta. Prosecutors accused them of demanding a referendum on self-determination for Papua and waving separatist Morning Star flags in front of the presidential palace.
All but one of the activists are native Papuans.
The protest was among many held across the country amid unrest in Papua triggered by perceived ill-treatment of Papuans on Java island.
Barring an appeal by prosecutors, who had sought an 18-month sentence for each of the activists, Isay Wenda could be released next month, while the rest are expected to walk free in June.
�But I can�t be sure, because it [the release] depends on the prosecutor. If they appeal, it will be different,� Tigor Hutape, a lawyer for the activists, told BenarNews.
�We have not yet communicated with the defendants,� he said. �We will decide later whether to appeal or accept the verdict.�
More than 40 people were killed in the unrest between August and September 2019 in Papua and West Papua provinces, which make up the Indonesian half of New Guinea island.
Jakarta has blamed the separatist United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the National Committee for West Papua for the uprising that started in mid-August, when thousands joined protests calling for a vote on self-determination.
Police arrested dozens of pro-referendum Papuan activists in the wake of the unrest, which prompted authorities to send thousands of additional police and troops to the region.
Human rights groups have urged President Joko �Jokowi� Widodo�s government to release the detainees, whom they described as political prisoners, saying they were at risk of contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic.
On Friday, London-based human rights group TAPOL called for their immediate release, citing statements from Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, who previously said political prisoners should be among the first to be released amid the pandemic.
�We therefore reiterate the urgency of releasing all political prisoners currently detained in overcrowded prisons where it is impossible to practice physical distancing,� the group said in a statement.
Indonesia reported 436 new infections on Friday, taking its cumulative tally to 8,211, with 42 new fatalities, bringing the country�s death toll to 689.
Earlier this month, more than 60 political prisoners, mostly the Papuan activists detained over pro-independence protests, wrote a letter to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and three U.N. special rapporteurs, asking for help in urging Indonesia to release them unconditionally.
�Not only is their detention illegal, it also threatens their safety,� said Jennifer Robinson, one of the human rights lawyers representing them.
The Papua region was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-administered ballot known as the Act of Free Choice. Many Papuans and rights groups said the vote was a sham because it involved only 1,000 people.
The provinces of Papua and West Papua make up one-fifth of Indonesia�s land mass but only 5.9 million of Indonesia�s 250 million people live there.
Tensions rose in Papua in December 2018 after separatist rebels allegedly killed 19 members of a crew building a highway in Nduga regency. Authorities immediately sent more than 750 soldiers and police to the region after the killings.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 3, 2020
- Event Description
Shadishkanta had company at the Porompat police station on the night of April 1 � Konsam Victor Singh, an employee at a government-run college in Imphal who had also been picked up from his home that evening.
When he asked the police officials why he was being detained, they told him it was related to a Facebook post he had written the previous day, claimed Victor Singh.
The post, written in the Meeteilon language, read: �CM covid-19 relief fund da CM Biren masagi oiba lupa kaya hapkhi khangbiba yaobibaro?� Does anybody know how much has Chief Minister Biren contributed to the CM Covid-19 relief fund?
At the police station, officials told him that there was �pressure from the chief minister�s side� to take action against him, said Victor Singh. �They told me I had no choice but to spend the night in lock-up,� he said.
There were no formal charges against him. The next morning, according to Victor Singh, the police told him he would be released if he deleted his Facebook post and posted an apology on the site. �I had spent the night with six other people in a small cell in the time of Covid-19, so I did what they asked me to,� he said.
He was released after he posted a new update on his Facebook page. It read: �I am deleting this post. I don�t have any negative intention towards the CM of Manipur.�
Haobijam declined comment on Victor Singh�s detention.
Two days later, on April 3, Laifungbam Debabrata Roy, a rights activist and a public health physician, was picked up from his home. At the police station, Roy said, he was asked to explain a Facebook post he had written the previous day.
It read: �The present Manipur Chief Minister, especially at this time of crisis, should desist from wasting State resources, time and personnel in carrying out any personal political agenda or vendetta. It demeans and belittles the position occupied and the responsibility that entails.�
Roy said he told the police official interrogating him that the post did not make any personal attack on the chief minister or his colleagues: �I told them it was just encouraging them not to waste time in pursuing other agenda in a time like this.�
Roy said he also wrote down his explanation, as demanded by the police. Yet they insisted that he had to spend the night in prison.
When his lawyer asked for a formal FIR, the police reportedly furnished a draft FIR that charged Roy under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, a section that deals with actions that amount to �disobedience to follow order promulgated by public servant�. However, the FIR was not registered.
The next day, Roy was released after the police made a video of him reading out an apology note to the chief minister.
Imphal West police superintendent, K Meghachandra Singh, said Roy had accused the government of �wasting its resources�. �So, we had an interaction with him and released him on bail bond,� said the police official.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Online, Right to information
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 12, 2020
- Event Description
Aparat kepolisian dari Polresta Malang Kota membubarkan aksi yang dilakukan oleh Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP) dan Front Rakyat Indonesia untuk West Papua (FRI-WP) di perempatan Rajabali, Kota Malang, pada Kamis 12 Maret 2020.
Dari spanduk yang dibentangkan tertulis bahwa mereka menuntut untuk penentuan nasib sendiri bagi bangsa Papua Barat.
Aparat kepolisian membubarkan aksi tersebut karena tidak mengantongi izin. Kapolresta Malang Kota, Kombes Pol. Leonardus Simarmata mengatakan bahwa aksi tersebut bertentangan dengan Undang-Undangan RI, sehingga tidak mengantongi izin.
"Kita ini Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia (NKRI), kami tidak diijinkan aksi yang menyuarakan di luar NKRI," tuturnya pada Kamis 12 Maret 2020.
Selain itu, Leo juga menilai bahwa aksi tersebut mengganggu aktivitas dari masyarakat Kota Malang karena menutup akses Jalan Kahuripan menuju Jalan Semeru, Kota Malang.
"Masyarakat Kota Malang perlu beraktivitas karena aksi mereka ini menutup jalan," terangnya.
Maka itu, aparat kepolisian melakukan evakuasi dengan mengembalikan massa aksi yang berjumlah sekitar belasan orang tersebut ke titik awal aksi di Stadion Gajayana, untuk kemudian kembali ke kediaman masing-masing.
Saat proses evakuasi sempat terjadi aksi saling dorong mendorong antara aparat kepolisian dengan massa aksi.
Massa aksi tersebut ingin tetap melakukan orasi di perempatan Rajabali, Kota Malang, Namun kepolisian mengaku sudah memberikan tenggat waktu selama beberapa menit untuk mereka menyampaikan pendapatnya.
"Kami sudah mengakomodir aksi mereka tadi dengan mempersilakan untuk orasi," ujarnya.
Ketika massa aksi diangkut ke dalam truk polisi, mereka terus meneriakkan Papua merdeka.
Aksi yang dilakukan oleh AMP dan FRI-WP ini dilakukan mulai pukul 10.00 WIB dan dibubarkan oleh polisi sekitar pukul 11.00 WIB.
Aksi yang menyuarakan penentuan nasib sendiri bagi bangsa Papua Barat ini dilakukan serentak di 6 wilayah, meliputi Malang, Yogyakarta, Ternate, Gorontalo, Palu dan Jakarta.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Offline
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 24, 2020
- Event Description
Pelajar dan mahasiswa eksodus asal kabupaten Timika, Papua, mengecam dan mengutuk keras tindakan Kepolisian Resort (Polres) kabupaten Mimika membubar paksa aksi demo damai berujung penangkapan yang dilakukan, Jumat (24/1/2020) kemarin, di halaman kantor Bupati Mimika.
Hal tersebut disampaikan ketua posko umum eksodus Papua, Eko Philipus Kogoya, karena dinilainya aparat kepolisian sengaja berupaya mau menggiring aksi damai ke tindakan kriminal.
�Aksi kawa-kawan adalah aksi damai. Maka tindakan aparat, kami kutuk. Heran belum sampai pada pembacaan sikap, masa aksi dibubarkan secara paksa tanpa ada ruang berekspresi sedikitpun dikasih oleh kepolisian Mimika,� ujar Eko, melalui pers release yang diterima suarapapua.com, Jumat.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 7, 2020
- Event Description
West Sumatra Police reportedly arrested an activist from Inter-Community Studies Center (Pusaka) Sudarto for allegedly spreading hate speech through social media regarding Christmas celebration in Dharmasraya Regency.
“He is arrested at his house,” West Sumatra Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto verified in Padang, Tuesday, January 7. He said Sudarto was secured at 1:30 p.m. at his house located on Jalan Veteran, Purus.
Stefanus explained that Sudarto deliberately distributed information that triggered individual or group hostility based on ethnicity, religion, and race (SARA) and hoax news via Facebook.
Sudarto, he added, was still undergoing examination at the police headquarters.
Sudarto faced charges of Article 45 (A)2 in conjunction with Article 28 of Law No. 19 of 2016 on the amendment of Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transaction or ITE Law and Article 14 (1) and (2) of the 1946 Criminal Code.
“He has been named a suspect and will undergo the further process,” Stefanus said.
Previously, the head of a youth group Pemuda Jorong Kampung Baru of Nagari Sikabau, Harry Permana, filed a police report on December 29 against Sudarto for allegedly spreading false information in light of the ban on Christmas celebration in the region. Sudarto made the post on December 14-15.
Harry clarified that Nagari Sikabau had never restricted the Christmas celebration but rather prohibited people from outside the region to hold or celebrate it in the area.
Human rights communities condemned the arrest of Sudarto. Deputy chief of Setara Institute Bonar Tigor Naipospos said the case was a new strategy from intolerant groups to silence critical people on social media. "Unfortunately, the law enforcers tend to favor the majority group," Bonar said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Mar 3, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2019
- Event Description
According to our sources, on December 10, 2019, MASUMorganised an event,on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day at the Ranu Chhaya Mancha, in front of Academy of Fine Arts, Cathedral Road, Maidan in Kolkata.This place falls under the jurisdiction of Hastings Police Station. MASUM has been celebrating the International Human Rights Day by organising a human rights fair for the past 22 years. Various dignitaries, lawyers, human rights activists, academics, cultural performers and CSOs actively participated inthe said fair this year.The cultural programme was initiated at around 12 noon with an inaugural song,followed by a speech by Mr. Dipyaman Adhikary, the Assistant Secretary of MASUM. At around 12.45 PM, a few policemen in plain clothes arrived at the venue and stated that they are from Hastings Police Station. They however produced no identity of who exactly they were. They asked Mr.Roy to stop using the microphone in the event as no prior permission to use plugged sound hadbeen taken. The HRDsinformedthemthat an email seeking permission to organise the event was sent to the Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and Hastings Police Station of Kolkata on November 28, 2019. However, no response was received from any of the officers. The policemen (who were without their uniform) who had not produced their identity cards then said that they will not allow the HRDsto continue with the event by using microphone without the written permissionof the police. However,they allowed the use of megaphone provided the members visit the Hastings Police Station immediately and submit a written application regarding the usage. The members of MASUM refused to go to the police station.As according to requirements of Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, there should be a registration of FIR and a proper notice should be served if a police officer requires attendance ofwitnesses in the police station. The police personnel then backed off a little andaskedthe HRDsto write an application there itself, which they wouldtake to the police station andpermission to use microphone wouldbe granted subsequently.As a token of protestand given that MASUM had already communicated on November 28, 2019,members of MASUMrefused to submit the application and decided to continue the event without plugged sound. The event was initiated again with a megaphone and continued till 6:30 PM. HRDA would like to mention that at the same time two other events were also going on where loud sound was played; one just across the road at 'Mohor Kunja' and another behind the arena of victims at'Nandan' premise.The Human Rights Fair organised by MASUM is a prestigious event organised every year with an aimto bring together various civil society organisations, dignitaries and professionals to display their publications. Justice (retd.) Asok Ganguly, former judge of the Supreme Court of India,also inaugurated two of his books during the event. Under the present circumstances,we strongly protest the autocratic and tyrannical actions of the police in order to suppress a human rights eventon exactly the International Human Rights Day. It is anirony that a peaceful human rights event was hampered on the auspicious occasion of Human Rights Day by the state forces. The action of the police is violative of fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression and freedom of peaceful assembly as provided by Article 19 of the Indian Constitutionand upheld in all the recent standards developed by the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 9, 2020
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 19, 2019
- Event Description
An Indonesian prosecutor charged five men and a woman with treason on Thursday, accusing them of organizing a protest in Jakarta demanding independence for the easternmost province of Papua.
The peaceful protest of about 100 people had been held outside the presidential palace and military headquarters on Aug. 28 and followed a period of unrest in Papua.
Prosecutor P. Permana read out the indictment in the Central Jakarta court saying the six defendants had organized a rally demanding the Indonesian government allow a vote in Papua to let it separate from Indonesia One of the six waved the "Morning Star" flag, while dancing and singing, the indictment said. The flag is a banned symbol of Papuan nationhood.
"The action by the defendants is treason with the aim to separate Papua province and West Papua province from the unitary state of Indonesia," said Permana.
There was a small protest outside the court on Thursday held by pro-Papuan activists calling for the release of the six.
The six could face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.
A hearing for the defense is due on Jan. 2, but the six have said it was their constitutional right to participate in the rally.
Resource-rich Papua was a Dutch colony that was incorporated into Indonesia after a controversial U.N.-backed referendum in 1969. The region has since endured decades of mostly low-level separatist conflict.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 9, 2020
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 24, 2019
- Event Description
According to the information received, on November24, 2019, RTI activist and HRD Mr. Parmar was going out of his village Khopalaon his bike along with his brother Mr. Vinod Parmar. They were on their way to Lakhanka village from Khopala. Around 2.30 pm when they reached at Pipal road,nearly 8 kilometres from their village,they were intercepted by four men unknown to the defender who had came on two bikes. They were carrying iron rods and batons. They started hitting the HRD repeatedly with iron rods and abused him by hurling derogatory casteist remarks. Mr. Parmar was also threatened and asked to withdraw the RTI application he had filed recently. Physical attack and beating continued for 5 to 10 minutes. The HRD suffered fractures in both his legs and hands. His elbow also suffered fracture. His lower limbs were also severely injured as a result of the beating inflicted by the assailants. His brother Mr. Vinod Parmar was also roughed up by the assailants. HRD’s brother Mr. Vinod Parmar called on 108 for emergency ambulance through which he was taken to the government hospital and admitted. Sources informed that the assault was carried out by men closely associated with the village sarpanch. RTI activist, Mr. Parmar was earlier threatened by the husband of village sarpanch Ms. Vimala Gabani. He was threatened to withdraw the RTI application filed by him or else he would face dire consequences. Because of the injuries suffered, the HRD had to undergo two surgical operations - one on his left hand and other on his leg. He is still in the hospital and receiving treatment. The Botad Police has filed a case against sarpanch Ms. Gabani, her husband Mr. Jasmat Gabani, son Mr. Sanjay Gabani and four unknown persons under Indian Penal Code sections 324, 325, 504, 506 (2) for causing hurt by dangerous weapon, causing grievous hurt, intentional insult and criminal intimidation along with sections of the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act. The case has been transferred to SC/ST cell of Botad Police, Gujarat. However, the police has failed to arrestany of the accused yet.The Hon’ble Commission is once again appraised that manyRTI activists have been harassed and even murdered for seeking information to "promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority". Many face assaults on a regular basis. seeking information from their gram panchayat and the local administration also face social ostracism. RTI activists are vulnerable HRDs. Unlike other HRDs, a majority of the RTI activists are not part of an organisation; they often act alone, moved by anger at corruption and other illegal activities. RTI activists are vulnerable because they live in the same areas as authorities and political leaders who do not want information about their activities to disclosed. For the most part, human rights defenders receive media attention only when killed or seriously injured. When complaints are made by RTI activists, law enforcement personnel (who often work with corrupt officials) do not take appropriate action. The Central Information Commissionand State Information Commissions are not mandated to deal with such threats or attacks or to provide protection when needed. Attacks on RTI users have not ceased despite directions from several information commissions and state governments to protect them from harm. Further, per the Declaration on HRDs in the context of human rights violations by third parties, the obligation to protect, first, involves ensuring that defenders do not suffer from violations of their rights by non-State actors. Failure to protect could, in particular circumstances, engage the State‘s responsibility. Even acts and omissions committed by non-State actors under the instructions, control or direction of the State can, under certain circumstances, give rise to State responsibility. Therefore, it is paramount that prompt and full investigations are conducted and perpetrators brought to justice. Failure by States to prosecute and punish such is a clear violation of Article 12 of the Declaration on HRDs.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Vilification, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 2, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 3, 2019
- Event Description
Two journalists were arrested as Hong Kong police stormed shopping malls on Sunday following protests.
With no large-scale demonstrations planned, some protesters called for “shopping” stunts in seven districts including Admiralty, Mong Kok, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tai Po, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun.
Scuffles were most serious at Cityplaza in Tai Koo, where pro-democracy district councillor Andrew Chiu had his ear bitten off after the assailant slashed several people with a knife.
According to lawmaker Charles Mok, Chiu’s ear was reconnected after an operation: “His status is stable but we will have to see if its function will recover,” Mok said.
Most of the protests began peacefully as sit-in events at shopping malls. At Cityplaza, residents formed human chains and sang protest songs, whilst a group of masked protesters vandalised a restaurant in the mall.
At around 6pm, police stormed the mall and arrested several people. “Police warn the masked rioters to stop all destructive and illegal acts and appeal to the protestors to stay rational and calm. They should refrain from obstructing Police’s action,” the force said in a statement.
Hong Kong Law & Crime Politics & Protest Two journalists arrested as riot police storm malls around Hong Kong and deploy pepper spray 4 November 2019 13:25 Kris Cheng 5 min read
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Two journalists were arrested as Hong Kong police stormed shopping malls on Sunday following protests.
With no large-scale demonstrations planned, some protesters called for “shopping” stunts in seven districts including Admiralty, Mong Kok, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tai Po, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun. cityplaza
A cityplaza guard. Photo: Stand News.
Scuffles were most serious at Cityplaza in Tai Koo, where pro-democracy district councillor Andrew Chiu had his ear bitten off after the assailant slashed several people with a knife.
According to lawmaker Charles Mok, Chiu’s ear was reconnected after an operation: “His status is stable but we will have to see if its function will recover,” Mok said. photojournalist Joey Kwok Stand News arrested
Joey Kwok, freelance photojournalist working for Stand News, being arrested. Photo: Stand News.
Most of the protests began peacefully as sit-in events at shopping malls. At Cityplaza, residents formed human chains and sang protest songs, whilst a group of masked protesters vandalised a restaurant in the mall.
At around 6pm, police stormed the mall and arrested several people. “Police warn the masked rioters to stop all destructive and illegal acts and appeal to the protestors to stay rational and calm. They should refrain from obstructing Police’s action,” the force said in a statement.
Joey Kwok, a freelance photojournalist working for Stand News, was arrested and handcuffed on suspicion of obstructing police as he was taking photos at the mall.
Stand News said Kwok was at standing at a distance from police officers and did not obstruct their work. The news outlet condemned the arrest as unreasonable and demanded his immediate release.
“He has said he was a journalist multiple times when he was arrested, but it was ignored by the police,” Stand News said.
Hong Kong has now entered into its 22nd weekend of protest and unrest, which was sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed fugitive transfers to mainland China.
A journalism student, who is a member of the Hong Kong Baptist University Students’ Union Editorial Board, was also arrested at the mall whilst covering the news.
Roland Chin, the university’s president, said in an email to students, alumni and staff members that the school was deeply concerned about the student’s well-being.
He said the head of the Department of Journalism and a lawyer have visited the police station to provide assistance. The student’s family members have been notified.
Hong Kong Law & Crime Politics & Protest Two journalists arrested as riot police storm malls around Hong Kong and deploy pepper spray 4 November 2019 13:25 Kris Cheng 5 min read
Donate
Two journalists were arrested as Hong Kong police stormed shopping malls on Sunday following protests.
With no large-scale demonstrations planned, some protesters called for “shopping” stunts in seven districts including Admiralty, Mong Kok, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tai Po, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun. cityplaza
A cityplaza guard. Photo: Stand News.
Scuffles were most serious at Cityplaza in Tai Koo, where pro-democracy district councillor Andrew Chiu had his ear bitten off after the assailant slashed several people with a knife.
According to lawmaker Charles Mok, Chiu’s ear was reconnected after an operation: “His status is stable but we will have to see if its function will recover,” Mok said. photojournalist Joey Kwok Stand News arrested
Joey Kwok, freelance photojournalist working for Stand News, being arrested. Photo: Stand News.
Most of the protests began peacefully as sit-in events at shopping malls. At Cityplaza, residents formed human chains and sang protest songs, whilst a group of masked protesters vandalised a restaurant in the mall.
At around 6pm, police stormed the mall and arrested several people. “Police warn the masked rioters to stop all destructive and illegal acts and appeal to the protestors to stay rational and calm. They should refrain from obstructing Police’s action,” the force said in a statement.
Joey Kwok, a freelance photojournalist working for Stand News, was arrested and handcuffed on suspicion of obstructing police as he was taking photos at the mall.
Stand News said Kwok was at standing at a distance from police officers and did not obstruct their work. The news outlet condemned the arrest as unreasonable and demanded his immediate release. photojournalist Joey Kwok Stand News arrested
Joey Kwok, a freelance photojournalist working for Stand News, being arrested. Photo: Stand News.
“He has said he was a journalist multiple times when he was arrested, but it was ignored by the police,” Stand News said.
Hong Kong has now entered into its 22nd weekend of protest and unrest, which was sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed fugitive transfers to mainland China.
A journalism student, who is a member of the Hong Kong Baptist University Students’ Union Editorial Board, was also arrested at the mall whilst covering the news.
Roland Chin, the university’s president, said in an email to students, alumni and staff members that the school was deeply concerned about the student’s well-being.
He said the head of the Department of Journalism and a lawyer have visited the police station to provide assistance. The student’s family members have been notified.
“We are also liaising with the relevant government agencies in our effort to seek a fair and proper treatment for the other students arrested by the police over the weekend,” Chin said.
The student claimed police threatened him with rape at the San Uk Ling Holding Centre when he was arrested. “I would not commit suicide,” the student shouted, in reference to a spate of recent deaths which some in the protest movement believe to be suspicious.
Shopping mall protests
Police officers also stormed other malls. At around 1:40pm, officers took eight people away from a gathering outside Sha Tin Town Hall.
At 4pm, police stormed the New Town Plaza from the bus terminus below, arresting at least two. Some threw objects at police inside the mall, as officers pointed their rifles at people and fired pepper spray.
Similar scenes also occurred at Tai Po Mega Mall and Diamond Hill’s Plaza Hollywood. At the Mega Mall, some protesters were folding origami cranes to form protest slogans whilst others trashed a Yoshinoya branch in the mall, believing that the restaurant has sided with the government. Officers then rushed into the mall but did not make any arrests.
At around 6pm, police rushed into the Tai Po mall again, despite a commander ordering them not to do so. Apple Daily footage showed that the commander had to enter the mall and shout: “No-one enter the mall… go back and reform [team] at the bridge.”
Residents gathered again at the mall and riot police entered for the third time at around 7pm to arrest two people, prompting onlookers to throw objects at police from above. Officers fired pepper spray and pointed their rifles at them.
Tseung Kwan O incident
Meanwhile, protesters gathered in Tseung Kwan O following rumours that a police officer was getting married at the Crowne Plaza hotel. At around 1am, police fired tear gas to disperse them.
A student from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology appeared to be trying to escape the tear gas when he fell from a car park’s third floor onto the second floor. He was unconscious and rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan.
The student was in a critical condition and underwent an operation to remove haematoma from his brain. Wei Shyy, president of the university, visited the student on Monday morning at the hospital.
Chiu is running in the District Council election’s Tai Koo Shing West constituency. Kacee Ting of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong is also running.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 20, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 16, 2019
- Event Description
The leader of a pro-democracy group responsible for some of the largest peaceful protest marches in Hong Kong was attacked on Wednesday, four days before another planned mass rally.
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, was set upon by at least four non-ethnic Chinese assailants on Arran Street in Mong Kok at 7.40pm, a police source said.
The attack was the second against Sham in less than two months.
The Civil Human Rights Front said Sham had been smashed over the head with hammers and spanners but was conscious when sent to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei. He was understood to be in stable condition.
A photo of Sham following the attack showed the activist lying on the ground near a white vehicle with blood spilled around him.
Police said Sham was bleeding from his head and arms when officers found him. The suspects fled in a car which officers were pursuing, the force said. An investigation was under way.
Jimmy Sham is pictured after Wednesday’s attack. Photo: FacebookJimmy Sham is pictured after Wednesday’s attack. Photo: Facebook Jimmy Sham is pictured after Wednesday’s attack. Photo: Facebook
The leader of a pro-democracy group responsible for some of the largest peaceful protest marches in Hong Kong was attacked on Wednesday, four days before another planned mass rally.
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, was set upon by at least four non-ethnic Chinese assailants on Arran Street in Mong Kok at 7.40pm, a police source said.
The attack was the second against Sham in less than two months.
The Civil Human Rights Front said Sham had been smashed over the head with hammers and spanners but was conscious when sent to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei. He was understood to be in stable condition.
A photo of Sham following the attack showed the activist lying on the ground near a white vehicle with blood spilled around him.
Police said Sham was bleeding from his head and arms when officers found him. The suspects fled in a car which officers were pursuing, the force said. An investigation was under way. SUBSCRIBE TO Hong Kong News Get updates direct to your inbox By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy Government condemns attack on Hong Kong protest leader
Fellow rights front member Figo Chan said witnesses had told him onlookers tried to stop the ambush but Sham’s attackers pointed a knife at them.
Sham had been making his way to the democracy group’s annual general meeting where he was expected to discuss a march from Tsim Sha Tsui to West Kowloon railway station set for Sunday.
Chan said the march would proceed as planned.
The rights front condemned the attack, saying it would have a “chilling effect” on democracy advocates and fuel fears of “white terror” in Hong Kong. China warns US it will take ‘countermeasures’ over Hong Kong bill
The attack was not the first against Sham. He and his assistant Law Kwok-wai were in late August set upon by two people in masks wielding a baseball bat and a rod, hours after the pair were told by police that a rally they had planned for the following weekend had been banned.
Police later arrested three male suspects, including a 15-year-old boy. The youngster was charged with conspiracy to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and appeared at Kowloon City Juvenile Court. Two other suspects remain at large.
In addition to his activism, Sham is contesting a seat in Hong Kong’s district council elections set for November, at Lek Yuen in Sha Tin.
A number of Hong Kong lawmakers from the city’s pan-democratic camp were among those visiting Sham at Kwong Wah Hospital on Wednesday night, including Shiu Ka-chun, Tanya Chan, Wu Chi-wai, Ip Kin-yuen, Raphael Wong Ho-ming and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung. Fifteen-year-old boy arrested over attack on activist Jimmy Sham and his assistant
Tanya Chan, the bloc’s convenor, condemned the attack and called it shocking. She urged police to investigate as soon as possible.
“What has Hong Kong turned into?” she asked.
Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said “the assault is clearly politically motivated”. He accused police of failing to protect opposition politicians and activists. Lam said he had been assaulted by government supporters in June but that police had not made any arrests.
Sha Tin district councillor Wong Yue-hon, who is campaigning against Sham for another term on the council in the November elections, condemned “all forms of violence” and wished Sham a speedy recovery.
“I do hope there will be a fair election and it will not be affected by this incident,” he said.
But Wong discouraged Hongkongers from attending Sunday’s rally, warning that it would descend into chaos like other protests in recent months. Election hopefuls insist use of ‘liberate’ slogan is not independence call
“I hope the government can come up with a concrete proposal to restore social order, instead of the city seeing more and more injuries,” he said.
Since August, at least nine pro-democracy figures have been attacked, including Democratic Party lawmaker Roy Kwong Chun-yu. Offices of pro-establishment politicians, meanwhile, have been trashed by radical protesters during the anti-government protests.
Ng Tak-nam, chief inspector of Mong Kok district, said the attackers, who were masked and were wearing black tops, assaulted Sham causing a 3cm (1.2-inch) wound on his forehead.
Ng condemned the violence and believed the crime was organised as the attackers had been wandering in the area for some time.
“After the attack, they jumped into a black private car and fled in the direction to Sham Shui Po,” Ng said. “Witnesses have told us the car had been driving in the area for a while. The attack was swift and the suspects wore similar clothing.”
Ng added uniformed officers were protecting Sham in hospital and they were investigating whether the case was linked to the previous attack in August.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 25, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 26, 2019
- Event Description
Activist and documentary filmmaker Dandhy Dwi Laksono has been accused by the Jakarta Police for spreading hate speech after he posted about clashes in Jayapura and Wamena, Papua, on his Twitter account.
Dandhy was arrested by the police in Bekasi, West Java, at 11 p.m. on Thursday, after which he was taken to the Jakarta Police headquarters for an interrogation that lasted until 4 a.m. on Friday.
He was named a suspect of violating Article 28 and Article 45 of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law and accused of spreading information aimed at fueling hatred based on ethnicity, religion or race.
“In usual [practice], there should have been a summons [to testify] as a witness, but at about 11 p.m. [the police] suddenly handed me an arrest warrant,” Dandhy said after the questioning.
Dandhy’s lawyer Alghiffari Aqsa questioned the police’s decision to name his client a suspect, saying that the articles — which had been slammed by critics and activists for their potential to criminalize criticism — were irrelevant.
“The [information] that Dandhy wrote [on Twitter] is part of his freedom of expression in conveying his opinion on what happens in Papua,” Alghiffari said on Wednesday.
On Sept. 23, Dandhy wrote a thread on his Twitter account @Dandhy_Laksono about the clashes in Jayapura and Wamena, in which he posted the photo of students who were allegedly shot by bullets during the incident.
Papuan university students in exodus from campuses across Indonesia opened a crisis center in [Cendrawasih University]. Authorities pick them up from the campus to Expo Waena. Riots. Some died,” Dandhy wrote in his post.
High school students protest against racism by a teacher. [Security] apparatus handle them. The city is in chaos. Many are wounded by gunshots,” he went on.
Violent unrest erupted in the two cities of Papua on Monday, with some senior high school students reportedly being attacked by security staff as they dispersed a protest.
Papua Police, however, said that the protest occurred because of “baseless” provocation among students about an incident in which a teacher allegedly called a student a “monkey” last week.
After being named a suspect, Dandhy was released by the police on Friday morning. The police’s decision to name him a suspect has been met by criticisms from human rights and press freedom activists, who argue that Dandhy was facing prosecution for expressing his opinion, which in fact is guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Oct 3, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 24, 2019
- Event Description
Journalists covering student protests in cities across Indonesia were attacked by police in a series of brutal incidents on September 24. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) condemn the systematic harassment and brutality by Indonesian police and call for immediate action by authorities to hold all perpetrators to account.
Thousands of university students held rallies across Indonesia this week to protest the revision of several Indonesian laws in Jakarta, Bandung, Garut, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Palembang, Medan, Denpasar, Makassar and Palu. AJI said some journalists covering the rallies were injured by police, while others were intimidated to stop filming or were asked to delete the videos.
At least four journalists were attacked during the Jakarta protests. According to AJI Jakarta branch, a journalist for Kompas Nibras Nada Nailufar was intimidated by police to delete footage of alleged police brutality against a protester near the Jakarta Convention Centre during the evening of September 24. Vanny El Rahman, a reporter of IDN Times, was assaulted and also pressured to erase a video of police violence in Slipi, in West Jakarta. Tri Kurnia Yunianto, of Katadata, and Febrian Ahmad, of Metro TV, were attacked in Jakarta. Despite showing a press card, police confiscated Kurnia’s mobile phone and deleted a video of police firing tear gas at protesters. In a separate incident, Metro TV’s Febrian Ahmad was set upon by a mob of protesters who attacked his work car with sticks and stones.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, AJI Makassar reported that three journalists were assaulted by police at a rally in front of the regional legislative council. Journalists Muhammad Darwi Fathir, of Antara news agency; Saiful, of inikata.com; and Ishak Pasabuan, of Makassar Today; were physically attacked by police during police clashes with student protesters. In Palu, on Central Sulawesi, police snatched the camera of Rian Saputra, a journalist with public broadcaster TVRI Central Sulawesi and demanded he delete videos.
AJI calls on authorities to investigate the attacks and urged Indonesia’s Press Council to establish an independent task force to deal with violence inflicted against journalists during the mass protests in the country.
AJI Chairman, Abdul Manan, said: “We must remind all sides to respect journalists’ safety while they are on the jobs. We also ask newsrooms to provide tools to keep journalists safe.”
The IFJ said: “We condemn the attacks against journalists in Indonesia while they are endeavouring to do their jobs and report in the public interest. Indonesia’s authorities need to respect the media’s role and ensure every effort to ensure the safety of journalists while they are covering protests.”
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 3, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 10, 2019
- Event Description
On 8thSeptember2019, Sunday, activists from Human Rights Forum (HRF), a civil rights organisation held a meeting in Shadi Manzil, Nellore, on the abrogation of Article 370, and thealleged human rights violations in Kashmir.
According to sources,a group led by the Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) local President Mr.Bellamkonda Malyadri approached police and accused the activists of provoking the people and disrupting peace in the regionand thatthe activists were spreading false narratives and trying to incite violence.Based on the complaint, the Kavali police have filed a case under Sections 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 153(A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race) read with Section 34 of IPC (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) against activists Mr. V S Krishna, ,Mr.K Bhaskar and Mr. Mohammed Abzal, a religious leaderand others for organising the meeting.The organisers denied there was any attempt to disturb peace and accused BJP leaders of filing police complaints to stifle opposing voices. Last week, the police had declined permission to Human Rights Forum to hold a meeting on Article 370 in Adoni and Kurnool, in Kurnool district, stating that it may disturb public peace.Article 19 of the Universal Declaration proclaims the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom “to seek, receive and impart information and idea through any medium regardless of frontiers”. Further Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights sets forth the right to freedom of opinion, expression and information. Article 19 (1) (a) guarantees to all its citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Union of India Vs. Association for Democratic Reforms(2002) 5 SCC 294 had observed that “one sided information, and non information, all equally create and uninformed citizenry which makes democracy a farce. Freedom of speech and expression includes right to impart and receive information which includes freedom to hold opinion”, and can be read in the present case through participation in the said meeting.
Ref No: HRDA/South/AP/10/09/2019September 18, 2019ToMr.Khaleel Ahmed National Focal Point -Human Rights Defenders & Deputy RegistrarNational Human Rights CommissionManav Adhikar Bhawan,Block-C, GPO Complex, INA,New Delhi –110 023Email: [email protected] Sir,Sub:HRD Alert -India –Urgent Appeal for Action –Registration of case for organisinga meeting in protest of abrogation of Article 370 at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh–RegardingGreetings from Human Rights Defenders Alert -India!HRD Alert -India is a Forum of Human Rights Defenders for Human Rights Defenders. It endeavours to initiate actions on behalf of Human Rights Defenders under threat or with security concerns.On behalf of HRDA, we express our grave concern regarding registration of caseagainst human rights defendersfor organising a meeting in protest of abrogation of Article 370 at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.Source of Information on the Incident:•Communication with the HRDs•Media sources•Communication with the activists in the region•The Regional Coordinator for the South & West of IndiaAbout the Human Rights Defenders under attack:•Mr. V S Krishna, is the Member of the State Coordination Committee of Human Rights Forum (HRF)•Mr.K Bhaskar, a member of Progressive Democratic Students Union.The Perpetrators:•Mr.Bellamkonda Malyadri President of Bhartiya Janata Party’s local unit•Mr. M Rosaiah,Circle Inspector (CI) Kavalipolice station Date of Incident:•September 10, 2019Place of Incident:•NelloreDistrict,AndhraPradeshIncident:On 8thSeptember2019, Sunday, activists from Human Rights Forum (HRF), a civil rights organisation held a meeting in Shadi Manzil, Nellore, on the abrogation of Article 370, and thealleged human rights violations in Kashmir. According to sources,a group led by the Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) local President Mr.Bellamkonda Malyadri approached police and accused the activists of provoking the people and disrupting peace in the regionand thatthe activists were spreading false narratives and trying to incite violence.Based on the complaint, the Kavali police have filed a case under Sections 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 153(A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race) read with Section 34 of IPC (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) against activists Mr. V S Krishna, ,Mr.K Bhaskar and Mr. Mohammed Abzal, a religious leaderand others for organising the meeting.The organisers denied there was any attempt to disturb peace and accused BJP leaders of filing police complaints to stifle opposing voices. Last week, the police had declined permission to Human Rights Forum to hold a meeting on Article 370 in Adoni and Kurnool, in Kurnool district, stating that it may disturb public peace.Article 19 of the Universal Declaration proclaims the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom “to seek, receive and impart information and idea through any medium regardless of frontiers”. Further Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights sets forth the right to freedom of opinion, expression and information. Article 19 (1) (a) guarantees to all its citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Union of India Vs. Association for Democratic Reforms(2002) 5 SCC 294 had observed that “one sided information, and non information, all equally create and uninformed citizenry which makes democracy a farce. Freedom of speech and expression includes right to impart and receive information which includes freedom to hold opinion”, and can be read in the present case through participation in the said meeting. Further, in the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. State (2015) had observed that there are three concepts which are fundamental in understanding the reach of this most basic of human rights which are discussion, advocacy and incitement. Mere discussion or even advocacy of a particular cause howsoever unpopular is at the heart of Article 19(1)(a). It is only when such discussion or advocacy reaches the level of incitement that Article 19(2) kicks in. It is at this stage that a law may be made curtailing the speech or expression that leads inexorably to or tends to cause public disorder or tends to cause or tends to affect the sovereignty & integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, and so on.The protection of human rights defenders is critical to ensure that they are able to work in a safe, supportive environment and be free from attacks and reprisals. Article 21 of the Constitution of India ensures to all its citizen right to life –a life to live without fear, intimidation, harassment or mental torture. Also, The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted in 1998 by the UN General Assembly, states that governments are under a duty to “take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders by the competent authorities against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary actions” as a consequence of their efforts to promote human rights. Therefore, the government is bound by its international legal obligations to ensure that all activists and human rights defenders are provided with security against harassment or intimidation so that they may enjoy their constitutional right to due process, life and liberty under Article 21, and the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.In the present case filing unnecessary FIR against Mr. V S Krishna, Mr.Bhaskar and Mr. Mohammed Abzaljust for holdinga meeting on a issue of public importance amounts to denial of right to freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO staff, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 2, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 1, 2019
- Event Description
Senior police assaulted several journalists as they covered violent clashes in Barrackpore, a city in West Bengal, on Sunday, September 1. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in condemning the attack and demanded the police investigate the incident.
The protest by the supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the capture of the party office by The Trinamool Congress (TMC) turned violent. In the clashes, Arjun Singh, the member of the parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered head injuries after he claimed that the police hit him with the baton.
Following the clashes, the police then tried to enter the residence of Arjun Singh. Local reporters were present at the venue to cover the story. In the tense situation, the Deputy Comissioner of Police Barrackpore Ajay Thakur was caught on camera as he hit a journalist. Several other journalists also said that they were assaulted at the same incident.
NUJ India will send a fact-finding committee and urge the state government to set up a high-level judicial committee to probe the incident and punish the guilty police officers for assaulting journalists. NUJ(I) also demand for the enactment of the Journalists Protection Act and call the authorities to ensure the security of the media persons, while covering different events in the states.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 1, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 4, 2019
- Event Description
Indonesian police have named human rights lawyer and well-known West Papua advocate Veronica Koman as a suspect in the spreading of “fake news”, accusing her of provoking widespread unrest in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces.
In a move slammed by Amnesty International Indonesia, the human rights lawyer faces charges under the country’s controversial electronic information and transactions law, and faces up to six years in jail if found guilty.
Police specifically mentioned Koman’s posts about an incident in Surabaya in mid-August where military and nationalist militia were captured on video calling Papuan students “monkeys” and “dogs”.
East Java police said the lawyer had provoked and inflamed anti-racist riots that have swept across West Papua in recent weeks, and accused of her spreading fake news and provocative material.
Indonesian police say they have also contacted Interpol to seek assistance in locating the Indonesian lawyer, who they believe is abroad.
Indonesia’s National Commission of Human Rights slammed the move, saying Koman had attempted only to provide “necessary information from a different point of view”.
Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said the move was deeply misguided. “The root of the real problem is the act of racism by some members of the TNI [Indonesian army] and the excessive use of force by the police in the student dormitory in Surabaya,” Usman told tirto.id.
Since unrest has flared across West Papua – divided into the two Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua – in some cases erupting in violent and fatal clashes, Koman has proved a critical source of information, regularly updating her Twitter account with photos and videos that have provided a rare insight into the realities on the ground.
It comes at a time when internet access has been cut for more than two weeks in the remote area, which is restricted to foreign journalists.
Meanwhile in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, who until now has been blocked from the visiting West Papua, said on Wednesday that she was concerned about escalating violence.
“There should be no place for such violence in a democratic and diverse Indonesia, and I encourage the authorities to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns, as well as to restore internet services and refrain from any excessive use of force,” she said, “Blanket internet shutdowns are likely to contravene freedom of expression and limiting communications may exacerbate tensions”.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 1, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2019
- Event Description
A politician from Perindo Party of Sorong Sayang Mandabayan is undergoing police question in Manokwari Resort Police Headquarters, Papua, over the possession of 1,500 flags of Bintang Kejora or morning star, the symbol of the Free Papua Movement.
“The questioning is still afoot in Manokwari police headquarters,” said National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo in his office, South Jakarta, Tuesday, September 3.
Sayang was arrested in Rendani Airport, Manokwari, right before claiming his baggage. The airport’s Aviation Security (Avsec) suspected Sayang’s wary behaviors.
The team then searched through his belongings and discovered 1,500 pieces of the small flag of Bintang Kejora in his pink suitcase. He was brought to Rendani Sector Police to be picked by Manokwari police officers for further examination.
Dedi said that according to Manokwari Police, Sayang Mandabayan boarded Wings Air from DEO Airport Sorong to join a peaceful rally which would take place today, September 3, in Manokwari. “We are still examining the suspicion,” he concluded.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 1, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 1, 2012
- Event Description
Mr. Ojing Tasing, President of Siang People's Forum North Eastern State of Arunachal Pradesh has been fighting against the government's plan to construct the Lower Siang Hydro Electric Project. He and his organization were opposed to the construction of a dam for the project saying it would affect 6,708 households with a population of 34,911. The entire Rs 13,000 crore Lower Siang Hydro Electric Project is likely to affect more than 50 villages in Upper, East and West Siang districts being inhabited by the Adi community people since time immemorial. The organisation was also apprehensive that 15,000 odd migrant labourers to be engaged by the company would jeopardise the existence of the tribal population in these districts with only 54 per cent indigenous population. As a result of their effective advocacy of the negative consequences of this dam on the indigenous people of the basin, the proposed 2700 Mega Watt has been halted. However, this successful struggle of indigenous people came with a heavy price for the leaders of the movement, who selflessly fought for the rights of their fellow beings. The local administration has clamped Ojing Tasing with charges in the Yingkiong Police Station case no. 7/12, under sections 427/147/148/149/506/341/109/34 of the Indian Penal Code. His colleagues, namely Mr. Sokun Siboh, Mr. Obuk Gao, Mr. Mak Yirang and Mr. Magyar Lego have also been clamped with the similar charges since May 2012. Mr. Tasing and his colleagues have to regularly appear every month before the Judicial Magistrate First Class Yingkiong Court, which is 73 kilometres away from their houses and have to take the dilapidated hill road which is impossible to travel during rainy seasons. The long drawn legal battle has caused much physical and financial hardship to the human rights defenders.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 6, 2014
- Event Description
Jayapura. Two French journalists were on Friday handed short jail terms for illegally reporting in Indonesia's Papua province, but will walk free next week after already having served the time in custody, their lawyer said. Thomas Dandois, 40, and Valentine Bourrat, 29, were detained at the start of August while making a documentary for Franco-German television channel Arte about Papua's separatist movement. Indonesia is deeply sensitive about journalists covering Papua, where a low-level insurgency against the central government has simmered for decades, and rarely grants visas for foreigners to report independently in the region. At the trial in Jayapura, the capital of Papua, the pair were charged with breaking immigration laws since they were reporting with tourist, not journalist, visas - a crime punishable by up to five years in jail. Prosecutors had sought a four-month sentence during the trial, which started this week, saying the journalists had admitted their mistake and apologized. However a panel of judges handed them a sentence of only two months and 15 days, their lawyer Aristo Pangaribuan told Agence France-Presse. They will be released next week, he said. "This decision is good because they will go home on Monday," said the lawyer. "But from a legal perspective, this is not very good because it opens the door for the criminalization of journalistic activities." They did not plan to appeal, he added. Foreign journalists detained in the past for illegally reporting in Papua were swiftly deported.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial
- Source
[Jakarta Globe](Malaysia Today
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Oct 8, 2014
- Event Description
Human Rights Watch - The Nepal authorities should immediately withdraw sedition charges and unconditionally release rights campaigner Chandra Kant Raut, who was arrested for his expression of peaceful political opinions. Nepal should amend its practices to comply with international and domestic standards to protect freedom of expression. Raut was arrested on September 14, 2014, for allegedly advocating that the southern plains of Nepal, known as the Terai, be allowed to secede from the rest of the country as part of a long-standing debate on state restructuring. On October 8 he was charged with sedition, presumably under the Crime against State and Punishment Act 1989, which forbids any "attempts to cause any disorder with an intention to jeopardise sovereignty, integrity or national unity of Nepal." It carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Police also said that Raut has written articles and books advocating secession by Madhesis, the Terai community. There is no evidence that Raut advocated the use of violence, or that his actions led to violence. "Many Nepalis have recently struggled to break out of feudal structures and ensure democratic rights," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of a good democracy. But the government is going after an activist expressing concerns about marginalized communities from the Terai." Nepali politicians have long been drawn largely from the upper-caste hill tribes. Following the ceasefire agreement of 2006 after a 10-year civil war, the country embarked on a constitution-writing process which promised inclusion for traditionally marginalized communities, including from the Terai. Central to the promise of inclusion was the pledge to re-draw the state to create provinces or regions without giving dominance to the upper-caste hill tribes. However, the constitution remains in limbo as political parties have failed to come to a consensus. The debate has been filled with anxiety that the Terai, which runs east to west along Nepal's porous border with India and is a critical transit for trade in the land-locked country, will seek greater autonomy. Raut, formerly a US resident, returned to Nepal in 2011, and leads a group that seeks to establish an independent Madhesh in the area. "Raut's call for an independent Terai has to be understood in the historical and political context in which the discussion on state restructuring is occurring," said Adams. "His arrest threatens the chances of a robust debate on federalism, and undermines the promise of inclusion. Raut's arrest shows that minority voices can and will be easily sidelined." Nepal is a state party signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to free expression. Any limits placed on free expression must be set out clearly in domestic law, be nondiscriminatory in impact and must be strictly necessary for national security or public order. The authorities have not produced any evidence that Raut's peaceful call for an independent Terai was a threat to national security or public order that could justify his arrest. "Instead of releasing Raut for lack of a genuine threat, the authorities decided to justify their arrest by slapping sedition laws against him, nearly a month later," said Adams. "Such laws are typically used by repressive regimes to control critical speech, and it appears that Nepal has decided to go down this unseemly route."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 20, 2014
- Event Description
Human rights activists called on police on Wednesday to investigate the death of the Sorong Raya West Papua National Committee (KNPB) chairman Marthinus Yohame. "It's very shocking that the body was found inside a gunny sack floating on the sea," West Papua human rights lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy told The Jakarta Post. The body of Marthinus Yohame, 27, was found on the sea inside a tied gunny sack in Nana waters by a fisherman who was fishing behind the Dom Port in Sorong, West Papua. Yan Christian said that the death of Marthinus might have something to do with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to the region to officially open Sail Raja Ampat on Aug. 23. He said that before Marthinus left his house on Aug. 20, a KNPB supporter, Abner Wanma--who was one of the dancers for Sail Raja Ampat's main event-- was taken by police from his lodge in Waisai Raja Ampat after a dance rehearsal. "Abner was returned home the following day and at the same time there was information saying that the KNPB Sorong Raya chairman had not yet come home," Yan said. There were rumours that the KNPB was to raise the Papua separatist group's Bintang Kejora flag during SBY's visit, Yan Christian said. "It's very extreme if someone was killed just to prevent the flag from being raised," he said. He also called on the KNPB and Marthinus' family to provide police with as much information as possible to aid them with the investigation. Yan Christian also asked the police to give wide access to the family to help reveal the truth of the case. He urged the police to thoroughly investigate Marthinus' death, the motive and the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the police are still waiting for an autopsy to be performed on Marthinus' body as part of the investigation. "Without an autopsy it will be difficult for the police to uncover the facts around his death," Papua Police's spokesperson Sr. Comr. Pudjo Sulistyo told the Post in Jayapura on Wednesday. Pudjo said Marthinus' body was still in the state-run RSUD Sorong hospital awaiting the autopsy, pending his family's approval. He said the autopsy was sought because his death was considered unusual. He said a wound that was one centimetre by one centimetre big was found on the left side of his chest and another wound that was two-by-three centimetre big was found on his right abdomen. "If no autopsy is conducted we will never know the cause of the wounds in the chest and abdomen," Pudjo said. Before Marthinus' body was found, his family had reported to police that he had left his house on Aug. 20 and never returned.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Killing, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to life
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 27, 2014
- Event Description
Civil society and human rights groups have strongly criticized National Police chief Gen. Sutarman for stating that the force will continue to investigate a member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), a state-sanctioned watchdog, for speaking out in a TV interview about rampant corruption in the police. Sutarman's target was Adrianus Meliala, also a professor of criminology at the University of Indonesia (UI). Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) chairman Neta S. Pane said on Wednesday that the legal battle against Adrianus reflected the police's reluctance to accept criticism and begin the long-stalled process of bureaucratic reform within the institution. "There are scores of corruption cases implicating rank-and-file officers up to police generals, yet the force appears to keep those from public scrutiny and does not bring corrupt officers to justice," Neta said during a meeting at Kompolnas in Jakarta. Adrianus, a former journalist, is under investigation for allegedly defaming the force in a recent interview on Metro TV, in which he said that criminal investigation divisions at the regional police level were often exploited like "automatic teller machines" by the police's top brass to enrich themselves. The statement was made in response to the arrest of four West Java Police officers, who were caught red-handed tampering with an online gambling investigation and accepting over Rp 5 billion (US$425,894) in bribes. Adrianus declined to withdraw his statement and insisted it was based on numerous public complaints and reports from police officers received by Kompolnas. Sutarman said the intention of investigating a promiment professor of criminology due to the latter's comments remained intact. Sutarman said Adrianus should be held responsible for his words, despite Adrianus speaking out in his capacity as the member of Kompolnas. "I will always accept criticism based on facts, but we cannot accept them if they are some sort of analytical view. Even my seniors - former National Police chiefs - feel these analyses are unacceptable," he said. IPW's Neta said there were several unresolved cases, including an alleged bribery case implicating Jakarta Police Traffic Corps director Sr. Comr. Nurhadi Yuwono and East Java Police Traffic Director Sr. Comr. Rahmat Hidayat. However, despite possessing strong evidence, the National Police have not launched an investigation into the allegations. In May, Nurhadi, Rahmat and several of their subordinates were removed from their posts for allegedly accepting hundreds of millions of rupiah in kickbacks from agencies arranging driver's licenses and vehicle registration documents. The National Police have also been accused of dragging their feet in investigating a civil servant in Batam municipality, Riau Islands. The individual had a questionable bank balance of Rp 1.3 trillion and was allegedly linked to the fuel-smuggling business. Ray Rangkuti of the Indonesian Civil Society Circle said the investigation into Adrianus gave the impression that the National Police were belittling Kompolnas, which was tasked with supervising the police's performance. "Adrianus' summons may be the police's way of showing that they can treat Kompolnas as their little brother or subordinate," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 27, 2014
- Event Description
Source of Information on the Incident: MASUM, (Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Manch), a human rights organisation based in West Bengal, India. About the Human Rights Defenders under attack: Mr. Mohar Ali Mondal is the son of Late Shahar Ali Mondal, a resident of Village and Post Office- Gobindapur, Police Station- Swarupnagar, District- 24 Parganas (North) in West Bengal. He has been working as the District Human Rights Monitor for MASUM. The Perpetrators: Mr. Bajlur Rahman, Sub Inspector of Police, Swarup Nagar Police Station. Date and time of Incident: 27 July, 2014, 11.50 PM Place of Incident: Swarup Nagar Police Station, 24 Parganas (North) District in the East Indian state of West Bengal. Incident According to the information received, on 27th July 2014 at around 8.00 pm, few villagers of Gobindapur under Swarupnagar Police Station, District- 24 Parganas (North) informed the MASUM District Human Rights Monitor Mr. Mohar Ali Mondal that the cross-border cattle smugglers had attacked and severely beat one Mr. Kabirul Mondal, son of Late Afsar Mondal of the same village. According to the source, those smugglers operate with support of the police and BSF. The villagers requested Mr. Mohar to assist them in lodging a formal complaint against the cattle smugglers at the police station.At around 11.00 pm, Mr. Kabirul's uncle, one Mr. Siddik Mondal, son of Late Ahad Ali formally made the complaint at the Swarupnagar police station. The then on-duty officer of the police station read the complaint as well enquired about the incident. Then he asked the complainant along with the human rights defender from MASUM to wait in the courtyard of police station for Mr. Bajlur Rahman, the Sub Inspector (SI) of that police station. Mr. Rahman came at the police station at about 10.00 pm forcing the villagers and the human rights defender to wait for one and half hours. Mr. Rahman also read the complaint and apparently narrated the whole complaint over his mobile phone to some higher-ups and also informed the complainant that the Officer in Charge was not at the police station at that moment.When the complainant and Mr. Mohar Ali were about to leave the police station at around 11.50 pm, Mr. Rahman, the SI, called them again to the room where the Duty Officer was sitting. All of a sudden; Mr. Bajlur Rahman SI of Police caught hold of Mohar Ali's collar and started threatening him saying, "You have to face the consequences of your involvement with human rights work" and "You will pay for your activities against the police and BSF". Mr. Mohar Ali and Mr. Siddik Mondal were literally prevented from any sort of movement and made to stand for 40 minutes while the other villagers were asked to vacate the police station. Later the said police personnel obtained signatures on "arrest cum inspection" memo and released them. This is not an isolated incident; rather the police and Border Security Force administrations are trying to throttle the voices of protest against their incessant acts of torture. A similar incident happened to another human rights defender of MASUM at Murshidabad district earlier on. This incident is also a blatant attack on initiatives to check the atrocious acts of the police and BSF personnel at the Indo-Bangladesh border areas of West Bengal and against the internationally accepted ethos and guidelines to protect the human rights defenders. The incident also reveals that the smugglers and the police and BSF share a hand in glove relationship. On 28th July 2014 (today) Mr. Mohar Mondal made written complaints to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, 24 Parganas (North) asking legal action against the erring officers and security for self.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 13, 2014
- Event Description
Mr. Laimayum Sevananda Sharma, aged about 35 years, S/o. L.Kedarnath Sharma, residing at Sagolband Salam Leikai, Imphal West District, Manipur. He is a Law Officer associated with Human Rights Law Network's (HLRN) Imphal center. HRLN is the network of lawyers and social activists working in solidarity with like-minded organizations and individuals to realize civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental rights and social justice for all. It works on promoting human rights through free / pro bono legal aid and legal awareness programmes, advocacy, networking and publications. Sharma has been associated with HRLN since 2010 and practices law at the Imphal district court and also visits different trial courts nearby, in the state of Manipur. He does pro-bono lawyering on matters like Domestic Violence, Environment etc. and has filed several Public Interest Litigations. According to the information received, on June 13th 2014 at about 6.30 p.m. while he was returning from his office in his personal two-wheeler vehicle two persons followed him in a four wheeler vehicle (car) and intercepted him. When Sharma questioned them about this, the two persons seated in the car came out and started assaulting Mr. Sharma as a result of which he suffered severe pain in his chest and fell down from his vehicle. As per the information, in the meanwhile another vehicle (TATA DI), in which about 8 Manipur Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel were travelling, also came there. Sharma identified one of the persons who assaulted him as Dhanbir Singh who is a commando with the Manipur police. Sharma managed to escape somehow and went for a medical examination on the next day i.e. on 14th July 2014, and filed a complaint before the Director General of Police for necessary immediate action. The human rights work that Sharma is involved in has brought on this attack on him and he fears such assaults in future too.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Mar 5, 2013
- Event Description
On 5 March 2013, about 600 human rights defenders, including relatives of disappeared persons from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts, were reportedly heading to Colombo in a convoy of 13 buses in order to attend a peaceful demonstration organized by the Association of the Families Searching for the Disappeared Relatives, an association set up to seek justice for victims of enforced disappearances, and thereafter march to the United Nations office in Colombo with a view to submitting a petition. This peaceful protest was meant to be part of a larger advocacy campaign organized by relatives of disappeared persons.When defenders started gathering at the Vavuniya Urban Council (VUC) ground in Vavuniya, men in plainclothes, believed to be intelligence officers, started enquiring about the identity of the organizer, and the purpose and funding of their trip. The men advised them to return home. Around 5.30p.m., police officials registered the details of the buses and drivers, and then agreed to allow the buses to proceed to Colombo, although it is reported that no such registration, nor permission, is needed for buses and private vehicles to travel from Vavuniya to the capital or any other destination. At 8.30p.m., when the buses, loaded with people, started to move out from the VUC ground, the police reportedly stopped them on alleged security grounds since, according to the police, a bus had been stoned between Vavuniya and Anuradhapura. The police claimed that they would not be able to ensure the security of the convoy should it proceed.The police eventually resorted to block the path in front of the buses with their trucks. The military was reportedly ready to intervene. Defenders inside the buses became disconcerted, and the police gave them assurances that they would be allowed to travel the following day at 4.30a.m.. On 6 March 2013, at 1:00a.m., 11 bus drivers were reportedly called by men dressed in plainclothes, believed to be police officers, to remove the buses from inside the VUC ground. The men warned the bus drivers that they would be prevented from working in Vavuniya, and that they could lose their route passes enabling them to operate commercial buses in the north of the country, should they not follow their instructions. As a consequence, nine of the 11 bus drivers moved the vehicles outside the VUC ground, and drove their buses home. It is further alleged that two more bus drivers received similar threats on the phone, and they reportedly removed the buses from Pampaimadu, about 10 kilometers west of Vavuniya, where their buses had been parked. At 5:00 a.m. the organizers went to the police headquarters, and were told that they could leave after 5.30 a.m. However, it is reported that at the same time the police instructed all bus drivers in Vavuniya, including the Private Bus Owners Association, not to drive the peaceful demonstrators to Colombo, warning them that they would be in trouble should they do so. The organizers eventually had no other choice than cancelling their travel to Colombo.They decided to peacefully march to the office of the Government Agent with a view to handing over a memorandum to him, in which they called, inter alia, for the release or disclosure of names of individuals abducted and detained. After some exchanges between representatives of the group of peaceful demonstrators and the Government Agent, the latter went out of his office to receive the memorandum.At 2:00p.m., a delegation of human rights defenders and members of political parties met with the Inspector-General of Police in Colombo to report and enquire about the action of law enforcement authorities who prevented their colleagues from reaching Colombo to attend a peaceful demonstration.
- Impact of Event
- 600
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 15, 2019
- Event Description
Mr. Thokchom Veewon is the former president and present advisor of Manipuri Student Association, Delhi (MSAD). On February 15, 2019 at around 5.20 p.m. a four- member joint team of Delhi Police and Manipur Police came to his resident at Saket in search of him. The police physically assaulted him and took him away in the samecondition as he was, he was not even allowed to wear his slippers. At the time of the incident his younger sister was at home, who later informed the family members about his arrest. It is mention worthy that the team of police did not inform the arrestee about the reason of arrest and the physical assault. After around one hour of his arrest, the family members came to know that Veewon was detained with the Special Brach of the Delhi Police at Janakpuri. Veewon's brother, Venus and some members of MSAD who went to Janakpuri Police Station were informed that his arrest was for sedition charges under Section124A of the Indian Penal Code. On February 13, 2019 at around 6 p.m. a team of Manipur Police from both Imphal East and West visited his residence at Lamlai Mayai Leikai, Imphal and searched his room, took pictures of his parents and threatened his parents and advised them to ask Veewon to concentrate on his studies.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Feb 2, 2019
- Event Description
The police have proceeded to a fully fledged criminal investigation of the reported assault on two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators who were assigned to tail several Papuan officials at a Jakarta hotel, the antigraft body says. "According to the information we have received from the Jakarta Police, they will use the result of medical examinations of our injured employees as evidence," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said in Jakarta on Thursday. "This should confirm the allegations of assault on the on-duty officers[...] and dismiss claims made by other parties regarding the incident at the hotel. The remaining task is to look for potential suspects." The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Borobudur Hotel in Central Jakarta, where officials from the Papua provincial administration, including Governor Lukas Enembe, were holding a meeting with Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) members to discuss the province's 2019 draft budget. At that time, an administration staff member noticed that one of the two KPK investigators positioned in the hotel was taking photographs of the officials. The Papua officials subsequently detained the KPK employees. According to the antigraft body, its investigators were then assaulted, resulting in injuries, including a broken nose that required surgery. The KPK reported the assault to the Jakarta Police on Sunday afternoon. The Papua administration, however, has rejected the KPK's narrative. Its spokesperson, Gilbert Yakwar, denied the assault or indeed that any sort of altercation occurred between the two sides. "Regarding the issue of assault on the two officials resulting in surgery to the nose and/or face, we need to reiterate that this is not true," he said in a statement on Monday. "There was only pushing involved because[the administration officials] became emotional about being suspected of bribery and part of a KPK raid." Febri added that the antigraft body appreciated the Jakarta Police's swift response in investigating the case. One of the injured investigators, identified as Muhammad Gilang, remained under medical treatment at the hospital after undergoing successful surgery on Monday. Jakarta Police investigators on Wednesday questioned at least five witnesses in the case. "The witnesses include three security guards, a security camera operator and a hotel receptionist," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com. He added that investigators had sent security camera footage depicting the alleged assault to the National Police's forensics laboratory. Antigraft activists, including Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and Transparency International Indonesia, have called on the police to thoroughly investigate the case in order to prevent similar attacks from recurring in the future. The Anti-Corruption Study Center (PUKAT) at Gadjah Mada University added its voice on Wednesday, demanding that the police solve the case once and for all so similar attacks would not disrupt the commission's fight against corruption. "Law enforcers should provide protection to KPK leaders and employees in conducting their work," PUKAT researcher Oce Madril said. Meanwhile on Thursday, the KPK named House of Representatives lawmaker Sukiman and the acting head of the public works agency in Pegunungan Arfak, West Papua, Natan Pasombo, suspects in a graft case related to the deliberations of fiscal transfers allocated for the regency in the 2017 revised State Budget and 2018 State Budget. Febri stressed the case was not related to Saturday's alleged assault.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Feb 5, 2019
- Event Description
Rights activist Gulalai Ismail was released by Islamabad police late Wednesday, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat told DawnNewsTV. However, according to the senior official, 17 of the 25 Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) workers arrested a day earlier along with Gulalai for holding a protest demonstration outside the National Press Club were sent to Adiala jail after the completion of a verification process by police. The official said that the workers were sent to jail under Section 3 (1) of the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) of 1960. Under the order, the 17 will remain jailed for a period of 15 days. Gulalai, meanwhile, was released by Islamabad police, DC Shafqaat confirmed. Earlier in the day, Gulalai's father, Professor Muhammad Ismail, told Dawn.com that his daughter had been arrested on Tuesday. According to Professor Ismail, the activist was picked up from outside the National Press Club in Islamabad while she took part in a protest against the controversial death of PTM leader Arman Loni in Balochistan on Saturday. Police had initially shifted Gulalai to the G9 Women's Police Station, Ismail told Dawn.com. According to Gulalai's father, she was shifted to an unknown location a few hours after the arrest. "We are trying to trace her whereabouts but the police is not ready to share Gulalai's location," he had said, adding that so far no First Information Report (FIR) of the arrest had been registered at the time. In October last year, Gulalai had been detained by airport officials in Islamabad following her return from London. She was later released on bail but her passport was withheld by airport officials. The detention had been in connection with an FIR that Swabi police had registered on Aug 13, 2018 against 19 PTM leaders, including Gulalai, for their involvement in a public gathering in Swabi where PTM's Manzoor Pashteen and Gulalai both addressed the crowd. PTM is a rights-based alliance that, besides calling for the de-mining of the former tribal areas and greater freedom of movement in the latter, has insisted on an end to the practices of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and unlawful detentions, and for their practitioners to be held to account within a truth and reconciliation framework. Gulalai, a Pashtun and women's rights activist, was in 2017 awarded the 'Reach all Women in War' Anna Politovskaya Award. She co-founded a non-governmental organisation, Aware Girls, with sister Saba Ismail in 2002. The organisation aims to strengthen the leadership skills of young people, especially women and girls, enabling them to act as agents of change for women empowerment and peace building. 'Immediate and unconditional' release In a statement shared on Twitter, Amnesty International South Asia called on Pakistani authorities to "immediately and unconditionally" release PTM protesters. The rights group called on Pakistani authorities to "disclose the whereabouts" of Ismail who they said, "may have been subjected to an enforced disappearance". They also called on the authorities to investigate the "killing" of Loni.
- Impact of Event
- 18
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 7, 2019
- Event Description
Eight activists with the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, have been questioned by Indonesian police in Timika in relation to alleged subversion or treason. This comes after members of the pro-independence organisation were forced out of their secretariat by dozens of police last Thursday in the southern Papuan city. Police allegations relate to the 31st of December, when KNPB members said they prepared to host a prayer event before a joint police and military operation dispersed them. However, a lawyer working for the KNPB, Veronica Koman, has disputed the legality of police procedure when questioning KNPB activists on Saturday. She said police failed to issue the required notice of three days for the summons. CNN Indonesia reported that the KNPB secretariat is still under the control of Indonesian military and police who intend to use it as a post. The local police chief, Senior Commissioner Agung Marlianto, said police have been acting in the interests of safeguarding the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. UPDATE: On 5 January 2019 three men of the 8 questioned were detained and later charged with treason, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in Indonesia.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 25, 2019
- Event Description
(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 30 January 2019) - The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned over the threat, intimidation and verbal abuse of women human rights defender Shila Bewa, 28 years old. Shila is an active member of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a member of FORUM-ASIA, which works on human rights issues in the border areas of West Bengal, India. FORUM-ASIA condemns the continuous harassment of Shila, and urges the authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators. Shila was distributing posters on 25 January 2019 in river bank areas of in Toltoli village in Ghospara Gram Panchayet in West Bengal, India. She was verbally abused, threatened, and intimidated for distributing the posters, which is a peaceful human rights activity. Threats, intimidation and harassment of a women human rights defender for distributing posters is a clear violation of her fundamental rights of rights to expression guaranteed under article 19 of Constitution of India. FORUM-ASIA is concerned that women human rights defenders are increasingly facing gender-based violence and harassment for carrying out peaceful human rights activities across India. FORUM-ASIA urges both the State and Central Government to conduct an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. FORUM-ASIA calls on the National Human Rights Commission to exercise its power under the Protection of Human Rights Act (1993) to intervene in this case taking cognizance of the two communications sent on 26 and 29 January 2019 by MASUM. It should also address the issue of increasing attacks on human rights defenders, such as of MASUM advocating for constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 28, 2019
- Event Description
MENEMENG, Indonesia - An environmental activist and his family survived an attack on their lives early Sunday morning after assailants barricaded them inside their home and set it on fire. Murdani heads a chapter of Indonesia's largest environmental NGO, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). At around 3 a.m., he and his wife woke to the smell of burning on the second floor of their home in Menemeng village on Lombok, an island next to Bali. Over the past few months, Murdani had noticed people watching his house. He had recently taken to sleeping on the front porch in order to keep guard, though on this night he slept upstairs. Upon waking, Murdani and his wife immediately woke their two children. Murdani grabbed the younger one and rushed downstairs to find the front door on fire. The fire had surrounded part of the house and was spreading inside. His wife brought the older child down by way of the roof of a kiosk next door. Seeing her shouting, the neighbors rushed over to help. It took them 45 minutes to douse the flames. After dawn broke and the police arrived, they found a pillow under the front wheel of Murdani's car, apparently used to set it alight. They also found a plastic bag that smelled of gasoline by the house. Whoever started the fire had covered the security camera above the front door with a hat. They used a wooden chair to jam the door shut and a bamboo table to block another door. "The goal was to trap us inside," Murdani told Mongabay two days after the attack. Precisely why Murdani was targeted is not yet clear. The list of contentious development projects he has spoken out against in West Nusa Tenggara province, where he heads Walhi's operations, is long - from the reclamation of Bima Bay on the neighboring island of Sumbawa to gold mining on Lombok. However, Murdani suspects it was his work on sand mining that prompted the attack. Sand mines abound in the part of Lombok where Murdani lives. Under his leadership, Walhi's chapter in the province has fought illegal sand mines and urged the government not to issue permits for new sand mines. A year ago, residents asked Murdani to help advocate for the rejection of a proposed sand mine on the border of Menemeng and Bilebante, a village known as an ecotourism destination. Residents have complained the sand mining has resulted in damaged roads, landslides and cloudy water. At one point the developers behind a controversial plan to reclaim Bali's Benoa Bay floated plans to dredge sand from Lombok to be used as infill for the massive tourism project, although the provincial government rejected the proposal. "We've received a lot of threats by text message," Murdani said. There are many players in the local sand mining industry. Murdani doesn't want to speculate as to the culprit. He wants the police to handle it, although Walhi has formed its own team to investigate the attack. Murdani's case is not an outlier, said Puri Kencana Putri, campaign manager with Amnesty International. She pointed to the 2015 murder of Salim Kancil, a farmer who organized protests against a sand mine in Lumajang, East Java; and an attack last November on the office of the Mining Advocacy Network, or Jatam, in East Kalimantan province. "In Murdani's case, we know he advocates for and defends people's rights in the natural resource and extractive sectors, including mining," Puri said. "There are groups who don't like what he does." She called on the government to ensure protection for Murdani and his family. From 2010 to 2018, there were 171 recorded cases of violence against activists in Indonesia, according to Ainul Yaqin from the Indonesian Human Protection Foundation (YPII). Most of the victims were environmental activists. Muhammad Isnur of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation called on the police to focus on catching not just the people who attacked Murdani's house, but whoever put them up to it. "They've got to go after the mastermind," he said. However, he was pessimistic about the police getting to the bottom of the case, citing the lack of progress in the Jatam investigation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 21, 2018
- Event Description
On 21.12.2018 at around 10 AM, a meeting of "Amra Simantabasi' (we the people of border) was organized at village- Banskothal under Post Office- Sukarur Kuthi, Police Station- Sahebgunj, Block- Dinhata II, District- Cooch Behar, West Bengal. MASUM facilitated the meeting and commoners from the adjoining bordering villages attended the same to discuss about the unnecessary and illegitimate restrictions created by the Border Security Force) BSF to run the normal livelihood activities. The meeting was held at Kadamtala Bazar of the Banskothal village. After the meeting the participants decided to paste posters published by "Amra Simantobasi' addressing the ongoing restrictions by BSF to run normal civil life at Indo- Bangladesh border and they pasted several printed posters at Banskothal Kadamtala Bazar. Matter of the poster was in Bangla, vernacular language, in English translation, it was " BSF should be posted in actual border, not inside the village; BSF should stop creating obstruction to cultivate the land of the villagers; stop torture, trafficking, murder, enforced disappearance of bodies by BSF; punish those officials of BSF who are corrupt and torturous". The commission is aware of the fact that there are thousands of complaints of torture, killing, rape, obstruction to livelihood are pending before your office for years together. It was learnt that at around 6.45 to 7.00 PM, the "Intelligence Babu' of G company of Border Outpost- Banskothal of BSF Battalion No. 38 with other BSF constables, are in uniform and sophisticated arms in their hands, came to Kadamtala Bazar of the Banskothal village and torn the pasted posters, after that they visited the house of Mr. Shah Alam; one of the organizers of the said meeting at the village and a family member of the Ms. Umrao Bewa; a victim of extra judicial killing by BSF (NHRC Case No. 1680-25-6-2014-AFE) and questioned about the organizers and purpose of the meeting. The BSF personnel who visited his house even suggested that the issues could be resolved by mutual discussions and the organizers of the meeting should contact Mr. Nadim Saheb; the Sector Officer over phone to resolve the issue; during the meeting the husband of the local gram panchayet member was also present. Mr. Shah Alam in contrary asked the Sector Officer of BSF over phone to come to the village and discuss the issues with the aggrieved. The Sector Officer queried about the presence of MASUM activists during the meeting and Mr. Shah Alam informed the Sector Officer that Ms. Tilakbala Barman, District human Rights Monitor of MASUM was present during the meeting. This illegal activity of BSF and their intention to curb and stifle the voice of the aggrieved further intensified the solidarity of the populace and they pasted posters at the said locality including the vicinity of the Border Outpost of mentioned BSF rank on 22.12.2018. It was learnt that the BSF officer called the Sahebgunj police station thereafter and made a telephonic complaint and just after that the Officer in Charge of Sahebgunj police station called Mr. Shah Alam asked him to desist from pasting posters at the vicinity of the said BSF camp. The whole illegal actions of BSF and supported by policeare in contravention of rights ensured by the Article 19 (a) of Indian Constitution and Article 19 (1) and (2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The act of BSF is infringing the Goal Number 16 of Sustainable Development Goals earmarked by the United Nations and in both these international instruments; Government of India has responsibility to comply and adhere.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 16, 2018
- Event Description
Delhi police detained 35 members of Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MSAD) and Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students (DAMMS) today while they were trying to take up a peaceful protest at Manipur Bhawan, Delhi against the slapping of National Security Act (NSA) on former ISTV staff, Kishorchandra Wangkhem. The detained students includes president of MSAD, Veewon Thokchom, president of DAMMS, Md. Murshad, general secretary of DSU and others executive members of the two student bodies. It is reported that the 35 students were detained at two different police stations; Tughlaq police station and Chanakyapuri police station. Later, 30 students were reported to have been shifted to Mandir Marg Police station from Chanakyapuri police station. Keshorchandra was arrested on November 20 for posting a video recording in which he condemned the stance of chief minister, N. Biren regarding a function organised in regards to Rani of Jhansi being linked with the freedom movement of Manipur. But the chief judicial magistrate released him on November 26 stating, "The words, terms and gesture used by the accused in the video cannot be termed as seditious. It is mere expression of opinion against the public conduct of public figure in a street language." The next day he was picked up from his residence by police and detained under NSA. On December 14, the State government approved the detention order of former ISTV anchor under National Security Act (NSA), passed by the district magistrate, Imphal West and fixed the period of detention for a period of one year from the date of detention. The concerned police officer of Mandir Marg police station, upon inquiry by media persons as to under what section the students were arrested, reported to have replied that he did not have the answer why the students were held. The students put in police custody at Mandir Marg Police Station included president, MSAD, Veewon Thokchom, vice-president, Furken and general secretary of DSU. Students put in custody at Tilak Marg Police station are those rounded up on the way to Manipur Bhawan from Race Course Metro station towards Manipur Bhawan, SO Marg. It may be mentioned that this is the first time Delhi Police arrested students at a metro station far ahead of reaching the planned venue of protest. It has not been revealed at the time filing this report, as to why and under what charges the students have been arrested.
- Impact of Event
- 35
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 7, 2018
- Event Description
The mother of Chinese rights activist and website editor Huang Qi has been detained by official 'interceptors' in Beijing, who shoved her to the ground after she tried to take her calls for his release to the Chinese capital. Pu Wenqing, who is in her eighties, was stopped by police during a trip to Beijing, the rights website Weiquanwang reported on Saturday. She told RFA by phone that she was followed from the moment she got off the train from her home province of Sichuan by officials from her hometown of Neijiang, and thrown to the ground by the interceptors, law enforcers specifically hired by local governments to force petitioners to return to their hometowns and stop complaining about their actions to a higher level of government. "The moment I got off the train, I was surrounded by seven or eight men, who then pushed me to the ground," Pu told RFA at the time. "They wanted to take me away." "Wei Wenyuan was there too, and the police came when we shouted. I'm now in the police office[in the station]. My head hurts, and I have high blood pressure," she said. Video footage of her detention showed Pu lying on the ground shouting: "They're beating me! They're beating me!" as the person shooting the video comments: "Huang's mother has been pushed to the ground by interceptors." Weiquanwang quoted rights activist Zhang Baocheng as saying that local police from the Beijing West Railway Station, as well as state security police from the city's Fengtai district, had hurried to the scene and told him to mind his own business. "We are extremely concerned about the fate of Pu Wenqing," the group said. Zhang told RFA on Monday that Pu's wheareabouts are currently unknown, and that he is "extremely worried" about her. "I haven't been able to find out her actual whereabouts," Zhang said. "The Beijing police are saying that Huang's mother was taken away by interceptors from Sichuan, who left a phone number." He added: "I called the phone number and asked them about it, but the person answering said they didn't know and that it was the wrong number." "So her status is currently disappeared," Zhang said. "I am sick with worry because her health is very poor; she has to take more than 20 different medications every day." Huang's pre-trial hearing cancelled Calls to the Beijing municipal police department rang unanswered during office hours on Monday. A friend of Pu's from the Sichuan provincial capital Chengdu said she hasn't been able to track her down either. "I haven't had any news of her today, and I've been trying to get in touch with her this whole time," the friend, who gave only her surname Wu, told RFA. "It is Human Rights Day today, and several of us wanted to speak out on Huang Qi's behalf," she said. Meanwhile, Huang's defense attorney Li Jinglin told RFA that the authorities have canceled a planned pre-trial hearing, without setting another date. "The judge told me the reason for this was that they are pretty busy towards the end of the year, and they couldn't find a time for it," Li said on Monday. "I told him I'd come back to Sichuan[specially], but he said it couldn't be helped." "I thought I might as well go and visit Huang Qi in the detention center, now that I've come all this way, but the staff there told me their system was down, and that they couldn't get online to check me in," he said. "So I wasn't able to get in[to see him]." Huang, founder of the Tianwang rights website, which won an RSF prize in 2016, was arrested on Nov. 28 of that year and is being held at the Mianyang Detention Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan on suspicion of "illegally supplying state secrets overseas." Fourteen rights groups called for Huang's immediate release on urgent medical grounds ahead of a United Nations review of China's rights record last month, warning that his condition is so serious that there is an immediate threat to his life.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2018
- Event Description
Hundreds of Papuan students faced off with counterprotesters in Indonesia's second largest city of Surabaya today in a rally calling for the Melanesian region's independence while pro-independence sources reported more than 300 people arrested in West Papua. The Surabaya rally was organised by the Papua Students Alliance. The demonstrators chanted "Freedom Papua" in Surabaya city to mark December 1, which many West Papuans consider as the 57th anniversary of what should have been their independence, report news agencies. The crowd, many of whom wearing headbands of the Morning Star flag - banned by Indonesian authorities, was blocked from marching to the city center by scores of counterprotesters from several youth organisations waving the Indonesian flag. They confronted the pro-independence protesters with sharpened bamboos. Several hundred members of anti-riot police prevented the two rival groups from clashing. The protest ended after about two hours. However, human rights sources reported tonight that Indonesian police and military had surrounded Papuan student dormitories in Surabaya and arrested 223 people. They were being detained at the Surabaya City sector police station. The Free West Papuan Campaign reports that more than 300 people have been arrested across West Papua. Peaceful demonstrations In several regions of West Papua, peaceful demonstrations took place. Protests were reported in Jakarta, Surabaya, Palu, Kupang, Ternate, Makassar, Manado, Ambon, Poso, Sula, Timika, Meruake, Waropen, and Tobelo. In addition to police intervention during public gatherings, the London-based campaign's website said it had received reports that Indonesian security forces had also raided several student dormitories, and the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) headquarters was vandalised. From the monitoring team, below is the interim report of arrests throughout West Papua and other parts of Indonesia: 1. Kupang - 18 people arrested. 2. Ambon - 43 arrested. 3. Ternate - 99 arrested. One of the activists was rushed to hospital due to suffocation 4. Jayapura around 85 people from 4 different locations: Dok IX, Abe, Jayapura and Sentani. 5. Jakarta - 140 arrested 6. Surabaya - hundreds involved in a long march towards Kamasan III student dormitary were confronted by tni-polri and some students were bruised from confrontation. 7. Manado - 29 arrested 8 Waropen - 7 arrested. Names: Jhon Wenggi, Yulianus Kowela, Monika Imbiri and Fiktor Daimboa 9. Sorong and Merauke, including KNPB HQ in Waena, Perumnas III: in lock down and an urgent need for advocacy at these places. RNZ Pacific also reports mass arrests over West Papuan demonstrations in several Indonesian cities. Today marks the 57th anniversary of the first time West Papua's flag of independence, the Morning Star, was raised. In commemoration of the historic event numerous non-violent peaceful demonstrations and prayer vigils were organised around the country. Worldwide flag raisings of international solidarity increase each year as the support for West Papuan independence gains momentum. In New Zealand, flagraising events were held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. This protests comes at a time of increased violence in West Papua, including suspected extrajudicial killings in the region. Urgent issues of concern also include increased military presence, the killing of civilians caught in crossfire in the mountain regions, and armed civilian movements of Papuans protecting their villages. The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) compiles data on political arrests and violence in West Papua. This information has been made public through quarterly reports. The latest ICP reports are at www.humanrightspapua.org
- Impact of Event
- 300
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Event Description
The Extrajudicial Execution Victims Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) has informed that the life and security of EEVFAM coordinator of Jiribam district, Yengkhom Ibomcha Singh is under threat from inspector, Manipur police, S. Ibotombi and appealed for urgent intervention of the director general of police. In a statement addressed to the DGP, the organisation sought immediate necessary action in connection to the alleged threat and intimidation by inspector, S. Ibotombi for posting court order of Chief Judicial Magistrate (Imphal West) where his name is mentioned as one of the accused in the CBI charge sheet pertaining to EEVFAM v/s Union of India case, writ petition criminal no. 129 of 2012 of the Supreme Court of India. Ibomcha, a resident of Jiribam IB Leikai under Jiribam police station, Jiribam district was actively involved in data collection and coordination of families of the victims of fake encounters in Jiribam, it said. One day, Ibomcha received a court order of the CJM (Impha West) from a Whatsapp group pertaining to the charge sheet filed by the CBI, it informed. As a coordinator of EEFVAM, he disseminated the document to various Whatsapp groups, it informed. In the last week of September when Ibomcha was busy for organising Lamyanba Irabot celebration to be held at Hojai Langka, Assam where ministers,MLAs and leaders of civil voluntary organisations from Manipur were to attend, he received several phone calls from Jiribam Police Station and told him that he should visit the police station, the statement further informed. When he enquired about the reason, the police insisted him the he should visit the police station without any delay, it said. Soon after Ibomcha's arrival at his home, he got another call from Jiribam Police Station, thereafter, Ibomcha visited Jiribam Police Station, it continued while adding the officer on duty inquired about the court order that he had shared on social media. The police officer on duty insisted Ibomcha to make an apology for sharing the said court order to which Ibomcha replied it was not he who shared the court order first, it informed. After some time, one of the police personnel of Jiribam Police passed a mobile phone and inspector Ibotombi, who was on the line, told Ibomcha that the investigation conducted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is illegal and he had received gallantry award, the statement informed. The inspector further told Ibomcha that some member of Kalinagar Youth Club have already sought his apology for sharing the said court order, and insisted that Ibomcha should also make an apology for sharing the said document otherwise Ibomcha would face dire consequences, it stated. The statement sought the urgent intervention of DGP by taking necessary legal action against inspector Ibotombi to that Ibomcha can carry out his legitimate human rights work without intimidation and fear, it added
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2018
- Event Description
YANGON (Reuters) - A Myanmar judge on Monday found two Reuters journalists guilty of breaching a law on state secrets and jailed them for seven years, in a landmark case seen as a test of progress toward democracy in the Southeast Asian country. Yangon northern district judge Ye Lwin said Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, breached the colonial-era Official Secrets Act when they collected and obtained confidential documents. "The defendants ... have breached Official Secrets Act section 3.1.c, and are sentenced to seven years," the judge said, adding that the time served since they were detained on Dec. 12 would be taken into account. The defense can appeal the decision to a regional court and then the supreme court. The verdict comes amid mounting pressure on the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi over a security crackdown sparked by attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on security forces in Rakhine State in west Myanmar in August 2017. More than 700,000 stateless Rohingya Muslims have fled into Bangladesh since then, according to U.N. agencies. The two reporters, who were investigating the killing by the security forces of Rohingya villagers at the time of their arrest, had pleaded not guilty.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 9, 2018
- Event Description
Manipur University (MU) has been virtually shut down since May 31, 2018 following an indefinite strike by Manipur University Students Union (MUSU) demanding the removal of its Vice Chancellor (VC) Aditya Prasad Pandey (VC is a person having good political support and connection with the Central government in Delhi). Several rounds of talks between the representatives of MUSU, MUTA, MUSA and Chief Minister of Manipur, Governor of Manipur, representatives of Government of India were held but no amicable solution was achieved till the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the MUSU, MUTA, MUSA and official of Human Resource Development, Ministry, Government of India in presence of the Chief Minister of Manipur. Till today, various forms of agitation including rally hunger strike, torch rally, sit-in-protest is organising and group of students who marched towards Chief Minister's office and BJP Manipur office were manhandled and brutally beaten by the police. Temporary tents built in front of the Manipur University where students, teachers, staffs and other local supporter used to hold protest was destroyed by the police in the pretext of violating prohibitory order under section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). No protesters who support the demands of students are allowed to carry out any forms of democratic protest. To counter the protest of students, some fringe groups with the support of the present government were instigated to take out massive rallies against the protesting students of Manipur University at various places without any prohibition from the police. It is important to mention here that these rallies were taken out at hyper sensitive zones without any disturbances despite their being application of prohibitory order under section 144 of CrPC in those areas. Police were busy safeguarding the rallies of the fringe group which was carried out against the students. It is in this context that several people wrote/commented on social media against the government sponsored rallies. Towards this, Kishorechand Wanghemcha, a well-known TV anchor hosted a 30 minutes program on this issue on a local news channel, ISTV. Of all the comments made against the government sponsored rallies Mr. Kishorechand Wanghemcha was the only person who was picked up by the police illegally with an ulterior motive from the higher authorities and was charged under Section 500 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code under which the Police has no authority to register a case / FIR without obtaining prior permission from the Magistrate. Details of the Incident: On 9 August 2018 the Anchor and Sub-Editor of Information Service Television Network (ISTV), Kishorchandra Wangkhemcha was meeting some of his old friends after his official work in the evening. At around 8:05 pm he received a call from Konthoujam Bobby, the Officer in Charge of Imphal West Police Station. The OC called him to come to over to Imphal West Police Station immediately for some urgent matter without mentioning the reason of calling. At around 10 pm he went to Imphal West police station along with his two friends. He met OC, Konthoujam Bobby and asked him about the phone call. The OC then informed him about the matter related to the comments posted in his Facebook on 7th August 2018. He informed the OC that in his FB post he criticized the present government's response to state crises, there was nothing in the comments that incited communal tension in the state. He wrote this following post in his FB profile based on the background cited above, "As they are very fool, that's is the very reason why they are called Budhu Joker Party (laughing symbols) tail less jokers. There is a story of counter protest planned by the MLA's brother party, also there is a story of instructions given from top brass to the police to insure safeguard of the rally. This is a rally by the slave of non-local/outsiders who drinks urine of cow and eat cow dung. Don't they have guts to find any means way out rather than licking outsiders ass, the rally is not organised by the government but rather sponsored" (Translated from local language). The police officer then informed Kishorchandra that he was instructed by the higher authority to arrest him and he further told Mr. Kishorechand that he can talk to Ministers, who are his close friends and could help him with his release. Later at night, Mr. Kishorchandra was informed by the police that he could not leave the police station and that he had to be arrested and detained under police custody of Imphal West Police Station. Next day morning i.e. on 10 August 2018, he was made to sign a document in the police station before being taken to the court. He was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) at around 3:30 pm. The Imphal West Police filed a suo moto case against him, charging him under IPC sections 505(2) and 500 with FIR No. 173(8)2018 IPS, U/s 505(2)/500 IPC. His wife tried for his bail, but the bail move was denied and announced 15 days judicial custody in Sajiwa Jail. Thereafter from 10 August 2018 onwards he was kept under judicial custody. After 2 days of detention under judicial custody, on 12 August 2018 he was tutored to complain of chest pain, headache, breathing problem, exhaustion and dizziness by the Jail Doctor in order to get released from the jail. He was so helpless that he had no option but to follow the advice of the Jail Doctor. The jail doctor prepared a document stating the above health complaints and later referred to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS). The police officials took him to JNIMS by handcuffing him at around 11 am. The whole medical checkup was planned so that the doctors could make a report of sickness in his case. On 13 August 2018 at around 10 am he was released on condition of executing the "personal bond of Rs. 50,000 and surety of Rs. 50,000." He was also directed to be present in person in the Court on the 24th August, 2018 as stated in the Form of Release Order, Memo No. CJM/IW/2018/715, dated 12/08/2018
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Aug 24, 2018
- Event Description
One teenage boy has been killed and dozens were injured in west Nepal when police opened fire on protesters demanding action over the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, according to officials. Angry crowds took to the streets in the city of Mahendranagar on Friday, accusing police of protecting the person responsible for the brutal crime. Police officer Krishna Raj Ojha told AFP news agency on Saturday that 17-year-old Sani Khuna was killed after officers fired shots "to contain the violent protest". According to the Kathmandu Post, Khuna died while being taken to hospital for treatment. The publication said that several other protesters, as well as police personnel, were injured in the clashes. Police said an indefinite curfew has been imposed in the area, near the border with India's Uttarakhand state. Schoolgirl Nirmala Panta went missing in late July and her body was found the following day in a sugar-cane field. Anger boiled over after police arrested a man who reportedly has severe learning difficulties, and whom protesters say is a scapegoat allowing officers to shield the real culprit. The victim's family have also accused police of failing to take action over her death. "The state has not taken the cases of rape and violence against women seriously," women's rights activist Hima Bista told AFP. "Protection is being provided to the rape-accused time and again," she added. Further rallies are planned for Saturday across Nepal. In the capital, Kathmandu, around 1,500 people staged a silent protest under a heavy police presence, AFP reported. The hashtags #RageAgainstRape and #JusticeForNirmala were also trending on Twitter. "The so-called democratic government couldn't give justice to the rape and murder victim instead they killed an innocent boy," Twitter user Sunel GC posted. There were 1,480 reported rapes in Nepal last year, according to recently released police data, almost double the number reported in 2016. Activists say the rise is due to more women reporting violence to the police, but also say many more still go unreported in deeply patriarchal Nepal.
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Death, Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to life, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2018
- Event Description
The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur has expressed serious concerns against the repeated arbitrary summoning of secretary, CRA, Manipur, Jiten Yumnam by Manipur Police Commandos without serving any notification or reasons. A release signed by president, CRA, Manipur, Sanaton Laishram informed that on August 13, around six Manipur police commando personnel came in a gypsy at Jiten's residence at Kwakeithel Mayaikoibi Ninthoujam Leikai around 2:30 pm and summoned him at Manipur Police Commando complex at the time when he was visiting Sikkim for environment programme. No written document and reasons were furnished to his family by the police personnel for the summon, it said. The police personnel verbally informed his mother that a case is pending against him, as a member of the Committee of Human Rights while providing no details of the case to his family, the release informed. They took pictures of his residence but did not disclose their identities and left a phone number for contacts to his family, it continued. The Manipur police commandos had earlier summoned Jiten on October 2, 2013 at Manipur Police Commando complex without serving any notification or reasons, it maintained. Such repeated order to come at police commando complex without any explanation in an extra-legal manner caused much anxiety and uncertainty for his physical integrity and mental wellbeing, and similar concerns to his family members, especially children, while also damaging his impression among his locality, it stated. Such verbal summon constitutes a continued threat and harassment to human rights defenders of Manipur, it added. The CRA, Manipur is concerned that the summon at Manipur police commando complex reminds him of the third degree torture subjected to him during his arrest, detention and interrogation on September 14, 2009, it further said. Further, there are concerns that the verbal summon at commando complex may lead to similar acts of atrocities or fabricated charges against him as happened earlier in 2009, it continued. He was arrested on September 14, 2009 as a member of the Committee on Human Rights for protesting against the infamous July 23, 2009 incident related to the killings of Chungkham Shanjit and Thockhom Rebina, the release informed. However, Jiten was among those released unconditionally on January 7, 2010 after an agreement was reached between the former, chief minister, and Apunba Lup on January 6, 2010, it further informed. And as such, all cases against him should have been withdrawn, it added. Jiten Yumnan is an environmentalist and a human rights defender, involved in protecting Manipur's environment, land, and resources and the human rights, it informed. He writes regularly for the Imphal Free Press, the E-Pao.Net and others on development and human rights concerns and challenges in Manipur, it said. The organisation urge the government of Manipur and the Manipur police to stop the verbal summoning of human rights defenders by police personnel at Imphal West Commando Complex without following due process of law, it continued. And to withdraw all FIR and close all cases filed against him, if pending, as per the agreement of Apunba Lup and the former chief minister of Manipur on January 6, 2010 related to the protest of July 23 incident, the stated. The organisation appealed authorities concerned to recognise the rights and role of human rights defenders, to ensure their security and protection and end all forms of harassment to human rights defenders as per the provisions of the UN declaration of the Rights of Human Rights Defenders, 2008 and as per the directives of the National Human Rights Commission, it added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 16, 2018
- Event Description
A prominent Muslim poet has been visited and threatened by police after tweeting about the mass incarceration of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China's political "re-education camps." Cui Haoxin, a member of the Hui Muslim ethnic group known by his pen-name An Ran, received a visit from the local state security police after he sent and retweeted posts from his Twitter account about the detentions. "Chinese police raided my home and warned me not to use my social media account, such as Twitter and Facebook," Cui wrote in a blog post about the Aug. 16 visit. "Five policemen went into my home and talked with me for two hours. The threat is real!" "Recently a meeting of the U.N. discussed re-education camps that hold several million Muslims in China," he wrote. The U.N. has estimated the numbers detained at around one million. "Today this discussion happens between Chinese police and me." "They still denied it and warned me not to be made use of[by enemies in the] West," he said. "The Chinese authorities are unwilling to hear the different views and confuse dissent with disloyalty." "The government doesn't resolve the question but they resolve the questioner. A lot of Chinese Muslims were resolved. Some of them are my friends. Some of them disappeared. Some are in prison like Professor Ilham Tohti," Cui wrote. In a later interview with RFA, Cui said the authorities had taken issue with three tweets in particular. "In the first, I retweeted a tweet that mentioned the issue of 'concentration camps'," he said. "They asked me if I believed that, and I said I did, because there are a lot of witnesses and a lot of evidence, and video. Why wouldn't I believe it?" "They told me I shouldn't allow myself to be used by hostile forces in the West," he said. "They said that[reports of] events in Xinjiang had been concocted by the foreign media to smear China, and they wanted me to stop commenting on overseas websites." Facing brutality Cui said he had previously kept a low profile following threats to his family in 2013 by state security police. But the mass detention of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other minorities in "re-education centers" had changed his outlook, he said, citing his recent viewing of the movie "Schindler's List." "I think that what's happening in Xinjiang will eventually spread to the rest of China, and we will meet with the same fate," he said. "That gave me courage to face up to this brutality." "I don't want to drift and dodge through life; I want to live and die in dignity," Cui said. Sulaiman Gu, a rights activist currently studying in the United States, said Cui had also been a vocal opponent on social media of plans to demolish a huge mosque in the northern region of Ningxia, which were put on hold after thousands of people protested outside. "An Ran, who spoke out courageously at a crucial moment on the Weizhou Mosque, is now being threatened because of the Uyghur issue," Gu said. "China is sending Uyghurs to[concentration camps] and taking mosques away from Hui Muslims because they want to crush us into the mud, so we'll keep quiet," he said. "That's why they have to gag anyone who speaks the truth," he said. "This ethnic cleansing that is going on right now shows us that China isn't our country; much in the same way that Nazi Germany wasn't the country of the Jews." UN panel 'deeply concerned' Earlier this month, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concerns over China's mass internment of ethnic Uyghurs and restrictions on their religious freedom. The panel said it was "deeply concerned" by reports that China "has turned the[Xinjiang] Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) into something that resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy" in the name of eradicating "religious extremism" and "maintaining social stability." Beginning in April 2017, Uyghurs accused of harboring "strong religious views" and "politically incorrect" ideas have been jailed or detained in political "re-education camps" throughout the region. A recent editorial in the ruling party-affilated Global Times dismissed international coverage of the Xinjiang re-education camps, which it labeled "training institutes," saying western media outlets were incorrectly labeling them as "detention" sites and "baselessly criticizing China's human rights." Aside from the brief mention in the article, China's central government authorities have not publicly acknowledged the existence of political re-education camps in Xinjiang, and the number of inmates kept in each facility remains a closely guarded secret. But in interviews with RFA, local officials in many parts of the region have described sending significant numbers of Uyghurs to the camps and even described overcrowding in some facilities. Meanwhile, the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) exile group told the panel that basic legal rights for Uyghurs in China, including the right to legal representation, a fair and prompt trial and due process, "are virtually non-existent."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Online
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 6, 2018
- Event Description
Police in Bangladesh's capital fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday to disperse hundreds of demonstrating students, while a prominent human rights group demanded the release of an activist arrested for criticizing the government during more than a week of protests. Shahidul Alam, a well-known photographer and activist, was arrested Sunday by plain-clothed police after giving a television interview in which he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had no credibility and was using "brute force" to cling to power. A court in Dhaka ordered him to be confined for seven days for questioning on charges of spreading false information and propaganda against the government. Amnesty International called for Alam's immediate release, with Deputy South Asia Director Omar Waraich saying in a statement that the arrest "marks a dangerous escalation of a crackdown by the government." The traffic chaos of the past week began easing on Monday, as immense demonstrations gave way to sporadic protests, though hundreds of students clashed with police in Dhaka's Bashundhara area where some private universities are located. Police fired rubber bullets and protesters said at least 40 people, mostly students, were injured. Elsewhere, police used tear gas against protesters at Dhaka's East West University and students marched through the Dhaka University campus chanting anti-government slogans and demanding justice. The protests, set off by the deaths of two students killed by speeding buses, grew last week to tens of thousands of people, becoming a major embarrassment to Hasina's government, which faces a general election later this year. On Monday, Bangladesh's Cabinet endorsed a draft law that would increase the maximum punishment for an accident leading to death to five years in jail, up from the current three years. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the bill will be submitted to Parliament soon for passage. The student protesters have demanded tougher punishment for offenses involving road accidents. On Sunday, pro-government youth groups attacked protesters and at least five journalists, including an Associated Press photographer. Hasina's party is blaming the main opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and its main ally Jamaat-e-Islami, saying they are manipulating student anger to foment trouble. Authorities have warned of tougher measures if the protests are used to create chaos. UPDATE: On 16 August 2018, it was estimated that the toll of students detained has now reached 97.
- Impact of Event
- 97
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 19, 2018
- Event Description
Mr. Kirity Roy is the secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and is also the National Convener of Program Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI). Since the last two decades MASUM is engaged in monitoring cases of human rights violations by the Border Security Force (BSF) and other state agencies in the state of West Bengal. Towards this MASUM has registered a number of petition before different state and national human rights institutions and courts. The incident: As per the source, on July 19, 2018, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) planned to submit a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional officer (SDO) of Dinhata to bring to his attention concerns about the arbitrary restriction of movement of citizens by imposing section144 of Cr.Pc unnecessarily, which results in illegal confinement, torture and extra judicial killings. Towards this MASUM had organized a procession from Dinhata railway station to the SDO office to submit a memorandum on the issue. MASUM Secretary, Mr. Kirity Roy was leading the procession on behalf of MASUM. The procession reached the SDO office area about 12.55 PM. While the procession reached at the office of the SDO, the procession was stopped at the gate. A five-member delegation was sent to submit the memorandum. The Confidential Assistant of SDO Mr. Sushanata Saha received the memorandum as it was reported that the SDO, Dinhata was busy in his court. After submitting the memorandum, the delegation asked him to receive the memorandum with due procedure. He duly received the memorandum and returned the same putting his signature on the copy of the memorandum. However, after a while Mr. Saha came out of his office room, asked to return the memorandum copy, took it with him, went back to his room and didn't heed to the five members including Mr. Roy who were asking back the memorandum copy. A commotion broke thereafter and SDO official called the local police to the spot. On July 23, 2018, through a reliable source, MASUM came to know that the Dinhata Police had initiated a criminal case against Mr. Roy and other unnamed 50 persons vide Dinhata Police Station Case No. 259/18 dated July 19, 2018, under sections 341/186/353/427/565 & 34 of the Indian Penal Code. On July 24, 2018, at around 8.30 PM, MASUM visited the official website of the Coochbehar District Police and in FIR list section found no information about the FIR against Mr. Roy; on the contrary the list is showing the details of the FIR with same number but from previous year (2017). The above said FIR in the name of Mr. Roy has been fabricated and is being falsely filed by the police to cover up the incident, wipe off the evidence, destroy evidentiary documents and prevent it from being produced in the court of law. Further this action of the police amounts to false personation with an intention to harm the reputation of MASUM and its secretary Mr. Roy.
- Impact of Event
- 51
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- HRD
- NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 6, 2018
- Event Description
In the afternoon of 6 July 2018, a group of Papuan students gathered inside the Papuan student dormitory in Kalasan Road 10, Sub-district Tambaksari. Members of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) organized a discussion for the commemoration of the 20. Anniversary of the Biak massacre. The students wanted to watch a documentary about the massacre and discuss the incident with friends and activists. At 07.00 pm, more than 100 security force personnel consisting of officers from the police unit for the enforcement of public order (SATPOL PP), district police and military members gathered in front of the dormitory. The security forces had allegedly been called by the head of Tambaksari sub-district, Mr Ridwan Mubarun, who intended to disperse the peaceful student assembly. Being concerned about the large number of security forces in front of the dormitory, one of the students called Mohamad Soleh, a lawyer of Surabaya Legal Aid Institute (LBH Surabaya), and asked him to support the students at the dormitory. Suara PapuaAround 20.30 pm, a group of Papuan students accompanied by the LBH lawyer, and Anindya Joediono, a law student of Narotama University and activist of the National Student Front (FMN), went outside to meet with Mr. Mubarun. The head of Tambaksari sub-district stated that he and the police officers had come to the dormitory to disperse the assembly because he suspected the students to discuss about the political independence of West Papua. The government official allegedly intended to check the students' identities, arguing that the dispersal was a law enforcement operation. When the LBH lawyer and Anindya Joediono asked Mr. Mubarun to show the warrant, the police officers did not show any document authorising the dispersal. A heated discussion between the head of sub-district and the students began (see image above). The situation escalated when a police officer rudely shouted at Anindya Joediono. Thereupon, police officers tried to forcefully drag Anindya's friend Isabella and LBH lawyer Mohamad Soleh away from the students. One police officer indecently touched Anindya's breasts and pulled her shirt until one of the buttons was ripped off. Meanwhile, several police officers attempted to drag Anindya to a police vehicle. Several police officers began to check on the Papuan students' motorcycles alleging them of having stolen the bikes. At 11.00 pm the security forces left the Papuan student dormitory without entering the building. The students fear that racist sentiments and negative media publicity could trigger horizontal conflicts between Papuans and non-Papuans, since similar incidents have frequently occurred in multiple cities of Indonesia. Anindya Joediono stated in an interview with the Papuan media outlet "Suara Papua' that the AMP had allegedly received racist comments through social media calling the Papuan students "monyets', "negros', "niggers' after the incident. After the incident, LBH Surabaya published a press release in which the human rights organisation emphasized that freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and freedom of association are guaranteed under international law and national law through article 28 E (3) of the Indonesian Constitution of 1945, and article 24 (1) of Law 39/ 1999 on human rights. LBH Surabaya called on the President of Indonesia, the head of the East Jawa Regional Police (POLDA Jawa Timur) and the municipal government of Surabaya to ensure that no discriminative measures against Papuan students will occur again and that the previously mentioned rights will be respected and protected. Moreover, police officers who were involved in offenses against students shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Student, WHRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jun 12, 2018
- Event Description
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Myanmar government's latest interference in the work of journalists, a ban on local broadcasting by US government-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) for rightly using the term "Rohingyas" to refer to members of the persecuted Muslim community in Rakhine state, in the west of the country. The ban is officially imposed today, six months to the day after the arrest of two Reuters journalists who had been investigating a massacre of Rohingya civilians. The last broadcast of an produced programme in Myanmar was yesterday evening. It was carried by MRTV, a TV channel owned by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), which was ordered by the authorities to stop transmitting RFA programmes if they continued to use the word "Rohingyas." "Radio Free Asia will not compromise its code of journalistic ethics, which prohibits the use of slurs against ethnic minority groups," RFA president Libby Liu said. "We would like to express our solidarity with the RFA journalists who have been working constantly in the field to provide the Myanmar public with freely and impartially reported news and information," said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "It is the prerogative of totalitarian regimes to want to impose their "newspeak' by banning the media from using certain terms - all the more so when the rest of the world uses the term. A prohibition on the word "Rohingya' is indicative of a desire to rewrite history and reality. In a reminder of the former military government's worst era, this latest press freedom violation has further compromised the transition to democracy begun by Aung San Suu Kyi's party." Orwellian order The authorities first announced their Orwellian ban on the word "Rohingyas" in June 2016, two months after the installation of a government headed by Suu Kyi, who was long seen as the embodiment of democratic hopes in Myanmar. The word was to be replaced by the improbable phrase "people who believe in Islam in Rakhine state," the authorities said. Since then, Myanmar media that want to continue publishing or broadcasting have had to comply with the directive. Those that are critical of the government's policies in Rakhine state, such as the Myanmar Times, use the neutral term "Muslims." But media that support the government use the discriminatory term "Bengalis," implying that the Rohingyas are just immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh in order to legitimize the ethnic cleansing to which they have been subjected since August 2017. In reality, the Rohingya presence in Rakhine state dates back centuries. The BBC's Burmese language service announced on 4 September 2017 that its daily programmes would no longer be broadcast by its local partner, MNTV, because MNTV was being pressured by the authorities over the use of the term "Rohingya." The ban on using the word "Rohingya" is indicative of the scale of the taboo that this issue represents for Myanmar's authorities. Six months ago, just as Reuters was preparing to publish a report about a massacre of Rohingya civilians in the village of Inn Din, two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, were arrested on a charge of possessing official secrets after being lured to a meeting with a police officer and being handed some documents. Myanmar fell six places in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index and is now ranked 137th out of 180 countries.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Censorship, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 14, 2018
- Event Description
Background: The Mumbai - Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project is being proposed with financial aid from Japan through its agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is said that the Indian government has exempted the project from environment and social impact studies. However, the JICA finance mandates that social and environment impact be carried out to ascertain minimum impact due to the project.There are guidelines provided by JICA to undertake the social and environment impact studies and it also provides that transparency be maintained by taking the stakeholders into confidence and holding consultations for the same. There is a discontent brewing among the affected farmers and populace as there is not much information shared with them by the project authorities about the impact and likely displacement. Incident Details: On May 14, 2018, the environment consultation for the Bullet Train project was announced by National HighSpeed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a special purpose company registered under the Companies Act with the ownership of Government of India through the Ministry of Railways. The consultation was organised by Arcadis, a company from Netherland holding the contract to undertake surveys.The said consultation wasto be held at 3 PM at Gandhi Smruti Hall, Nanpura, Surat. For the public hearing invitations were sent to elected representatives of local bodies and also through newspaper advertisement to the general public to participate and raise their queries. There was unprecedented police deployment at the entrance and inside of the Gandhi Smruti Hall, around 150 police personnel were present.Peoplewho came to attendthe consultation were frisked and thoroughly checked at the entrance itself. Even their hand-kerchiefs were checked for the colour, to ensure that only people supporting the project get access to the consultation. An atmosphere of fear and intimidation was created by the police to intimidate the farmers and deter them from representing themselves and facts in a fair manner. Before the start of the consultation, Mr. Darshan Nayak, Member of the Surat District Panchayat and Director of Sayan Sugar Co-operative Society who was in conversation with the designated land acquisition officer was taken into custody by police personnel. The farmers and activists demanded to know his whereabouts. The police then detained other farmer leaders and environment activists who demanded the whereabouts of Mr. Darshan Nayak who was detained by the police. The farmers and leaders were forcefully taken away from the venue and were illegally detained by the police for more than two hours, thus, preventing them from participating in the public hearing and to raise and share their legitimate concerns and issues
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 9, 2018
- Event Description
As per the sources, on April 9, 2018, while nominations were being filed for the upcoming local body elections in West Bengal, there were violent clashes between cadres and supporters of various political parties in which many people including contestants were brutally attacked. The journalists at Kolkata were covering once such incidence of violence in Alipore, Kolkata. The violent mob suddenly started attacking journalists who were recording with cameras the attacks and clashes between supporters of political parties. The mob started thrashing the journalists, clothes torn and stripped and their cameras were damaged. Mr. Biplab Mondal from Times of India while refusing to delete the videos and photos from his mobile, was beaten up badly and stripped by the mob. They forcibly deleted all the video and photos from the mobile phones and cameras of other journalists. While they tried to snatch the camera of Mr. Manas Chatterjee, he resisted and was attacked brutally. There were reports of violence and attacks of similar kind from other districts like Murshidabad, Hooghly, Birbhum where photojournalists were facing assault. Though the journalists and media houses have complained to the police about the brutal attacks on journalists, the police did not take any action on the matter
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 8, 2018
- Event Description
Chinese authorities in the eastern province of Shandong have sent a prominent Muslim poet for "re-education," but police in Jiangxi detained and searched him en route, in a move he said could be linked to his recent writings on the Uyghur ethnic group. Cui Haoxin, a member of the Hui Muslim ethnic group known by his pen-name An Ran, was asked to attend a week's "red" ideological education by the Lu Xun College of Literature, which is officially sanctioned by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. He complied but was detained, searched, and questioned by Jiangxi state security police as he got off the plane en route to the event at Jiangxi's Jingangshan airport on Sunday. "I'm not really sure what happened yesterday," Cui told RFA on Monday. "I traveled to Jingangshan as part of an official delegation, and yet I was suddenly apprehended by police, who deprived me of my liberty." Cui said he refused to cooperate, because nobody else in his delegation had been subjected to similar treatment. "They said they wanted to investigate me, and search my luggage, which I thought was very strange," he said. "They had no warrant or summons. They just waved their police ID at me, which said Taihe county police department." Cui, 39, said he was attending the event because he had been told to do so by the authorities. "Of course I'm not interested in singing revolutionary songs or events of that kind where you have to act a certain way," he said. "I don't have that kind of mindset, and I'm not cut out to be an actor." LInk to article Cui refused to cooperate with the search or interrogation, insisting on a search warrant and other legal documentation, and was released only after other members of his delegation intervened with the police at the airport. He said he believes the reason for his detention was a recent article he penned looking back at his collection of poetry, which contains a number of poems referencing the troubled region of Xinjiang, home of the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group. "I wrote a piece called 'My Poems,' looking back at the time when I wrote them, and talking about the theme of Xinjiang that runs through them," Cui told RFA. "From today's point of view, those poems are still very sensitive, but I think that they are meaningful to anyone. I wanted to encourage people to reflect, and for them to resonate with the majority of people." At one point, the article references the conflict in Syria, to which Cui describes himself as "almost a witness, in this high-technology information age." "I witnessed the Arab Spring, which mutated from marches, suppression, and protest backed by the West, into the worst humanitarian crisis in history," the article reads. "I witnessed the cruelty of dictators, the fickle nature of politicians, and the people's pain and helplessness." A massive presence In the same article, Cui describes Xinjiang as having left a "planet-sized impression" on him. "Xinjiang, that massive presence that defies expression, left a planet-sized impression on me that is ineradicable," Cui wrote. "This is a land of poetry and song ... when I headed out west to the Central Asian city of Kashgar, no sooner had I arrived than I made straight for the tomb of an ancient poet, and raised my hands in prayer for him beside the dusty tomb swathed in green silk." Sulaiman Gu, a rights activist currently studying in the United States, said he sees Cui's invitation to "re-education" as part of the ruling party's "united front" work under President Xi Jinping, who recently began an unlimited term in office, and who is extending ideological controls throughout Chinese society, particularly in education, the media, internet, and the publishing industry. "[I think they thought] let's bring him into the Lu Xun College of Literature, put him through some political education, and make him part of the establishment," Cui said. "This is how the[idea that the] party leads in everything manifests itself in the Xi Jinping era, and it's a Chinese Communist Party tradition to make literature and culture serve the interests of socialism." "But An Ran refused to surrender, and actually spoke of his concern for the plight of Uyghurs within the Lu Xun College of Literature," Gu said. Heavily policed Xinjiang-where Uyghurs complain of pervasive discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression under Chinese rule-has become one of the world's most heavily policed places and a testing ground for increasingly restrictive policies since the region's party chief Chen Quanguo was appointed to his post in August 2016. Around 120,000 ethnic Uyghurs are currently being held in political re-education camps in Xinjiang's Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) prefecture alone, a security official with knowledge of the situation told RFA in January. Independent Chinese PEN secretary general Zhang Yu said authors who refuse to be coopted by the ruling party's ideological outreach programs, especially those who write about politically sensitive topics, run the risk of becoming targets for "stability maintenance"by the state security police. "Anything to do with Xinjiang is sensitive, and[Cui] is also a Hui Muslim," Zhang said. "I'm guessing that has something to do with it." "Political education is taking us backwards to the Cultural Revolution and before that. Everyone should be treated with dignity, and this crosses a line for too many people." Writers targeted Chinese writers have been targeted by the Communist Party since the 1950s for their "bourgeois" insistence on artistic freedom and creativity, for failing to represent the experiences of the masses, and for criticizing the party after late supreme leader Mao Zedong called for an intellectual renaissance in the "Hundred Flowers" movement. Writers have been sent to the countryside for "re-education," banned from publication and academic posts, and even subjected to torture and other abuses, most notably in the "anti-rightist" campaigns of the 1950s to the violence and turmoil of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 8, 2018
- Event Description
On 8 February 2018 at around�_3.00 AM�_three Manipur Police Commandos forced their way into the house of Manoj Thokchom, a human rights defender that established Human Rights Initiative for Indigenous Advancement and Conflict Resolution (HRI). His father was woken up by the entrance of three men, who demanded him to confirm if Manoj resided in their house. After doing so, they entered Mr Thokchom's bedroom and told Mr Thokchom that their Officer-in-Charge wanted to ask him a few questions. When Mr Thokchom asked them for an arrest memo, it was revealed they never had any. Mr Thokchom was then taken by the police to the Manipur Police Commando Complex. Mr. P. Achuoba, Officer-in-charge of the Imphal West Police Commando, arrived at the complex at around�_10.00 AM. He interrogated Mr Thokchom, accusing him of being involved in the activities of armed groups. Having found nothing incriminating against him, Mr Thokchom was released from their custody at around�_6.30 PM�_the same day. It is believed that this act of arbitrary harassment is linked to Mr Thokchom's work in the HRI, and specifically the organization's collaboration with the Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR) in submitting a memorandum to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial and arbitrary executions in Manipur. This memorandum, which revealed that there has been 1528 cases of extrajudicial executions of citizens in Manipur, was converted into a petition to the Supreme Court last year, and eventually led to the decision for for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate into each of these cases, and hold state actors accountable. At present, around 90 cases have been investigated. Human rights activists have argued that with this investigation taking place, the police are purposefully harassing and intimidating human rights defenders to create an atmosphere of fear.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 17, 2018
- Event Description
BVG India Ltd on Wednesday decided to take legal action against RTI activist Sanjay Surve for alleging corruption in the ?16-crore contract awarded to the firm for mechanised housekeeping of four hospitals run by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The annual contract was awarded to the company in 2015 for period of five years. Allegations levelled include the health department deliberately raising the contractor's profit margin from 37% to 42%, the accounts department clearing payments of ?70.17 lakh despite the firm not supplying the specified amount of chemicals, and the audit department failing to look into discrepancies highlighted in the auditor's report. Mr. Surve claimed that while going through the documents of the contract at Vashi municipal hospital, running to almost 222 pages, he uncovered a scam of ?3.5 crore. Yogesh Atre, Chief Operating Officer (West Zone), BVG India Ltd, said: "We have initiated the process to take legal action against Mr. Surve for making baseless allegations. The company maintains that it won the contract after a proper tendering process. All documents related to the contract will be made available to whoever wants to review it. Any allegations against us are baseless and seem to have ulterior motives. We will take legal action for defaming the company." Mr. Atre said, "The person making the allegations has never contacted us. We have being providing cleaning and maintenance services in many government hospitals across the country." Mr. Surve had alleged that the NMMC officials were hand in glove with the firm. He alleged that former NMMC Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had terminated the services of the firm, but his successor Dr. N. Ramaswami had extended their contract. Mr. Surve said he was yet receive notice on the defamation case.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- RTI activist
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 9, 2018
- Event Description
West Papuan independence campaigners have called for the release of an activist who has been put on trial for treason after he helped gather signatures for a petition. Yanto Awerkion was arrested for his involvement in a pro-independence petition which gathered more than 1.8m West Papuan signatures. The petition, calling for a free vote on independence, had been outlawed by Indonesian authorities but was smuggled out of the region and delivered to the United Nations in September. The 27-year-old man is deputy chair of the Timika branch of the pro-independence West Papua National Committee (KNPB). According to his supporters he was arrested after getting on stage to speak about the petition at an event in May. Melanesian leaders condemn UN for turning 'a deaf ear' to West Papua atrocities Read more The Free West Papua campaign said Awerkion's health had seriously deteriorated in jail, and he had not been able to see his wife and daughter. If convicted on the charges relating to sedition and separatism, conspiracy and incitement to commit an offence, Awerkion could face a prison term of between six years and life. His trial was scheduled to begin in Timika on Tuesday. In a video filmed from prison for the Free West Papua movement, Awerkion described himself as a political prisoner. "Because of struggling for Free West Papua, I was arrested by the Indonesian military and police, and I remain in prison," he said. He called for international diplomats to "unite and urge the world and the United Nations to intervene in West Papua and to immediately organise a referendum in West Papua". A spokesman for the Indonesian embassy in Australia, Sade Bimantara, said the rights of people to "peacefully voice their opinions" were protected under Indonesian law, but "when laws are broken, the authorities will act to enforce the law". This included activities supporting or inciting acts that aim to "take over or separate a part of the Indonesian territory and the formation of a new state in its place", he told Guardian Australia. West Papuan women left isolated and beset by violence under Indonesian rule Rochelle Jones Read more Bimantara did not detail Awerkion's alleged actions, but said "separatist groups in Papua and West Papua have been found to commit a number of offences", and noted the death of a policeman last year. Awerkion is not believed to be facing charges involving violence. Bimantara said that was a matter for the prosecutor. The petition asked the UN to "put West Papua back on the decolonisation committee agenda and ensure their right to self?determination ... is respected by holding an internationally supervised vote". West Papua was annexed by Indonesia in 1963, an act formalised six years later with a widely discredited UN-supervised vote known as the Act of Free Choice. The only voters were 1,063 people selected by the military and compelled to vote in favour of Indonesian annexation. "In the West Papuan people's petition we hand over the bones of the people of West Papua to the United Nations and the world," exiled independence leader Benny Wenda told the UN when the petition was handed over. "After decades of suffering, decades of genocide, decades of occupation, we open up the voice of the West Papuan people which lives inside this petition. My people want to be free." Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said at the time the petition was "purely a publicity stunt with no credibility". The petition also called for the appointment of a special representative to investigate human rights abuses but was ultimately rebuffed by the UN's decolonisation committee because West Papua was outside its mandate. There are frequent reports of mass arrests and violence by Indonesian police and military forces against separatists and their supporters, but information is difficult to verify because of restrictions on foreign media entering the territory. The leader of the Greens, Richard Di Natale, called for the Australian government to make entreaties on behalf of Awerkion and other prisoners, and to support West Papua's calls for a UN-backed referendum.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to Protest, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Dec 14, 2017
- Event Description
Pakistan has ordered almost 30 international non-governmental organisations to leave the country, the latest sign of a wider crackdown on human rights and civil society across south Asia. The interior ministry has in recent days written to 29 organisations, including ActionAid, Plan International and Marie Stopes, to warn them their applications to continue working in the country have been rejected and that they should leave within 60 days. None has been given a reason. The development is the latest example of Islamabad's hostility towards international NGOs, which began in 2011 after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Pakistani intelligence services�_accused Save the Children of being complicit in helping the US Central Intelligence Agency find the al-Qaeda leader - something the charity denies. The move is also part of what many view as deteriorating human rights across the region, which has seen foreign funding for NGOs cut off, activists disappear and journalists killed. "In Pakistan, India and Nepal, space is closing in which NGOs are able to operate," said Binaifer Nowrojee, head of Asia-Pacific for Open Society Foundations, one of the groups banned by Pakistan. "It comes along with a growing national pride and economic confidence in these countries. They feel that the era of being dictated to by the west is coming to an end." A doctor in Pakistan who helped track down bin Laden told investigators he had been introduced to the CIA by a senior Save the Children official. The charity said it had never employed the doctor but the organisation was thrown out of the country in 2012. Pakistan's government two years ago announced a registration regime for all international NGOs and cancelled agreements with 15 of them. However, the latest expulsions are different because many of the organisations affected are not involved in promoting human rights or good governance - activities that frequently irritate authoritarian governments. Officials at Pakistan's home ministry said some of the groups had attracted the government's attention because they operated in parts of the country where militancy was high and where Pakistan suspected western intelligence agencies also operated. One senior government official told the Financial Times that the government had also grown suspicious of the high salaries paid by some organisations, and wondered whether they were being used to fund intelligence work on behalf of foreign governments. All the charities contacted by the FT denied this was the case. The Pakistani move follows a similar push by its neighbour India to restrict NGOs that receive foreign funding. In 2015 New Delhi put the Ford Foundation on a watch list and suspended Greenpeace India's licence. This year it banned foreign funding for the Public Health Foundation of India, a group backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, saying it used foreign donations to "lobby" for tobacco-control policy issues. Human rights campaigners say the moves to hamper foreign NGOs are part of a broader move against civil society across the region, which includes what campaigners say are forced disappearances of activists who upset governments. In Pakistan�_hundreds of activists have disappeared over the past few years. But while the disappearances were previously mainly limited to restive areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they now appear to be spreading into the country's big cities.�_ Raza Khan, a peace activist who has advocated a rapprochement with India, went missing from Lahore this month.�_ Similar disappearances have occurred in Bangladesh. The most recent case involves Mubashar Hasan, an assistant professor at a Dhaka university who researched terrorism.�_His friends�_say they suspect he is being held by security forces - a claim authorities deny.
- Impact of Event
- 29
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 8, 2017
- Event Description
After practising lawyer and human rights defender Mr Sishir Dey of Karimganj district in Assam (India) posted a short satirical comment on facebook on 8 December 2017 denouncing terrorism in the name of Hindu religion and violent ideas of Hindu political groups, he received abusive and intimidating comments and outright threats with physical assaults and murder. The comment was made in the context of video of a gruesome murder of a migrant labourer in Rajasthan state on 6 December 2017 that was circulating on internet where the perpetrator was seen boasting about the murder and claiming that he did it as a warning against inter-religious relationship. A complaint was also filed at the Karimganj Sadar police station against Mr Dey. Mr Dey is at risk of physical and mental harm from the supporters of concerned political groups as well as of harassment by the police. Mr Sishir Day is a lawyer practising at the Karimganj district courts. He is a voluntary member of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (Registered vide no. RS/CA/ 243/B/61 of 2002-03), a voluntary human rights organisation mainly documenting and making legal intervention in cases of violations in Assam. He is responsible for reporting violations of human rights in the district. He is also honorary secretary of the district committee of Assam Mojuri Sramik Union (Registered Vide No. 2287 under the Trade Union Act) a lobour rights defending organisation. He is an active member of Forum for Social Harmony, a platform fromed collectively by different social activists and human rights defender groups of south Assam to combat the religious violence and protect peaceful co-existence of communities in the area. On 6 December 2017 a video was uploaded on internet by one Shambhulal Regar or Shambhu Bhawani, an inhabitant of Rajsamand district in Rajasthan state. In that video it was seen that he was killing a man by hacking him with a hammer like weapon in cold-blood. He then burnt that man pouring some kind of liquid that looked like petrol over the body of that half-dead man. He said that he murdered that person because that person had committed "Love Jihad", a term used by the Hindhu religious extremists to denote inter-religious marriage or relationship as a form of Islamic terrorism. Later on, the murdered man was identified as Mr. Afrajul Haque (aged 48), a migrant labourer from Maldah in West-Bengal state. That video went viral and created mixed reactions among people. The progressive, humanitarian and human rights defender groups condemned this brutal act and denounced those political and religious groups that support and encourage violence in the name of religion, religious identity and religious sentiments. However, some other people also tried to rationalise and justify this kind of violence and killings on social media platforms and applauded Mr Regar by putting his picture as their profile picture. In that context, Mr Sishir Dey posted a public "status' on his Facebook wall on 8 December 2017 stating in Bengali that "??????? ?????? ?? ? ????? ?????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ????? ????" which translates as "Down with the Ram devotee apes, their Sanghi brutal ideas and Hindu-terrorism". After he made the post, abusive and threatening comments started to pour in the comment section of his post. Abuses and threats were also posted by some people in their own facebook pages. They accused him of hurting their religious sentiments and threatened him with assaults and murders. On 10 December a complaint was also filed against him in the Karimganj Police Station by Mr. Debdulal Das and Mr. Pankaj Das, both identified themselves as the President and Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuba Morcha, North Karimhanj Block Mondal, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP is the political party which is now running governments both at Assam state and Union of India. However, till the time of writing this report it could not be confirmed if the complaint was registered by the police. After the BJP formed governments both at union in 2014 and in Assam state in 2016, India has been witnessing a rise of religious fundamentalism and politically motivated violence. Before, the perpetrators of violence committed in the name of religions and violations of human rights by state agencies did not enjoy the kind of political support and impunity as they are getting now. Many Muslim youth were killed in the name of cow protection, and protection of women from alleged "love-jihad" and other excuses. South Assam, also known as Barak valley, is a relatively peaceful area in the state. But now it is evident that to gain political advantage a group of people are trying to flare up communal violence in the valley. Recently a relatively new Kolkata (in West Bengal state) based outfit known as Hindhu Samhati called a conference on 2 December, 2017 at Silchar, the main town in Barak valley, where some of their leaders delivered communally provocative speeches and tried to polarise people in the name of religion. One of their guest speakers Mr. Debatanu Bashu openly asked his followers to go for mass killing of the Muslim people in the valley*. In this connection a first information report (FIR) was registered by police but no further actions were taken. In this background it appears that the abuse, threats and complaint against Mr Dey were an effort to create an environment of fear among the human rights defenders and progressive community workers. Mr Dey is at risk of getting physically assaulted and even killed by the extremists who issued threats. He is also likely to be harassed by the police in connection with the complaint against him, though it does not attract any penal provisions. There are also concerns about safety and physical and mental wellbeing of his family and friends and other human rights defenders working in Assam.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Labour rights defender, Lawyer
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2017
- Event Description
After a publisher reprinted chapters of his book Post-Hindu India (2009) into booklets in Telugu, Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, 65, has faced death threats, abuse and criticism from some members of the Arya Vysa community. In this interview given on the phone, the Hyderabad-based academic explains what he means by "social smuggling" and why that offends the castes that dominate Indian capitalism. Excerpts: Why are the Arya Vysas (Baniyas) of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh protesting against you? I wrote this book in 2009 in the background of a debate over merit and the demand for reservation in the private sector. It includes several chapters on various castes - a chapter on barbers is called "social doctors", one on dhobis is called "subaltern feminists", and so on. The chapter on Baniyas was called "social smugglers" and the one on Brahmins was called "spiritual fascists". This June, a small publisher printed each chapter as a separate booklet, with caste names on the cover page. This has led to protests and violent abuses by the Arya Vysa community. Two people have threatened to take my life on television. A TDP MP, P G Venkatesh, said in a press conference that I should be hanged and killed as is done in the Middle East. On September 23, I was returning from a meeting when my car was attacked. I was saved because my driver managed to take me out and reach the police station. I have filed cases at the Osmania University police station and requested for full police protection. The state has done nothing - at least as much as CM Siddaramaiah has done to protect intellectuals in Karnataka. Has anyone in the government reached out to you? Ministers in my Telangana state, including the home minister, joined the Arya Vysas in condemning me. The CM is silent. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has been sending out feelers that he will ban the book. Look at the climate in which I am fighting this battle - the murders of Gauri Lankesh and M M Kalburgi in my neighbouring state. This is the fear I have. Therefore, I placed myself under house arrest. I am telling the world that if the Indian government cannot protect an intellectual who is known in the country and world, then other intellectuals have no safety in this country. What do you mean by calling Baniyas social smugglers? Social smuggling is a concept I coined to capture caste-based economic exploitation, from the village upwards to the monopoly Baniya capital, which involves the Ambanis, Adanis, the Laxmi Mittals, and so on. Social smuggling is a method of deceptive business, which accumulates wealth in the Baniya economy itself, and does not let it go back to the producers, who are the source of the wealth. Historically, because of the nexus between the Baniya and the Brahmin priestly community, the wealth was also transferred into temples. This led to non-development of mercantile capital in the medieval and late medieval age, and later indigenous capital. This encirclement of business is done through the spiritual dictum of Manu, Kautilya and Vedic texts. Unlike in the West, only one caste was allowed to do business in India. Smuggling means taking away wealth out of the borders of the nation illegally, but "social smuggling" means taking away the produce of all castes into the vaults of one caste - the Baniya, without any access to others. Wealth remains within the nation but in the control of one caste. It does not go back into the agricultural economy or the philanthropic economy or the education economy. This happened historically and is now happening even in the modern, privatised economy. That is the reason why 46% of the corporate directors in India are Baniyas, whereas their population is 1.9%. Brahmins come second, with 44.6% of corporate directors from their caste. So, you are saying that in this form of capitalism, caste cannot be challenged. It is this caste-controlled, socially smuggled capital which does not want to give preferential treatment or reservation in the private sector. They have been talking about our meritlessness. But we have proved our merit in producing the wealth, in the agrarian economy. Why are they not sharing this wealth with 90 per cent of the other castes, including Jats, Patels, etc, by giving them space in the private sector? Is it true that you have set terms for withdrawing the book? These are the conditions I have set (to the Baniya community to disprove that they are social smugglers). Look at our soldiers on the border. When the nationalism debate is taking place, Amit Shah and (PM) Modi are holding up the soldiers as an example. But, among these foot soldiers, there are no Baniyas or Brahmins. I am asking for one job for the family of each soldier serving on the border in the private sector. Look at the number of constables fighting in Naxalite regions or in Kashmir. Their family members should be given jobs in the private sector. Farmer suicides is one of the biggest issues in the country today. I am asking for a farmer protection fund from the entire industrial capital - at least 1% of their annual profit, around Rs 30,000 crore. Corporate social responsibility doesn't fight the caste system, or help the tribal or Dalit issue. It should be a social responsibility. What is the social consequence of this "socially smuggled capital"? When Adam Smith wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments, he said that without moral sentiment, a transparent capitalism cannot survive. The buyer and seller will have to be honest and treat each other with respect. In this Baniya-Brahmin capitalism, that empathy, that goodwill towards the poorest of the poor is missing. To the point of ignoring the death of the farmers, who is the source of wealth. Industries must prove their nationalism like the soldiers are proving their nationalism on the border. Why do you think writers are facing such anger today? Earlier, we have had writing which has become controversial when gods or prophets are involved, or women are involved. But this is an academic concept and as a research scholar I have full rights to formulate it. This is not an issue that can be settled on the streets. Tragically, and to my surprise, the Indian intellectuals or economists have not responded to this debate. In this environment of cow vigilantism, killings of intellectuals, if communists and liberals are silent, if the English media is not reporting this, it is very frightening. That scares me more. Why are our progressive intellectuals silent? Because I am a lower-caste intellectual?
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to Protest
- HRD
- Academic, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 14, 2017
- Event Description
(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 26 June 2017) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned about recent police hostility against human rights defenders in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. Human rights defenders from the respected human rights group Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) have been facing harassment and intimidation and are now at risk of arbitrary arrest and detention. MASUM undertakes research and runs campaigns against torture and killings by security forces in the area. On the night of 14 June 2017 police personnel from Raninagar Police station surrounded the residence of Sanjit Mondal, MASUM's District Human Rights Monitor. As Sanjit suspected he would be arrested, he left the premises before the police could get to him. He and other members of MASUM are feared to be at risk and FORUM-ASIA is particularly concerned that repeated calls for investigation and intervention have not been acted upon by the authorities. Sanjit filed a written complaint to Murshidabad district's Superintendent of Police but is yet to receive any response. Concerns about the incident and the hostile environment MASUM members are experiencing in Murshidabad have been raised with the authorities, including the National Human Rights Commission of India, on multiple occasions. These have not been acted upon. It is feared that Sanjit and other members of MASUM may meet the same fate as colleagues Ajimuddin Sarkar and Najrul Islam, who both are also District Human Rights Monitors for MASUM, who were arbitrarily arrested and detained on trumped-up charges. Similar to Sanjit, Ajimuddin's home was surrounded and ransacked. His family was later attacked, while Ajimuddin himself was arbitrarily detained and tortured in custody. The authorities need to prevent further injustices and put into place immediate, concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of MASUM's human rights defenders. FORUM ASIA urges the Government of India to: Ensure that a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the arrest and harassment of human rights defenders in Murshidabad district is undertaken without delay. Immediately take measures to ensure that human rights defenders in Murshidabad are able to conduct their human rights work safely and are not be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, harassment and attacks. Commit to its obligation under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by India. Demonstrate its ability to reign in and hold to account those in Murshidabad that disregard the rule of law and due process, as they are core elements of India's legal system. Foster a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, where they can carry on their activities unhindered and liberally express discontent with the State. Guarantee values of free expression, human rights and democracy are enabled. Update: The Observatory has been informed by Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) | [1] about renewed acts of police harassment and intimidation against Mr. Sanjit Mondal, MASUM District Human Rights Monitor in Murshidabad district, West Bengal State. According to the information received, on November 8, 2017, at around 9am, Mr. Sanjit Mondal accompanied a youth from Malipara village to see a medical practitioner, in order to record evidence of torture to which the youth had been subjected in custody at Raninagar police station. A medical certificate documenting the nature of the injuries sustained was required to register a complaint against the police personnel for torture. At around 2pm on the same day, Mr. Sanjit Mondal saw a police officer named Mr. Dipak Mondal, from Raninagar police station, loitering around his family's shop. Upon seeing Mr. Sanjit Mondal, the police officer walked a few metres away. When Mr. Sanjit Mondal went to meet him, Mr. Dipak Mondal left immediately. A few minutes later, a large number of police personnel from Raninagar police station drove past Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop in a white police vehicle. They parked their vehicle one kilometre away, and walked back near to Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop. During this time, Mr. Sanjit Mondal escaped from his shop due to fear of being arrested. Upon arrival outside Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop, the police personnel from Raninagar police station gathered at a tea stall in front of the shop, from which they monitored it for more than three hours. Witnesses present at the tea stall subsequently reported having heard Mr. Dipak Mondal saying that "Sanjit must be taken into custody tonight as he is trying to make[a] complaint against police personnel and the Officer in Charge[wants] his arrest". Witnesses also reported having heard Mr. Dipak Mondal expressing his concern that "Sanjit could flee to Kolkata to evade his capture". The comments related to Mr. Sanjit Mondal's assistance to the youth from Malipara village earlier that day. On November 9, 2017, Mr. Dipak Mondal monitored Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop for the entire day. At around 2pm, a white police vehicle passed by his shop. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Mr. Sanjit Mondal remained in hiding for fear of being arrested. The Observatory condemns the police harassment and intimidation of Mr. Sanjit Mondal, which seems to be only aimed at punishing him for documenting and denouncing allegations of human rights violations committed by police forces. The Observatory fears that Mr. Sanjit Mondal may be arrested at any time on fabricated charges. The Observatory recalls that several members of MASUM and Mr. Sanjit Mondal in particular (see background information) have already faced reprisals in the past for documenting and denouncing grave human rights violations allegedly involving members of the police forces and BSF. The Observatory calls upon the Indian authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment, intimidation, and criminalization of Mr. Sanjit Mondal and all MASUM members, as well as of all human rights defenders in India.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 2, 2017
- Event Description
On 2 May 2017, in Ho Chi Minh City, a group of ten government loyalists brutally attacked Le My Hanh, a female environmental activist from Hanoi for her activities which aim to promote multi-party democracy, human rights and environmental protection. The attackers, who included women, broke in the private residence of Hanh's friend, using tear gas to assault Hanh and her friend and brutally beating them. The attackers filmed their actions and later posted videos on their Facebook accounts. This is the second attack against Hanh within one month. On April 5, she and blogger Trinh Dinh Hoa were brutally beaten by Hanoi-based government loyalists in Ho Tay (West Lake) as they were broadcasting a Facebook live stream about the environmental disaster caused by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant in the central coastal region in April 2016. One day later, independent civil organizations and hundreds of local activists jointly signed a petition to Vietnam's authorities to demand a thorough investigation into the case to hold perpetrators to account.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 5, 2017
- Event Description
On 5 April 2017, two activists from Hanoi, Le My Hanh and Trinh Dinh Hoa, were brutally beaten by unidentified individuals as they were broadcasting a live stream on Facebook about the environmental disaster caused by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant in the central coastal region in April 2016. According to the video posted on their Facebook accounts, as Ms. Hanh and Mr. Hoa were conducting the live stream in Ho Tay (West Lake) to report about the current situation in the central region, a group of six thugs appeared behind them, attacking Ms. Hanh and robbing her cell phone with which she was filming herself. Throwing her cell phone into the lake, the thugs turned to beat Hanh and Mr. Hoa, who stood near her. Due to the assault, Hanh and Hoa suffered from a number of injuries. Mr. Hoa's face was covered in blood as his nose was broken. Hanh recognized one of the attackers as Ha Vu, a member of a pro-government group in Hanoi which has received support by the local authorities to disturb patriotic and pro-democracy activities organized by local activists. In 2015, the same group persecuted the family of activist Nguyen Lan Thang. Ms. Hanh is a citizen journalist who has actively reported peaceful demonstrations by central coast residents who seek compensation for the environmental consequences of a waste discharge by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant in the central coastal waters and request the Taiwanese group to leave Vietnam. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoa has actively attended peaceful demonstrations which aim to protest China's violations of the country's sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea), human rights violations and other issues in the communist nation. Hanh and Hoa are among numerous activists who have been assaulted by plainclothes agents and pro-government individuals in the past few years. Among victims are human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Nguyen Bac Truyen, prominent human rights activists Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Nguyen Trung Ton, Pham Thanh Nghien, and Vu Quoc Ngu, anti-China activists La Viet Dung and Truong Minh Tam. In order to silence local critics, Vietnam's communist government has deployed a number of measures, including intimidation, harassment, physical assaults, and arbitrary arrests and detentions against them. Over a hundred of pro-democracy advocates, social activists and human rights defenders have been imprisoned while dozens of others have been assaulted as the government has intensified its crackdown against local dissent amid increasing public dissatisfaction due to its failure to address systemic corruption, economic slowdown, and rising social inequality. Facebook's live streaming is an effective tool used by Vietnamese activists to address social issues. Meanwhile, state media, including the Vietnam Television (VTV) has continued to broadcast false information about peaceful demonstrations of fishermen in the central region to accuse protesters of conducting violence against local authorities, and to provide untrue facts about the polluted waters in the central coast. At the same time, citizen journalists are striving to cover the news about the situation in the central coastal region, particularly the hard life of the local residents due to the environmental pollution caused by the Formosa steel plant, and the unfair compensation from the insufficient overall $500 million pledged by the Taiwanese group.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Online
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 19, 2017
- Event Description
Indonesian police detained and then deported the two reporters, who were filming a documentary for Indonesia's Garuda Airlines, for lacking "necessary documents from related institutions," without elaborating. The authorities have barred the two journalists from returning to Indonesia for at least six months to ensure they get the message. The message is that there's a glaring gap between the rhetoric of Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's announced opening of Papua to foreign media, and the grim reality that journalists are still blocked from reporting there. In May 2015, President Jokowi said he would be lifting of the 25-year de facto ban on foreign media access to Papua. That policy change was supposed to end the farce of placing foreign journalists in legal limbo by denying or failing to approve their reporting applications for Papua. But abuses of media freedom for foreign journalists in Papua, along with visa denial and blacklisting of reporters who challenge the official chokehold on Papua access, has continued unabated. That's mainly because Jokowi has singularly failed to issue a formal written directive instructing Indonesia's bureaucracy and security forces to lift these restrictions. But it's also due to the deeply rooted perception among many government and security agency officials that foreign media access to Papua is a recipe for instability in a region already troubled by widespread public dissatisfaction with Jakarta, and a small but persistent armed independence movement. That reflexive official paranoia extends beyond journalists and also impedes access to Papua for international development agencies, United Nations officials and foreign academics that Indonesian authorities perceive as hostile. The government needs to understand that blocking media access on overbroad security grounds doesn't just deter foreign news reporting about Papua, it raises troubling questions about what the government might be hiding there. It's time for Jokowi to issue his long-delayed written directive lifting restrictions on foreign media access to Papua, and appropriately punish government officials who refuse to comply.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Deportation, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Media freedom, Right to information, Right to work
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 12, 2016
- Event Description
12 April 2016, Dekai junction, Papua Province On 12 April 2016, around 8 am, West Papuan activists in support of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) distributed leaflets in Dekai. The leaflet was an invitation to attend a demonstration organized by KNPB to support the effort of United Liberation Movement for West Papua to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. At around noon that day, three police security vehicles and the Mobile Brigade of the police arrived at the location. They pointed guns at members of the KNPB and shouted to them not to run. Some of the activists succeeded to escape. The police arrested Mr. Yupi Sobolim, Mr. Unyil Kobak, Mr. Erson Suhun, Mr. Lendeng Omu, Mr. Leni Busup and Mr. Natu Dapla. They were taken to the Police Station in Yakuhimo where they were allegedly tortured and subjected to a series of inhuman and degrading treatments. Their heads and faces were beaten with a hammer, they were ordered to strip, eat money and dirt, do push-ups and to sing the Indonesian anthem. Their feet were tied and they were dragged across the floor while the police trampled them with boots. The police allegedly proceeded with threats to torture, to hang and to kill them. They were all released later the same day. The police also confiscated one KNPB flag, 7 motorcycles and 3 million Indonesian Rupiah (equivalent to 228 USD) that had been donated by passer-by supporting the initiative. 13 April 2016, Merauke, Papua Province At approximately 8:00 am on 13 April 2016, around 100 police officers came to the joint offices of the Parliament of People of Merauke Regency (PRD) and Secretariat of West Papua National Committee (KNPB). The police were fully armed and were accompanied by two police vehicles meant to control demonstration. The police entered the building and arrested 14 persons, namely: Ms. Panggrasia Yeem; Mr. Petrus Katem; Mr. Idelfonsius Katop; Mr. Yohakim Gebze; Mr. Gento Emerikus Dop; Mr. Charles Sraun; Mr. Emilianus Nemop; Mr. Rikardo Pisakai; Mr. Oktovianus Warip; Mr. Petrus P. Koweng; Mr. Lukas Arawok; Mr. Simon Taulemi; Mr. Paustinus K. Metemko; and Mr. Moses Pasim. They are all members of the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB) and People's Regional Parliament (Parlemen Rakyat Daerah, PRD) of Merauke Regency. The above named persons were brought to Merauke police station for further interrogation. They were all released later the same day. The police also confiscated equipment, including six motorcycles, one hard disc, two loud speakers, one phone, one donation box, one whiteboard, one box Referendum's stimulation and several posters.
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 10, 2016
- Event Description
State security guards stormed a demonstration on Monday in Phnom Penh and beat the technical supervisor of Licadho, one of the country's most prominent rights groups, as hundreds of marchers protested against land seizures. The march to belatedly mark World Habitat Day began in heavy rain at the former site of the Dey Krahorm neighborhood, where residents were violently evicted by a private company in 2009. Evictees and land rights activists were hoping to march to the Land Management Ministry to deliver a petition denouncing such seizures. Dozens of police officers-outnumbering the initial gathering-moved the protesters northward as it gathered more participants. The crowd had grown to about 300 as it moved down Sisowath Quay, past the Royal Palace and away from the Land Management Ministry. Tensions came to a head at about 9:30 a.m. when Daun Penh district security guards blocked the path of protesters attempting to change course and rushed the crowd, destroying protesters' banners and photographs of jailed rights workers, and attacking Am Sam Ath of Licadho, who was attending as an observer. Mr. Sam Ath-as well as other witnesses-said he had been calling for calm when the guards turned on him and others. He was hit in the head and face and suffered cuts and bruising. Others were also left bloodied. "I told them, "Please don't use violence.' And they started beating me," Mr. Sam Ath said. "It shows that Cambodia doesn't respect human rights." The protesters-some wearing the black T-shirts from the "Black Monday" campaign-had been moving north on Sisowath Quay along the riverside before turning around near Wat Ounalom. At Street 178, police blocked the way, pushing the march west on to the tree-lined street and toward the Royal University of Fine Arts. The protesters got as far as Street 19, where they were confronted by dozens of guards in five security guard trucks. Staring down the crowd, district security guard chief Kim Vutha asked: "Who are your leaders? Why do you pass here?" Bov Sorphea, one of the organizers, responded that there had been a road block. In response, Mr. Vutha said to his guards: "Let's move forward." As the guards rushed into the crowd, one of them smashed a model house being used as a prop, and another chased a drummer into an art gallery. The guard emerged with a red drum, and was pursued by protesters who tried to grab it back. Many in the crowd scattered. City Hall later said the guards had been provoked and that protesters should not have attempted to evade the cordon. "We tried to round them up to rally at Freedom Park, and while traveling they caused chaos," said Met Measpheakdey, a municipal spokesman. "That was one of the reasons we didn't want them to go against what we allowed." "Some female protesters in the march also used umbrellas to beat our security guards," he added. "We haven't decided yet whether to take legal action against them." Chan Puthisak, an evictee from Phnom Penh's Boeng Kak neighborhood, said he was pushed against a parked car and one of the security guards ran toward him as he used his smartphone to record a video. "I raised my arms. They just beat me," he said. "Am Sam Ath came to stop the violence. So he was beaten instead of me." After someone struck him on his head with a fist, Mr. Sam Ath was swallowed into a mass of ponchos as photographers and television cameramen circled the group. Mr. Sam Ath said by telephone from the Licadho office in the afternoon that he had filed a complaint about the attack at the Chey Chumneah commune police station. "They beat me on the mouth, eyebrows, nose and jaw, and bruised the back of my neck," he said. In a statement issued later in the afternoon, and signed by 60 organizations, Naly Pilorge, director of Licadho, said the attack was the latest example in a long line of peaceful protests suppressed through violence. She described it as "a favored strategy for authorities terrified of citizens claiming their rights." "It remains to be seen whether this case will also-like so many of the others-result in complete impunity for the perpetrators," Ms. Pilorge said. "It is long overdue for the courts to start prosecuting para-police officers involved in systematic and recurring acts of violence." After the scuffle on Street 178, the marchers eventually arrived at Freedom Park at about 10:30 a.m., where an official from the Land Management Ministry received their petition, and a group of police officers came to return the confiscated drum. Hoeu Chanda, the ministry's deputy director-general for the general department of housing, promised to forward the petition. "Please, brothers and sisters, place your hopes on the government, especially the Land Management Ministry," Mr. Chanda said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Land rights, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Land rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Timor Leste
- Initial Date
- Jan 22, 2016
- Event Description
HARASSED FOR ORGANIZING PEACEFUL RALLY Two members of Timor-Leste's security forces visited the office of the human rights NGO Yayasan HAK on 26 January and the police has been harassing its Executive Director by telephone for organizing and participating in a peaceful demonstration. Manuel Monteiro Fernandes, Executive Director of the human rights NGO Yayasan HAK based in Dili, Timor Leste, has informed Amnesty International that the police has been calling him repeatedly regarding the NGO's involvement in organizing a peaceful demonstration to coincide with the President of Indonesia's visit to Timor-Leste on 26 January. His safety is at risk. On the day of the demonstration, two members of the Timor-Leste Defence Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-Leste, F-FDTL) visited the Yayasan HAK office and requested to use the space as a security base due to its proximity to the Indonesian Embassy in Dili. Manuel Monteiro Fernandes refused to allow them to use their office. One of the soldiers then approached another member of the staff, Adelio da Costa Fernandes and requested that he immediately remove his t-shirt because it carried the slogan "Free West Papua", which refers to a political issue that is considered as highly sensitive by the Indonesian government. Yayasan HAK announced in a joint public statement on 25 January, together with other local NGOs, that the peaceful demonstration was organised to urge the Timorese and Indonesian governments to address crimes against humanity committed during the Indonesian occupation between 1975 and 1999. They also called for the immediate implementation of recommendations set out by the Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF), a bilateral agreement between the government of Indonesia and the government of Timor-Leste to investigate crimes committed during the 1999 independence referendum, including the establishment of a Commission for Missing People. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Yayasan HAK is a non-governmental organisation based in Dili, Timor-Leste focusing on promoting and protecting human rights in civil society and state institutions. Yayasan HAK was established in August 1996 by Timorese and Indonesian activists to monitor human rights, provide human rights education, legal support and advocacy across thirteen districts in Timor-Leste. Under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, it is the duty of the State to create the conditions necessary to defend human rights within their jurisdictions and specifically "to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone against any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration." Rights and protections accorded to human rights defenders include the right to meet or assemble peacefully. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution of Timor-Leste (Freedom to Assemble and Demonstrate) which stipulates that: "Everyone is guaranteed the freedom to assemble peacefully and unarmed, without a need for prior authorization; and everyone is recognized the right to demonstrate in accordance with the law." Impunity persisted for gross human rights violations committed during the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999). Little progress was made in addressing crimes against humanity and other human rights violations committed by Indonesian security forces and their auxiliaries from 1975 to 1999. Many suspected perpetrators remained at large in Indonesia. No progress by the authorities was reported in implementing recommendations addressing impunity from the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) and the bilateral Indonesia-Timor-Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF). Amnesty International has documented ongoing impunity in Timor-Leste in its reports We Cry for Justice: Impunity Persists 10-years on in Timor-Leste (ASA 57/001/2009) and Timor-Leste: Justice in the Shadow (ASA/57/001/2010). UN SR Case Country No: TLS 1/2016
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to work
- HRD
- NGO, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 27, 2016
- Event Description
A Kashmiri student of a private college here was detained today for allegedly posting "anti-national" comments on social media site Facebook after the Uri terror attack, police said. Mudasir Rashid, a Srinagar resident, has been suspended by his college, Techno India NJR Institute of Technology. He has been detained for allegedly posting and sharing anti-national comments and material on Facebook, sub-inspector Hiran Magri police station Gordhan Ram said. ABVP activists along with local students staged a protest at the college and demanded action against the accused. They also damaged college property and hoisted the national flag atop a building, Ram added. "Rashid has been suspended initially for seven days," said college director RS Vyas. "He (Mudasir Rashid) allegedly started posting and sharing anti-national comments after the Uri terror attacks. This came to light after some students approached the college administration with print-outs of his posts. He was handed over to police," he said. There are 15 Kashmiri students in the college and Rashid was one of them, Vyas added In March, four Kashmiri students were arrested for allegedly cooking beef in their hostel rooms at a Chittorgarh based private university. The university saw clashes between locals and Kashmiri students after India lost to West Indies in a T-20 match in April.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Online, Right to education
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 22, 2016
- Event Description
A local Trinamool Congress leader had filed an FIR against Tarak Biswas with the Howrah Police. A blogger Tarak Biswas was arrested on Thursday in West Bengal for critiquing Islam in a post on social media. Biswas was arrested after a local Trinamool Congress leader Sanaullah Khan registered a first information report with the Howrah Police. Biswas was charged under sections 295 A (insulting religion), 298 (hurt religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code as well section 66, 67 and 67 A of the Information Technology Act (posting and sending offensive messages), according to a report in dna. Biswas has been sent to seven days of police custody by a local court. Human rights violations The human rights group Association For Protection of Democratic Rights has criticised the case against Biswas as well as the manner of his arrest. "Our investigation today revealed gross violation of human rights in Tarak Biswas's arrest", said APDR vice president Ranjit Sur. "Tarak was "kidnapped" by police from Kalyani. His family was not informed of the arrest, nor any arrest memo issued. Mandatory notice prior to arrest was not issued. So, in addition to violation of fundamental right of free speech, police violated all mandatory supreme court orders regarding arrest of a citizen". The Association For Protection of Democratic Rights has also announced that it will fight the legal case on behalf of Biswas. A deputation will also be submitted to the Howrah Police demanding Biswas's immediate release and withdrawal of the cases against him. Biswas self-identifies as a muktomona, a rationalist Bengali philosophy that has earlier been targeted by Islamists in Bangladesh.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Online
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Sep 20, 2016
- Event Description
A court in Hanoi sentenced a land rights activist to nearly two years in prison on Tuesday for her role in protesting government-sanctioned evictions that are being used to clear the way for commercial real estate developments in Vietnam. Can Thi Theu was convicted of causing public disorder and sentenced to 20 months in prison for demonstrations in June that targeted the government for land that was seized in the Duong Noi area on the outskirts of Hanoi, one of her attorneys, Nguyen Kha Thanh, told RFA's Vietnamese Service. "The police have to protect the people's right to petition, but in this case they used plainclothes policemen to arrest and load the petitioners on buses," said Ha Huy Son, another member of Theu's defense team. Theu was arrested by the Hanoi police on June 10 when she and more than 50 other demonstrators gathered at the Ministry of the Environment to tender petitions seeking a solution to the land conflict in Duong Noi village, where her family lives. It was the second time Theu was convicted for her role in land-grab protests. In 2014 she was sentenced to 15 months in jail for a similar protest. Vietnam has been experiencing a development boom that is pushing small landholders aside in favor of more lucrative real estate projects. One of the "dan oan' While all land in Vietnam is held by the state, land confiscations have become a flashpoint as residents accuse the government of snatching valuable plots and paying far too little in compensation to their residents. "Land confiscation and abuse of rights is a serious problem in Vietnam, so much so that there is a new term in Vietnamese for those losing land to various public and private projects sponsored by the government: Dan oan, literally citizen suffering injustice," said Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy director, Asia division. Public protests are illegal in Vietnam, but the land grabs have gotten so out of hand that people risk imprisonment to protest the seizures. Tuesday brought a replay of earlier land protests, as eyewitnesses told RFA that 200 people were demonstrating outside the Hanoi courthouse. "We are currently sitting outside," a farmer from Duong Noi told RFA during the trial. "There are many policemen around here. They have surrounded us." Another witness told RFA the demonstrators held banners saying "arresting innocent people is a crime," and "freedom for Can Thi Theu." "Police speak into their loudspeakers, telling us to move away," that witness said. "Farmers from other places like Hai Duong, Thanh Oai and Van Giang are also here." "Policemen and their villains' The government's reaction was also no different than before, as police rounded up the protestors and loaded them onto buses, and arrested activist Thao Teresa, said Theu's son Trinh Ba Phoung. "The government mobilized a lot of policemen to stop us from going to the court," he told RFA. "This is a serious violation of human rights. We ask international human rights organizations to witness today's trial because this is an act of violence stemming from police." He added: "They crack down on us, and surround us when we hold a peaceful protest. We have to cope with the violence from the policemen and their villains." Theu's conviction comes at a time when Vietnam's human rights record is under new scrutiny. While the country has been pursuing closer ties with the West, particularly the U.S. and the European Union, it has shown little desire to curb authorities' appetite for jailing and intimidating activists, bloggers and dissidents. Human Rights Watch's Robertson said Theu's conviction is another example of Vietnam's "systematic denial of the right of peaceful protest." "Can Thi Theu is yet another victim of Vietnam's kangaroo courts, where guilt and prison sentences are determined by the ruling party, and there is no respect for fair trial standards or justice," Robertson said. "People like Can Thi Theu don't originally choose to become land rights activists, but when they are facing loss of land and livelihood, there is no choice," he added. "If there was any justice in Vietnam, Thi Theu would be working on her farm in peace, instead of heading to prison after an unjust trial."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Land rights
- HRD
- Land rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 8, 2016
- Event Description
An environmental activist recently elected to Hong Kong's legislature with a record number of votes is under police protection after receiving death threats targeting himself and his family, forcing them to leave their home. Eddie Chu has reported receiving "escalating" death threats to police, saying he hasn't had anywhere safe to take his family since he won his seat in Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo). "The government is extremely concerned about the Eddie Chu case, and takes[the threats] very seriously," a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a statement. "The police are taking appropriate measures and arrangements to ensure the safety of Eddie Chu and his family, and police have begun a full investigation." Hong Kong's government would not accept threats against anyone speaking out on matters of concern to the community, the spokesman said. The statement came after Democratic Party chairman and fellow lawmaker-elect Andrew Wan slammed the police for failing to act on threats he received. Wan had reported receiving threats including a letter containing a sharp blade, both before and after the election. Hundreds of people staged a rally on Sunday outside police headquarters in Hong Kong's Wanchai district to show support Chu, who is currently under police protection, and who has spoken to the city's chief executive Leung Chun-ying over alleged corruption linked to a land deal in his home district. 'Imminent' threat feared Chu has also requested permission to move himself and his family into offices in the LegCo building, for their own protection. "I don't know what else to do, as there is a while to wait without police protection, and I need to protect my own and my family's safety," he said. "We need a safe place to stay." Chu told journalists last week that the threats against him were "imminent", saying he had reported them to police and was considering hiring a private security firm to protect himself and his family. The threats came as Chu garnered some 84,000 votes in his New Territories West electoral district, the most ever won by a single individual, following a lengthy campaign as a land activist targeting corruption and organized crime involvement in land transactions there. "We consider the threats to be credible death threats against Mr Chu and his family," Chu's lawyer Michael Vidler told journalists at the time. "We'll report them to the police, seek their advice, and then we can come out and speak to you again." "We can't say any more at the moment, because we don't want to prejudice the results of any police investigation," Vidler said. "We consider them to be very credible threats." Local media reports suggest that the threats against Chu are linked to the land deal rather than his election campaign, government broadcaster RTHK reported. Andrew Wan told RFA he had reported similar threats to the police four times, accusing them of treating his complaints with indifference. New Territories land deal He believed his threats were also linked to the New Territories land deal issue. "It's very clear that this has to do with vested interests in the New Territories land[dispute]," Wan said. "The sums involved could run from billions into tens of billions." "Hong Kong's political culture is becoming increasingly dangerous, and such incidents are becoming more frequent this year than they have been for many years," he said. " Wan said he wouldn't back down, however. "I have a duty to our citizens now, and I have handed over all of the information to police on each incident," he said. "But they never asked me for a statement, nor did they ask me for any details, until Eddie Chu mentioned that I had been threatened too." "Only then did the police realize that this was a major incident." The alleged threats against Chu and Wan came after Liberal Party candidate Ken Chow withdrew from the LegCo elections citing threats from "three people from Beijing." Liberal Party chairwoman Miriam Lau, who represents Hong Kong at the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, has called on the ruling Chinese Communist Party to investigate whether any Beijing officials tried to influence the outcome of the Sept. 4 election.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Right to liberty and security, Right to life
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 16, 2016
- Event Description
Government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir have shot five civilians dead and injured at least 15 others as clashes with anti-India protesters intensified. Four people were killed on Tuesday when troops fired live ammunition, shotgun pellets and teargas to control hundreds of protesters after stones were thrown in Aripanthan village, north-west of the main city of Srinagar, a police official said.. Three of the injured were in critical condition, he added. News of the killings brought thousands of other Kashmiris from neighbouring villages into the streets, chanting "go India, go back" and "we want freedom". Large crowds continued anti-India chants on Tuesday afternoon at the funeral of the four civilians. More protests broke out across the region as thousands of people took to the streets in defiance of a curfew. A fifth civilian was killed as government forces fired on protesters throwing stones in the southern Anantnag area. Residents of Kurhama village in eastern Kashmir said soldiers arrived trucks and entered dozens of homes, beat men and women, ransacked property and broke into shops. A local police officer said the incident came after a group of young people pelted an army convoy with stones. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said at least 15 villagers were taken to hospital. The disputed Himalayan region has been extremely tense since government troops killed a popular rebel leader almost six weeks ago. The death toll from the largest protests in years has now increased to 64, including two police officers. Thousands more people have been injured. Shops, businesses and schools have remained closed because of the security lockdown and protest strikes called by separatists, who challenge India's sovereignty. Residents have struggled to cope with shortages of food, medicines and other necessities. Hospitals have been overwhelmed by the many injured. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, with both claiming it in its entirety. Anti-India feelings run strong in the Muslim-majority region, where most people favour independence or merger with Pakistan. More than 68,000 people have been killed since rebel groups began fighting Indian forces in 1989 and in the subsequent Indian military crackdown.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Death, Extrajudicial Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jul 24, 2016
- Event Description
A prominent Pakistani journalist investigating the alleged murder of a British woman in an "honour killing" says he has received death threats. Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, was strangled to death while visiting her family in northern Punjab last month. Her husband, Mukhtar Syed Kazam, said he believed his wife was killed because her family disapproved of their marriage. Shahid's first husband, Mohammad Shakeel, her father, Mohammad, and another cousin who are suspected of her murder are all on the run, according to Pakistani police. It is alleged that Shahid, 28, had been tricked into travelling to Pakistan in July and killed for divorcing her first husband and remarrying against the wishes of her family. The stories you need to read, in one handy email Read more The case, which has been highlighted by the Bradford West MP Naz Shah, has become a priority for Pakistan after the country's interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, announced that he had ordered a rapid investigation. The Guardian has learned that a journalist in Pakistan, who has been investigating Shahid's death, has made a formal complaint to police after allegedly receiving death threats from a British man. Raja Waqar said he received five disturbing phone calls in which he was told he would be killed and his children would also be harmed if he continued to pursue information about Shahid's murder. During the phone calls, the longest of which is said to have lasted eight minutes, Waqar said he was told: "If you carry on doing this I'm going to kill you and your children." Waqar, who works for the AAJ TV station in Karachi, says he began receiving calls from a British mobile phone number on 24 July. The calls, from a man who only identified himself as Ali, continued for two days and became increasingly disturbing, he said. Speaking from Pakistan, Waqar said: "When I started covering this story I started receiving threats from a man called Ali. He was ringing on an English mobile number. "He asked me why I was covering the story and I told him that as a journalist in the area for the past 15 years, it was my duty to cover the story and that I had smelled that this was not a natural death. "He told me to drop the story and when I refused he said he was going to kill me and my children." Waqar was told by his bureau chief at the TV station to contact the police and filed a complaint in writing. He said: "This was my assignment and I was not going to allow him to threaten me. But after he kept calling and telling me to stop I had to call the police. He told me to leave it because Samia was not my sister but it was very clear to me that she had been murdered- I have no doubt about it." A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "We are aware of a report of a Pakistan-based journalist who has allegedly been receiving threats. They have reported this matter to the Pakistani police." He added: "West Yorkshire police is currently reviewing all previous contact with Samia Shahid, including any alleged criminal offences and the action taken as a result. Her death remains a matter for the Pakistani authorities and we are continuing to liaise with them and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office." Shahid returned to Bradford from Dubai, where she had been living with Kazam, her second husband, last September to try to build bridges with her family. She asked a female police officer to chaperone her to the family home in Manningham, Bradford, after allegedly being harassed by one of her relatives who wanted her to return to her first marriage. West Yorkshire police confirmed that a man received a harassment warning following the meeting but the force declined to identify the offender. Shahid's friends in Bradford said the beauty therapist was not frightened for her life but was increasingly stressed about what some relatives were telling her mother and father. "I could tell from her Snapchats that she was really affected by her relatives saying stuff to her family, her parents," one friend said. "She was saying "People can't keep their nose out of things'." She added: "She wasn't a scared person. It would take a lot for her to fear stuff. She felt, "Why are they doing stuff like that?' but I don't think she was scared because she is a strong person in her character. "She was just stressed for her family - she didn't want her parents to be stressed out because of what her relatives were doing. That was her main concern[rather] than being scared for herself." Shahid's family in Bradford claimed she had died from natural causes on 20 July and police initially said there were no visible injuries on her body. However, police last week launched a murder investigation after a forensic examination found she had died from asphyxiation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 14, 2015
- Event Description
47-year-old Thavapalan Piriayatharsini, who is the head of Women Development Society at Theaththaa-vaadi, a village situated near Iluppaik-kadavai in Maanthai West division of Mannnaar district, says she and her three daughters have been subjected to death threats by an unknown squad. The family has been subjected to death threats since 11 August. A group of unknown men, who came in a white van entered her house that day and warned "rape and death' if she continued to give social leadership to the villagers. They were particularly angry about Piriyatharsini making demands from political parties. The threatening presence of a white van squad is still continuing, she told TamilNet on Thursday. Ms Piriyatharsini is a survivor of the 2009 genocidal onslaught on Vanni. Her husband, Balasubramaniyam Thavabalan, was a press worker at the Eezhanaatham daily in LTTE administered Jaffna before the mass exodus of Tamils from the peninsula to Vanni in 1995. The Sri Lankan military arrested him in 1999 during the military operation named Rana Gosha. Since then, there was no news of the whereabouts of her husband. During the final stages of the war in Vanni, her two sons recruited to fight against the advancing SL military had sacrificed their lives. One of her daughters, wounded in the shelling, has become disabled. Her family is dependent on agriculture in the resettled village. It is under these circumstances, Piriyatharsini, a former law student, who also has experience from NGO work in Vanni, came forward to give leadership to the resettled villagers of Theaththaa-vaadi. Piriyatharsini and her villagers, comprising around 23 families and 100 voters, have been demanding the political parties coming to the village seeking votes to prove their credibility by helping them to drill a bore well as the resettled families have been struggling to access potable water. The politicians, including those belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), who come to the village seeking votes during the times of the elections, forget their promises after the elections, the villagers under the leadership of Piriyatharsini were firm in passing their message. Their were firm in telling the politicians to prove their credibility by digging a borewell. Priyatharsini, her family and the villagers in Theaththaa-vaadi, who were once part of the de-facto Tamil administration with a noble cause and sacrifices are now reduced to the level of fighting for a borewell from the parties locked in the race for SL elections. TamilNet releases a video clip of Piriyatharsini, recorded before she was subjected to death threat by the unknown squad. In the interview, she describes the pathetic state of affairs in the village.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Death threat
- Rights Concerned
- Right to food, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
Tamil Net?catid=13&artid=37886)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 13, 2015
- Event Description
Chinese authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia on Thursday detained the grown son of ethnic Mongolian dissident Hada, who remains under house arrest at an apartment in the regional capital. Uiles was dragged away by state security police as he took a walk with his mother Xinna told RFA. "My son Uiles came over to bring me winter clothes and to buy a gift for his grandmother," Xinna said. "As I was taking a walk with my son, the state security police who were following us really crossed the line, by sticking very close to us." Xinna said the change in tactics appeared to be linked to the recent appearance in town of a herding community protesting the loss of their grazing lands. "The last time the herders came to town they did the same," she said. "So, I asked them what they thought they were doing, walking so close to us, and he told me I was mentally ill." "Then they moved in, beating up Uiles pretty badly; they took the opportunity to hit me a good few times as well," Xinna said. "An officer surnamed Chen who kidnapped me before took my son away." She said police had shown no identification or documentation relating to Uiles' detention. Hada, 60, who was released from extrajudicial detention last December, four years after his 15-year jail term for "separatism" and "espionage" ended, said he was "furious" about Uiles' detention. "I want to express the strongest protest, because we are all citizens, and we should enjoy the rights of citizens," Hada told RFA. "They acted illegally in detaining him." "I call on the agency that detained Uiles to release him immediately and unconditionally," said Hada, who, like Xinna, is under close 24-hour surveillance by police. Hada, who suffers from systemic atherosclerosis, liver disease and other conditions he says are a result of years of corporal punishment and abuse in prison, was denied a passport earlier this year after he and Uiles planned to travel overseas so he could seek medical treatment. In spite of police restrictions forbidding him to engage in political matters, Hada has continued to speak out on behalf of ethnic Mongolian herders, who are increasingly in conflict with the government and state-own companies over the exploitation of their traditional grazing lands. Airing their grievances Elsewhere in the region, a group of herders from Urad Middle Banner in the west of the region gathered outside government buildings in the hope of making their grievances known to regional ruling Chinese Communist Party Secretary Wang Jun, who is touring the area. Instead, five of them were detained after several dozens of protesters showed up at the banner[county] government offices in Haliut township, holding a banner that read "Open your eyes, investigate corruption, give us back our grasslands!" Urad herder Baturgaan told RFA on Thursday: "They detained five herders at about 5 p.m.; since then we haven't been able to get through on their phones." Asked what the protest was about, he said: "It was on the issue of the grasslands." A second herder said he had been at the scene. "I am a herder from Urad Middle Banner, and a bunch of herders went to an area to the south of the banner town yesterday in hopes of meeting Wang Jun's motorcade," he said. "But they were taken back by officials and police from our village. ... It was over a grasslands dispute," the herder said. Residents of the banner's Sulungaat Gachaa (village) are accusing local officials of misusing their power to sell off some 2,200 mu (146 hectares) of grasslands at a low price, an open letter penned by herders to Wang said. The dispute has run for several years, but repeated attempts to complain to the authorities have yielded no result, they said. Herders blame the ongoing exploitation of natural resources by Chinese companies for the spread of grasslands-related protests, as local governments sell off land to investors, often in the mining or forestry sectors, and sometimes in the face of existing "responsibility contracts" held by herding communities for the land. Local activists also blame Chinese companies for damaging the fragile ecosystem in the region, leading local authorities to impose grazing bans to prevent further desertification. In China, all land is ultimately owned by the state, so herders have little redress when it comes to safeguarding their own grazing rights, they say.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 13, 2015
- Event Description
At 14:00, 13 May 2015 the United States (US) office of homeland security stopped West Papuan Independence leader Mr Benny Wenda from boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Los Angeles.After check-in staff found an alert on their passport system, Mr Wenda was questioned by an official from the US Homeland Securities bureau office at London's Heathrow Airport.Mr Wenda told the official: "I am a Human Rights campaigner from West Papua, I am exiled and am campaigning for West Papua."After making phone calls the US official told Mr Wenda that his US visa had been revoked, but declined to say why. He told Mr Wenda to contact the US embassy.Mr Wenda was issued the ten year business visa in October 2014 and has already made one visit to Congress staff on Capitol Hill in Washington using it. Mr Wenda was set to embark on a speaker tour of California and Hawaii at the invitation of US groups supporting the Free West Papua Campaign. Pending an explanation from the US Government, the busy two week schedule of events is moving forward without Mr Wenda. Free West Papua campaigners in California are now even more determined to raise the voice that Indonesia seeks to silence.Attempts to get answers by the Free West Papua Campaign (FWPC) in both London and Washington have so far met with silence. The FWPC is keen to know why Benny Wenda's legitimate right to free speech in the US has been quashed and is working to try and get his visa reinstated. Mr Benny Wenda said: "I hope that US officials respond to my situation soon so that I can join the tour. Concern is growing from people, politicians and UN officials in the United States about the ongoing genocide in West Papua. I am keen to follow-through their invitation to address these audiences and to urge political action by the US Government."The FWPC hopes that the issue is no more than a bureaucratic hiccup. However it is not the first time that Mr Wenda has been prevented from travelling to the US. In 2005 and 2013 he had visa applications refused and then went on to successfully apply for his current ten year business visa. Mr Wenda commented: "I have travelled to the USA several times for meetings with political representatives, groups and churches. I also attended meetings with State Department officials who told me they approved of my lobbying and campaigning work. So you can imagine my surprise when my ten year visa was revoked without notice."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Travel Restriction
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to political participation, Right to self-determination
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 10, 2015
- Event Description
Amnesty International is expressing concern about the charges against five members of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB), a Papuan pro-independence group. The five - Don Flassy, Lawrence Mehue, Mas Jhon Ebied Suebu, Onesimus Banundi and Elias Ayakeding - were arrested on their return to Papua after meeting Indonesia's Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu on April 10 and have been charged with "rebellion" (makar) under Article 106 of Indonesia's Criminal Code, Amnesty International said in a statement on Friday. The Indonesian authorities have used this article, along with Article 110 of the Criminal Code, to criminalize dozens of peaceful pro-independence political activists over the last decade. Amnesty International continues to call for their immediate and unconditional release. Amnesty International does not take a position on the political status of Papua, or of any other province of Indonesia. The organization believes that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate for referendums, independence or any other political solution that do not involve discrimination, hostility or violence. Amnesty said the visit of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to Papua on May 8 presented a real opportunity for him to show that his government will be shifting away from the repressive policies of the past and will seek a credible solution to address the human rights violations faced by Papuans. Amnesty said the President should begin by publicly instructing the security forces to respect and protect the right of all Papuans to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience. UPDATE: 12/05/2015 The leader of Indonesia on Saturday pardoned five political prisoners in Papua Province as part of an effort to address human rights abuses in the country's restive eastern region.Since taking office in October, President Joko Widodo, who has vowed to improve economic conditions and address decades of abuses by the Indonesian military, held a formal ceremony inside the Abepura prison near Jayapura, the provincial capital, where the five men were serving prison sentences ranging from 19 years to life for a raid on a military weapons arsenal in 2003 that killed two army soldiers. "This is part of the government's wholehearted efforts to stop the stigma of conflict existing in Papua," Mr. Joko said at a news conference after the ceremony.The Papua region, which consists of Papua and West Papua Provinces, lies on the western half of New Guinea Island. Indonesia annexed the region from the Netherlands in 1963 and incorporated it six years later after a referendum supported by the United Nations. Since then, a small group of armed separatists, who denounced the vote as rigged, have fought a low-level guerrilla insurgency against the Indonesian government, while civilian activist groups have called for a referendum on independence. The Indonesian security forces, both military and police, have continually cracked down on separatism and dissent over the decades. In December, they shot to death five people who were protesting the beating of a young boy by soldiers. According to Papuans Behind Bars, an online advocacy group, there are dozens of other Papuan political prisoners for acts such as waving the outlawed Morning Star separatist flag or demonstrating against Indonesian rule, moves that are considered treason.Human Rights Watch called on Mr. Joko on Saturday to release all remaining political prisoners and those awaiting trial for treason and other related offenses in Papua.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest, Right to self-determination
- Source
[Jakarta Post](The Jakarta Post | [The New York Times](New York Times?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Mar 27, 2015
- Event Description
Burmese students and activists took to the streets again on Friday morning, calling for the release of fellow protestors and denouncing the watered-down amendments bill on the National Education Law, which was passed by the country's upper house of parliament on Thursday. Rallies were reported in Rangoon, Myingyan in Mandalay Division, Tavoy[Dawei] in Burma's southernmost Tenasserim Division, and Myaungmya in the Irrawaddy delta. Early reports indicate that seven protestors were arrested during the rallies - four in Myingyan and three in Rangoon- including Nanda Sitt Aung, who on Wednesday was charged in absentia on five accounts at Letpadan Township Court, where dozens of students and other activists were charged and jailed. Nanda Sitt Aung, one of four activist who were declared fugitives for not appearing in court, helped lead the Rangoon protest on Friday morning but was apparently spotted by police and arrested along with two colleagues. Ko James, deputy-chair of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), said, "The three were followed on their way back to their hideout after the protest. Plain-clothes police arrested them at a bus stop in Mingalar Taungnyunt." Ko James said that about 40 Rangoon activists turned out despite a heavy security presence to begin a protest at 10:10am in front of the Theingyi Market Plaza in the city's downtown area. "We have four demands: the adoption of a student- and public-focused education law; the release of the students and other protestors from Tharawaddy prison; action taken against government officials who acted above the law or ordered the violent crackdown on the students' protest[in Letpadan on 10 march]; and an official denunciation of the use of violence used to disperse peaceful demonstrators." Speaking to DVB on Friday after the rally, Aung Nay Paing, a member of the Committee for Democracy Education Movement, said, "The authorities tried to stop us but we persevered with the protest. We chanted slogans on the pedestrian crossing bridge and sang songs. "Afterwards, Ko Nanda Sitt Aung addressed the crowd, explaining the students' cause and denouncing the police's use of violence to disperse demonstrations, stressing that the government should find a political solution to the issue." Meanwhile, students in Myingyan demonstrated by flying student flags on their motorbikes instead of marching down the street due to the heavy police presence in the town, according to a DVB reporter who followed the march. "The students on motorbikes were ordered to stop by local police and the district administrator but they ignored them and drove on by," he said, adding that protestors also distributed leaflets to onlookers. Meanwhile, more than 30 students in the Irrawaddy Division town of Myaungmya marched through the town wearing matching t-shirts and distributing stickers to passers-by, according to local ABFSU member Tayza. "We are staging this campaign to promote awareness about the detained students and their supporters," he said, adding that two students from Myaungmya are among those detained in Tharawaddy prison. Another students' protest went ahead in Tavoy on Friday morning, but a planned demonstration in Henzada, also called Hinthada, just 30 kilometres west of Tharawaddy and Letpadan, was stopped by local police. UPDATE: 09/ 06/ 2015 Students apply for bail at Myingyan hearing One student's application for bail is to be considered while two others were rejected at a court hearing in Myingyan for eight detainees in connection with their participation in education law protests. Six of the eight - students Nyan Myint Than and Sithu Myat, and activists Sein Win, Ma Phyu, Kyaw Than Tun and Thant Zin - were arrested for staging a protest on National Armed Forces Day, 27 March, when they denounced a violent crackdown on student demonstrators in Letpadan earlier that month. The six appeared before a judge at Myingyan District Court, Mandalay Division, where they have been charged under Penal Code articles 143, 145 and 505(b): for joining an unlawful assembly; continuing to be part of an unlawful assembly, defying order to disperse; and sedition, respectively. Nay Oo Moe Aye, a lawyer representing the two students, said Sithu Myat's mother on Thursday requested bail for her son, a second year mathematics student, on the basis that his classes recommence in June. The judge accepted the bail application and said he would take into consideration. "Sithu Myat is set to begin a new university semester in early June and so his mother is requesting that he be released on bail," the lawyer said, adding that mother and son were permitted to speak to each other at the courthouse as per a request. Two other student activists appeared for a separate hearing at Myingyan District Court on Thursday: Soe Hlaing, a second-year at Monywa Technological University in Magwe; and Zin Ko Thant, a fourth-year Burmese major student at Mandalay's Yadanabon University. Both face charges under the State Flag Law for lowering the national flag during a protest at Myingyan Degree College in January. Their lawyer Chan Myae said an additional charge was read out at the hearing on 4 June: the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act - for staging a protest without official permission. Chan Myae said the pair applied for bail but were denied.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 22, 2015
- Event Description
Rights NGO Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) observed international mother language day on 21st February 2015. As the day has been earmarked to pay respect to language martyrs of Bangladesh, the organization brought the issue of enclave (a portion of a state that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state); affecting millions of dwellers at India and Bangladesh. An interaction over the subject was initiated by the organization to attract broader attention from civil society. A civic discourse and media briefing was addressed by Mr. Kirity Roy; Secretary- MASUM and Mr. Subha Pratim Roychowdhury. Mr. Kirity Roy, on behalf of MASUM stressed that the solution of this problem does not lies on mere exchange of lands and further demarcation of boundary but it could be achieved by acceptance of citizenry rights for the populace of the enclaves and extension and ensuring their human dignity. Few enclave dwellers came to the event to share their views and inform the media about the situation. The most shameful incident was yet to happen. The dwellers with Mr. Ajijul Haque; District Human Rights Monitor for MASUM boarded the Uttarbanga Express on 21st February 2015 evening from Sealdah station and while they reached New Coochbehar station on 22nd February 2015 at around 10.15 AM; a band of hooligans led by Mr. Diptiman Sengupta; a self style leader of enclaves and local Trinamul Congress party was waiting at the railway station. A sizeable number of police from Coochbehar Kotwali Police Station was also with the hoodlums. While Mr. Ajijul and other enclave dwellers got down from the train they were encircled and brutally beaten by the hooligans in presence of police. The whole bashing of human rights defenders was led by Mr. Diptiman Sengupta. Later, Mr. Ajijul and two other enclave dwellers were taken to the parked police vehicle and brought to the Coochbehar Kotwali police station at about 11 AM and there they were being detained without issuing memo of arrest or even citing any reason for the their detention. The police then started a protracted discussion and "negotiation' with the errant Mr. Diptiman Sengupta to ascertain the fate of the detained HRDs. Mr. Sengupta put his political clout to pressurize the police to initiate a specific criminal case against the detained activists under Foreigners Act. At about 12 noon MASUM's lawyer, Mr. Tapas Roy reached police station talked with Inspector-in-Charge of Kotowali police station. He asked the charges labeled against those 3 people but police said that they rescued these people from railway station. When the advocate asked why the injured persons were not medically treated and detained at police station without showing arrest, the police did not answer. At 4 PM when Secretary of MASUM called at Kotowali PS, Mr. Mishra Inspector-in-Charge of Kotowali PS informed that all the three persons were arrested under section 14 of Foreigners Act. By 4.15 PM all the three persons were put in the lock-up. In the meantime several media persons started enquiry about the arrest of human rights defenders. The District Magistrate of Cooch Behar was also informed the matter and he asked for report from Superintendant of police. Under this situation either the misdemeanor was not fully appreciated by the police or to save their own skin police of Kotowali police station released them without showing any cause at about 7 PM; after illegal detention of the said activists for nearly 8 hours, they were asked to leave the police station. Before releasing the detainees, police called Mr. Diptiman Sengupta and took written statement / declaration from him at Kotowali police station. In between our office contacted the police and administrative officials of Coochbehar district and tried to convince them about the illegal detention and physical aggression upon the activist and enclave dwellers by the political miscreants in presence of police. At 7.00 PM, the detained activist and enclave dwellers were released from the police station, but the dwellers were forcefully captivated again by the "followers' of Mr. Sengupta in presence of the police, while Mr. Ajijul went to Coochbehar Hospital with serious head and other injuries. The attending doctor opined for CT Scan and MRI examinations for his head and eyes after ascertaining gravity of the injuries. Mr Ajijul is still admitted at the said hospital under medical supervision. We came to know from media that Mr Sengupta is making a slandering campaign that MASUM is trying to frustrate and upset the recent political initiative for settlement of enclave problem; but the truth is MASUM wholeheartedly supports the democratic and people centric settlement of the issue. Further; MASUM strongly stand for the citizenry rights of the populace and positive reception and acceptance of dwellers opinion on accession with any country. This only made the persons with vested interest panicky and they came down heavily upon the human rights defenders with active aids from a section of police and civil administration.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 13, 2013
- Event Description
On 13 June 2013, 13 women human rights defenders in West Bengal were arbitrarily arrested. The activists assembled bearing a few placards in their hands and clarified their intention to the police personnel guarding the residence of the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Bannerjee, that they wished to submit memoranda on recent incidents of gang rapes on two students at Barasat and Krishnaganj, Nadia in West Bengal. The 13 activists wanted to draw personal attention of the Chief Minister but instead of making the arrangements for the same and receiving the memoranda, the posted police authority arrested the 13 women activists. The women arrested were: Ms. Anuradha Kapoor, Ms. Swapna, Ms. Kakoli Bhattacharya, Ms. Anchita Ghatak, Ms. Shyamali Das, Ms. Ratnaboli Roy, Ms. Sharmistha Dutta Gupta, Ms. Shreya Sanghari, Ms. Madhura Chakroborty, Ms. Shreya Chakroborty, Ms. Sudeshna Basu and Ms. Aditi Basu. All 13 are member of a Kolkata based women's network Maitree. On 10 June, the activists had also tried to hand over the same at Writers Buildings, when the Chief Minister refused to meet the delegation. 04/07/2013: JAL sent to India by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; and the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice. .
- Impact of Event
- 13
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Sexual Violence
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2013
- Event Description
Police in India's Andhra Pradesh state have arrested a human rights activist for allegedly posting defamatory remarks on Facebook against a local politician. Jaya Vindhyalaya was arrested in Prakasam district on the complaint of legislator Krishna Mohan, police said. She was produced in court and was remanded in jail for 12 days. Last year, India issued new guidelines making it harder for the police to arrest people for comments on internet.The move followed outrage after a series of arrests of people for their comments on Facebook and other internet sites. Ms Vindhyalaya is the president of People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) in Andhra Pradesh. She is lodged in a jail at Ongole and could not be reached for comments. Her lawyers have applied for bail. She has been arrested under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act which is sweeping in its powers - it can send a person to jail for three years for sending an email or other electronic message that "causes annoyance or inconvenience". Ms Vindhyalaya has defended her remarks on Facebook, senior police officer K Raghurami Reddy told the BBC. Before her arrest, Ms Vindhyalaya had alleged that Mr Mohan was targeting her due to "political enmity" and had "threatened the local people against deposing before a team of PUCL which had gone on a fact-finding mission against the legislator". Mr Mohan has denied the charges. Police say they have written to Facebook to remove the "objectionable material" from her page. In November 2012, India's Supreme Court asked the government in western Maharashtra state to explain the arrest of two women over a comment on Facebook. Shaheen Dhada was arrested for her comment following the death of politician Bal Thackeray. Her friend, Renu Srinivasan, who "liked" the comment, was also arrested. The two were later released on bail. The court also asked the government in West Bengal state and the southern city of Pondicherry to explain similar arrests made earlier. In April 2012, the West Bengal government arrested Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, a teacher who had emailed to friends a cartoon that was critical of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He was later released on bail. In October 2012, Ravi Srinivasan, a 46-year-old businessman in Pondicherry, was arrested for a tweet criticising Karti Chidambaram, son of Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram. He too was later released on bail. All the arrests were made under Section 66A. The arrests led to an outrage with critics accusing the government of "abuse of authority". On 12 May 2013, lawyer and activist - Jaya Vindhyalaya, was arrested under section 66A of the Information and Communications Technology act for posting allegedly posting defamatory remarks on Facebook against a local politician. The Act can send a person to jail for three years for sending an email or other electronic message that "causes annoyance or inconvenience" Before her arrest, Ms Vindhyalaya had alleged that Mr Mohan was targeting her due to "political enmity" and had "threatened the local people against deposing before a team of PUCL which had gone on a fact-finding mission against the legislator". Source:[BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22506874
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 26, 2010
- Event Description
In May, July and August 2010, three Right to Information (RTI) activists were murdered. On 26 May 2010, Datta Patil was killed. On 20 July 2010, Amit Jethwa, 32 year old RTI activist from Gir, was shot dead by two assailants on a motorbike outside the Ahmedabad High Court. Jethwa had used information obtained under the Right To Information Act 2005 to expose the network of illegal mining run by BJP MP Dinu Solanki in the Gir forest area. On 7 September 2010, the MP's nephew Shiva Solanki was arrested for Jethwa's murder. On 27 August 2010, Ramdas Ghadegaonkar was killed. Murder is usually the last step in a build up of harassment that takes many forms. Invention of cases and imprisonment is the most common form of police harassment, but it is not unlikely for the force to physically assault petitioners either. In other cases, intimidation is dealt out via less "legitimate' channels. From Jharkhand, Sumit Kumar Mahato, Convenor of the RTI Forum, talks about being manhandled by goons for seeking information about funds spent on the building of a road. Rolly Shivhare of Jaano Re Abhiyaan from MP says, "I filed an application to ask for the Midday Meal Scheme budget from the Panchayat and Rural Welfare Department. I received a threatening phone call asking what I would do with this information. The caller said he was the "Development Commissioner'. When the police traced the call, it was found that it had indeed come from his office, though the commissioner himself denied any knowledge of it." RTI activists have learnt through unfortunate examples not to take such initial threats lightly. Down south in Karnataka, Venkatesh, 32, had filed an application to expose the Bangalore Development Authorities' involvement in a land scam case. Despite receiving threats, he continued to pursue the case alone. In April 2009, Venkatesh's body was found near the divider of a highway. His death was registered as a traffic accident. The RTI Study Centre filed an RTI application for the post-mortem report which revealed that his head injury was caused by a blunt instrument. On investigation, four people were charged. They have all been linked to the contractors involved in the scam. Malay Bhattacharya, secretary of the West Bengal RTI Manch differentiates between the harassment in urban and rural areas, "In urban West Bengal, applicants are harassed by the police who come to their house and threaten them and their family members." In villages, he says, the authorities ensure that those filing RTI applications are boycotted socially. Patterns differ from state to state but every state can be mapped with such stories, each one more horrific than the other. From tiny tribal villages to the bustling lanes of Mumbai and Delhi; from farmers and lorry drivers to middle class professionals- cases of criminal harassment following RTI applications abound everywhere. The monitory and emotional fallouts in all cases are life altering for the petitioners and their families. In most cases, the petitioners that are attacked have already been through harassment, because of rigorous attempts to obstruct their application.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to life
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 27, 2013
- Event Description
On 27 April 2013, Yahya Bonai, a 33-year-old, Papuan activist from Menawi village in the district of Angkaisera, was arrested at his home by police. According to information by West Papua Media, Bonai was seized on suspicion of being connected to a fatal attack at the home of Chief Brigadier Jefri Sesa, an officer from the Angkaisera subprecinct police station at the weekend by an unidentified group of assailants (OTK), three hours before to Bonai's arrest. Bonai is currently detained in Serui police custody and has been denied any visits by friends or families. Angakaisera district has been a pro-independence hotspot, and subject to an ongoing blockade and village raids by Indonesian security forces.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Torture
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2011
- Event Description
On 5 November 2011, Mr Shyamal Roy, founder of Dodhichi, an organisation aimed at reporting human rights violations committed by authorities of the state of West Bengal and at promoting women"s rights and the right to education, was intimidated by two plainclothed police officers. They told him that they had come to seize his SIM card and alleged that they were the Sub-Inspector and Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police at Sonarpur Police Station. Reportedly they wanted to confiscate other items belonging to him but Mr. Roy requested a legal order from the court. The two policemen called the Officer-in-Charge of Sonarpur Police Station before leaving and telling Mr. Roy that they would come back. Mr. Roy allegedly sends text messages to inform civil society groups about cases of human rights violations occurred in his community and to make people aware of their human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 1, 2012
- Event Description
The government has, over the past one month, prohibited 4,139 NGOs from receiving contributions from sources overseas. The largest block of NGOs who have been shackled - 794, or about 19 per cent of the total - are based in Tamil Nadu, ground zero of the NGO-led protests against the Kudankulam atomic power plant. The government has published the list of NGOs who have lost their Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration on the home ministry's web site. FCRA clearance is mandatory for an NGO to receive any contribution from overseas. The registrations were "canceled" because of the "violation" of FCRA between July 2012 and last week, the ministry has said. In March 2012, the government had cracked down on four NGOs for allegedly funding the massive protests that had paralysed work at the Kudankulam plant site in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district for weeks, and ordered a freeze on the bank accounts of some other NGOs. In November 2011, it had frozen the bank accounts of 21 NGOs, and barred another 60 from accepting overseas contributions. While FCRA clearance is mandatory for all NGOs that accept foreign contributions, the government makes public the names of organisations which receive over Rs 1 crore in overseas contributions in any financial year. According to the home ministry, there were 262 NGOs in this category in 2011-12, a majority of whom were based in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. Together, these 262 NGOs received Rs 1,006.58 crore in foreign contributions, says the ministry web site. Major recipients of foreign contributions were SOS Children's Village, Delhi (Rs 67.93 crore), Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata (Rs 62.78 crore), AMG India International, Guntur (Rs 48.13 crore), Sadar Anjuman Ahmedia Quadian, Gurdaspur (Rs 39.22 crore) and Hyderabad Eye Institute, Hyderabad (Rs 33.47 crore). The number of NGOs whose FCRA clearance has been withdrawn over the past one month - 4,139 - is 9.5 per cent of the total 43,451 registered in India. The largest number of these NGOs are based, after Tamil Nadu, in Andhra Pradesh (670), followed by Kerala (450), West Bengal (384), Maharashtra (352), Delhi (299), Karnataka (296), Orissa (160), and Gujarat (158). Total foreign contributions to NGOs fell sharply in 2011-12 from Rs 3,463.71 crore in 2010-11. An analysis of foreign receipts by NGOs published in The Indian Express on January 4, 2012 reported that as many as 958 NGOs received contributions of over Rs 1 crore in 2010-11, a little less than four times the number of the next year.
- Impact of Event
- 4139
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 15, 2011
- Event Description
On 15 June 2011, Mr. Yones Douw, active in documenting human rights abuses by the military and police attended a protest at the 1750 District Military Command (Kodim) base in Nabire, in the province of Papua. The purpose of the protest was to call for accountability for the killing of a Papuan on 14 May 2011, at the hands of military officers. Mr. Douw reportedly went to the site of the protest in order to monitor it. Soon after he arrived at the scene, a group of protestors broke through the entrance gates of the base and began to throw objects. Mr. Douw allegedly went into the base and attempted to calm the protestors. In reaction to the protestors, the military officers fired shots in the air and began to hit the protestors. It is reported that Mr. Douw was struck several times on the head with pieces of wood and his shoulder and wrists were injured as a result of being beaten. Mr. Douw allegedly heard the military threaten to shoot the protestors. After the incident, Mr. Douw reportedly went to the Sirwinii hospital for treatment for his injuries. However, on his arrival he was informed that he would not be treated without a letter from the police at which stage he decided to return home. X-rays carried out reportedly revealed that Mr. Douw has a blood clot in his head and a fracture to his hand for which he is receiving on-going medical treatment. However, he continues to suffer from headaches and pains in the back of his head and in his hand. On 1 July 2011, while Mr. Douw was on his way to receive medical treatment, he was informed that police intelligence officers received a text message by a senior police official in Nabire asking your surveillance to Mr. Douw. On 15 July 2011, Mr. Douw was allegedly informed by a source that the Nabire District Police Station had instructed officers to monitor his movements around Nabire. Since this date, Mr. Douw has allegedly observed motorbikes revving their engines as they pass him and noticed strangers waiting near his home. Mr. Douw has previously been subjected to violence at the hands of police officials when in January 2009 he was physically assaulted during his arrest at a demonstration in Nabire. At that time, he was attempting to intervene in a clash between police and demonstrators. He was reportedly denied food and water during his one day detention.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Surveillance , Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 17, 2012
- Event Description
On 17 July 2012, the Indonesian Defense University dismissed one of its non-permanent lecturers, Al Araf, after the media publicized the latter's opinion pieces, which criticized the alleged irregularities in the government's weapon procurement projects. Rector, Lt. Gen. (ret) Syarifuddin Tippe, confirmed that the dismissal had been linked to Al Araf's recent opinion pieces in a number of national newspapers including The Jakarta Post and Kompas dailies. Al Araf is the program director of human rights watchdog Imparsial. He is considered as one of the most prominent young leaders of Indonesian civil society, and he has been at the forefront in criticizing government policies on Papua, procurement programs, intelligence and other topics related to Indonesia's defense sector. His opinion articles are often published by The Jakarta Post and Kompas newspapers. Al Araf has been employed as a non-permanent lecturer at the Indonesian Defense University. After publishing several articles emphasizing peculiarities in the arms procurement procedures, he was suspended from his teaching position at the University.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 2, 2011
- Event Description
On 2 March 2011, Mr. Banjir Ambarita. Banjir was stabbed by unknown assailants in Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia. This incident happened shortly after Banjir wrote an article on sexual abuses committed by Papuan police officers, which raises again serious concerns on the safety of journalists working in Papua. Banjir was stabbed by two men and was hospitalized afterwards due to severe injury. The identity of perpetrators remains unknown, but the Papua Police and Jayapura Police have formed a joint force to investigate the case. Banjir's latest articles were on sexual abuses committed by the police officers in Jayapura, Papua. The last article, dated 27 February 2011, covered the sexual abuse of a female detainee at the Jayapura police's Detention Center. This event led to the resignation of the Jayapura's Police Chief, Imam Setiawan, and a 21-day jail sentence for the officers involved.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 26, 2010
- Event Description
26 April 2010 Police in the east Indian state of Chhattisgarh are "exploring" laying charges under the state's draconian anti-terrorism law against Arundhati Roy, a Booker Prize-winning novelist, essayist and human rights campaigner. The police initiated their investigation of Roy in response to a complaint filed by one Viswajit Mitra that accused Roy of "glorifying Maoists" in an article published in the March 29 issue of Outlook India. Titled "Walking with the Comrades," Roy's 33-page magazine article reports on a clandestine visit she made to Dandakaranya, a forest highland area largely inhabited by tribal people or adivasi, so that she could speak with, and bear witness to, the activities of Maoist guerrillas. Mitra claims to be "an ordinary citizen." But he is reportedly a local leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP, the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. Chhattisgarh's director general of police (DGP), Viswa Ranjan, told the press, "The matter shall be investigated before taking any further steps.... I have asked the legal experts to give their opinion and come up with a decision." That the DGP believes Mitra's outrageous anti-democratic "complaint" has merit was exemplified by his further remarks. "I do not know," said Ranjan, "whether Arundhati Roy has been wrongly influenced by others or she is actually a mole in the civil society. How do I know?" Roy is threatened with prosecution under Chhattisgarh's notorious Special Public Security Act (2005) or CPSA. The law, which was authored by the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), provides a sweeping definition of "unlawful activities." Under its provisions, an act or even a written or verbal communication that "poses a danger or fear thereof" to "public order," or that "has a tendency to pose an obstacle" to "the administration of law," or that "encourages" disobedience to any law or institutions "set up by law" is unlawful and could result in a seven-year prison term. The CPSA has been widely condemned by civil liberties groups in India and internationally. They charge that the true target of the legislation is not Maoist insurgents-whose organizations were already proscribed in 2004-but civil libertarians, NGOs and others who have criticized the government and security forces for running roughshod over democratic rights and using indiscriminate violence in suppressing the Maoists. Half a year before the passage of the CPSA, the Chhattisgarh government set up an anti-Maoist militia, the Salwa Judum ("Purification Hunt") that has been implicated in numerous atrocities, including the burning down of villages suspected of supporting the anti-government insurgency. The action against Roy comes in the midst of a mounting political-press furore over the Maoist insurgency in the "tribal belt" of east India. Earlier this month, Operation Green Hunt, the nationally coordinated counterinsurgency campaign launched by India's Congress Party-led coalition government, suffered a major reversal when Maoist guerrillas killed 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada District. (See "Indian government suffers reversal in its war on Maoists and tribals") In the wake of the Dantewada ambush all manner of calls came from Indian television and press commentators for action to be taken against Roy and others, like the editors of the Economic and Political Weekly, who have denounced Operation Green Hunt, warning that its real purpose is to suppress tribal opposition to the seizure of their traditional lands for mines, dams and other big business "development" projects. Home Minister P. Chidambaram has himself helped fuel the campaign. In championing Operation Green Hunt, he has repeatedly accused those who have insisted that the exploitative and repressive policies of the Indian elite are the primary cause of the violence now convulsing India's largest tribal region of turning a blind eye to, if not sanctioning, terrorism. In an address to India's upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha, on April 15, Chidambaram said, "I think the Human Rights Organisations and the NGOs are living in a fool's paradise. If the[Communist Party of India (Maoist)] overthrows the established authority and seizes power, will they allow any Human Rights Organisation to function in this country? Will they allow any NGO to function in this country? Will there be a Parliament?" The Home Minister went on take a dig at Arundhati Roy. Puffing himself up in outrage, Chidambaram asked, "Will all those, who write 33-page articles, be allowed to write 33-page articles? Will there be a magazine to publish a 33-page article?" Significantly, Chidambaram has not called upon Chhattisgarh's BJP government to immediately drop its investigation of Roy, let alone denounced it for attempting to intimidate and persecute her. If Roy has earned the enmity of the India's bourgeois establishment, it is because she has forthrightly rejected and punctured their hypocritical claims to be waging war to bring development and democracy to the tribal peoples. A talented writer, she speaks movingly of the plight of the adivasis, who have been both abandoned and abused by the Indian state, and spells out the base profit interests that lie behind the Indian government's drive to reassert its fiat over Chhattisgarh and the entire eastern tribal belt. Writes Roy, "Over the past five years or so, the Governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal have signed MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with corporate houses, worth several billion dollars, all of them secret, for steel plants, sponge-iron factories, power plants, aluminium refineries, dams and mines. In order for the MOUs to translate into real money, tribal people must be moved. Therefore, this is war." Roy notes that the tribal people's opposition, including oft-times violent opposition, to the state long predates the Maoists and rightly observes that it is the decades of brutality, neglect and displacement to which the tribals have been subjected that have caused a significant section of them to rally behind the Maoists' armed struggle. She is less perceptive when it comes to dealing with the politics of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). But she is far from uncritical. Even if Roy were entirely laudatory of the Maoist insurgents, her reportage and commentary should fall under constitutionally protected speech. But the Indian elite, no less than that of the US, has invoked a purported "war on terror" over the past decade to justify a wholesale assault on democratic rights and increasingly criminalize dissent. Roy is far from the first person to run afoul of Chhattisgarh's draconian CPSA. Scores of people critical of the Chattisgarh government have been thrown in jail, some of them for years. Leaders and other members of NGOs active in tribal areas bringing basic services the government has failed to provide appear to have been singled out for arrest and prosecution under the CPSA. The most infamous of these victims is Dr. Binyak Sen, a popular doctor who provides medical care to the most downtrodden and politically marginalized. He is the vice-president of an NGO named People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). Dr. Sen was arrested in May 2007 on trumped-up charges after he treated a jailed Maoist leader and was detained for more than two years in Chhattisgarh's central jail. He was only released after a sustained domestic and international protest campaign caused India's Supreme Court to intervene and order him freed on bail. However none of the charges against Binyak Sen have been dropped and India's Congress Party-led government has signalled its support for his prosecution. During a rally in August 2008 to celebrate the release of a documentary filmmaker and journalist Ajay who had spent 90 days in jail in Chhattisgarh on bogus charges of having "links with the Maoists," University of Delhi Sociology Professor Nandani noted the climate of fear pervading the state. Out of fear of prosecution under the CPSA, news organisations routinely black out reports of Salwa Judum brutality. Another independent law researcher, Usha Ramanathan, noted the medieval character of the law, which includes a provision making it "illegal" to criticize its provisions.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 2, 2011
- Event Description
On 2 January 2011, around 10am, one police officer from the Raninagar Police Station -who did not disclose his name and was not in uniform- came to Mr. Julfikar Ali's house. Mr. Ali was not present at that time. The police officer told his family members that the warrant of arrest - in connection to the criminal case Raninagar Police Station no.8/2008- is still pending. The unidentified police man did not show the warrant of arrest to Julfikar's family and did not provide any further information, except that he should immediately surrender himself before the court of law, leaving his family members feeling intimidated. On 13 January 2011 Mr. Julfikar Ali met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Margaret Sekaggya, during her country visit to India. He met the Special Rapporteur during a consultation with human rights defenders held in Kolkata, West Bengal. During the said consultation, Mr. Julfikar Ali reported to Ms. Sekaggya the cases filed against him, as well as the harassment and threats of arrest he receives from the police who come to his house. He told the Special Rapporteur about the visit of the police to his house on 2 January 2011. On 18 January 2011, FORUM-ASIA sends an urgent alert to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs containing information about the 2 January 2011 incident, when police visited the house of Mr. Julfikar Ali. Days after Mr. Julfikar Ali reported to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs, police visits to his home became more frequent. There was a marked increase and frequency of the visits after Mr. Julfikar Ali spoke to the SpecialRapporteur. Police would seek him out in his village and knock on his door, asking his family about his whereabouts. Allegedly, the police would tell his family that there is a warrant out for the arrest of Mr. Julfikar Ali and that they will arrest him if they see him. (Note: On 12 January 2008, Inspector Vikash Chandra of the BSF lodged a complaint against Mr. Julfikar Ali at the Ranninagar Police Station under sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 307, and 326 of the Indian Penal Code. These sections are on: rioting; rioting armed with a deadly weapon; unlawful assembly; obstruction of public servants; assault to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty; attempted murder and grievous bodily harm by means of a dangerous weapon. A warrant of arrest has been issued based on this complaint. The warrant names 4 persons, including Mr. Julfikar Ali, although his name was miswritten as Mr. Julfikar Shiekh.) On 11 February 2011, Mr. Julfikar Ali, accompanied by Mr. Kirity Roy, Secretary of MASUM, went to the District Court and Session Judge in Murshidabad to surrender himself. Mr. Julfikar Ali decided to do this after police visits to his home became more frequent after he spoke to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs. He also felt he needed to do this so that he can move freely to do his work as a human rights defender. Mr. Julfikar Ali filed a petition before the District Court to post anticipatory bail. The hearing was held on this day and his petition was granted. On 14 February 2011, another hearing was held at the District Court on another petition filed by Mr. Julfikar Ali to post anticipatory bail for another false case against him. This case arose from a complaint filed on 16 February 2008 by Sandip Kumar Yadav, Commander of the "A" Company of 90 Batallion. The complaint alleged that certain persons committed violations under Sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 307, and 511 of the Indian Penal Code. AlthoughJulfikar Ali's name was not in this complaint, Mr. Rajat Das, the Investigation Officer of Raninagar Police Station included Julfikar Ali's name in the Charge Sheet. The District Court, on this day, allowed Mr. Julfikar Ali to post anticipatory bail for this case against him.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Oct 15, 2010
- Event Description
Thailand has drawn fire by again preventing a prominent Vietnamese dissident from speaking at a conference in Bangkok, one year after the founding of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The president of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, Vo Van Ai, was refused a visa by the Thai Embassy in Paris, the second time that he has been prevented from travelling to Bangkok in recent weeks. His previous visa was cancelled in the run-up to a stillborn September launch of a critical report on human rights in Vietnam, a move which brought international criticism upon Thailand. An empty chair marked the place where Vo Van Ai was to have delivered a lecture titled "Universality and Particularity in Human Rights: A Vietnamese Buddhist Viewpoint" at the "First International Conference on Human Rights in Asia." The event drew scholars and activists from across southeast Asia and beyond and was held by the Southeast Asia Human Rights Network (SEAHRN) and Bangkok's Mahidon University. Speaking today, Dr. Srirapha Petcharamasree read letter from Vo Van Ai to SEAHRN, in which he said that "the attitude of the Thai government is particularly shocking given that Thailand holds the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council." Dr. Srirapha is Thailand's representative at the AICHR, but stressed that she was speaking in a personal capacity. She called on the Thai Government "to be faithful to the commitment made to the UN when it made its candidacy to the presidency." In September, Thai authorities refused to grant entry to Vo Van Ai and Penelope Faulkner, respectively the president and vice president of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, following pressure from Vietnam, when they sought to travel to Bangkok to launch a report on human rights in Vietnam. Another Vietnamese speaker who was scheduled to address the SEAHRN gathering on Thursday pulled out at the last moment, after hearing that Vo Van Ai would not be present. According to the conference organisers, the man, whose identity cannot be confirmed for security reasons, was wary of Vietnamese government attention on the conference, where a number of papers were to be presented on that country. Coming as Southeast Asia takes stock of developments in human rights, and one year after the AICHR was launched in Hua Hin, Thailand, the barring could undermine Thailand's professed commitment to human rights, which Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya described as a cornerstone of Thai foreign policy when addressing the UN General Assembly recently. Differing interpretations of human rights could, in some views, undermine how rights issues are addressed in Southeast Asia, say some. Challenging what he termed "Western universalism," Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan told the SEAHRN gathering that others "should not impose on us." Surin acknowledged that progress with human rights has been piecemeal in the region, but that progress would come "in[an] evolutionary manner," and reminded the audience that it took centuries of progress before human rights laws were fully implemented in the West. The AICHR has been dismissed for having no oversight or punitive arm, prompting critics to say it will do little to protect human rights in Southeast Asia. "It does not have a complaints mechanism or investigative powers," lamented Vitit Muntarbhorn, a former UN envoy to North Korea and a law professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "A human rights declaration is not enough we need an Asean human rights treaty and regional human rights courts." Asean countries have typically shied away from criticizing each other, with a culture of non-interference seen as a major barrier toward human rights promotion and protection, according to Azmi Sharon, an academic at the University of Malaya. However, the formation of the relatively toothless AICHR may be a step in the right direction. Carlos Medina, the executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center in the Philippines, recounted his long engagement with Asean officials and government representatives on setting up AICHR. He said that over time attitudes are changing. "Mostly, they no longer see us activists as adversaries," he said. With elections coming up in less than a month, Burma was widely discussed at the SEAHRN event. The country remains the prime example of egregious human rights violations in the region, according to some of the speakers discussing the military-run country. A Burmese activist, Ko Bo Byi, added a poignant and real-world edge to the academic tone, by describing in detail his torture at the hands of Burma's security forces.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Deportation
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Dec 13, 2010
- Event Description
On 6 December 2010, political prisoners, Filep Karma and Buchtar Tabuni, both serving jail terms for, respectively, treason and inciting hatred toward the government, were transferred three days after a prisoner was shot and killed in his hideout after a prison break. Both men were accused of inciting a subsequent riot in Abepura after news of the killing reached inmates and then arrested. Nazaruddin Burnas, head of the Papua office of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights confirmed that Karma and Tabuni were under investigation for their alleged roles in the riot. Ridha Saleh, chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said that he had also been denied access to Karma and Tabuni.Ridha demanded police grant both men access to legal representation and their families. Cynthia Warwe, a close friend of Karma, said both men had refused food for several days in protest following the death of prisoner Heron Wetipo. UPDATE: 20/11/ 2015 After a Decade in Jail for Raising a Flag, Filep Karma is Freed Indonesian authorities this week released Filep Karma from prison more than 10 years after arresting him for simply raising a flag. Amnesty International USA celebrates this long-overdue release of prisoner of conscience Filep Karma from Abepura Prison in Papua, Indonesia. On December 1, 2004, police violently beat and stomped on Filep Karma, after arresting him for leading a peaceful ceremony which included raising the Morning Star flag, a Papuan symbol. He was (and is) a prominent advocate for the rights of Indonesia's Papuan population. When people went to the police station to protest his arrest, 20 were arrested. One was later sentenced to prison along with Karma. Filep Karma was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Yusak Pakage was sentenced to 10 years. Pakage was released in 2010 by Presidential pardon. Filep Karma refused a pardon - more about that below. Amnesty International campaigned for Filep Karma's release as a Prisoner of Conscience who was imprisoned solely for the peaceful and legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression. While imprisoned, Karma fearlessly advocated for the release of many throughout Indonesia who were illegally imprisoned for acts protected under Indonesia's Constitution and international laws. He became an elder spokesman for human rights in Papua. He eloquently advocated for others whose rights were violated, including Johan Teterissa in the Malukus. During his decade in harsh prison conditions, Filep's voice and influence grew stronger. When the government of Indonesia offered him a pardon. Karma refused because he felt it would give legitimacy to his arrest, which he felt had no basis in law. In a statement refusing a conditional pardon he wrote, "I will only accept an unconditional release... I did not commit any crime when I raised the Morning Star flag in 2004." In a recent interview in the Sydney Morning Herald, Karma said, "My point is that Indonesia must realize that it must free me unconditionally, restore my good name. It should also free other political prisoners in Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia and stop chasing those who are on a wanted list for expressing their freedom of speech." Filep's family steadfastly supported him throughout his imprisonment. One of his daughters, Audryne, travelled to the US to join Amnesty International in meeting with members of Congress to urge their support in calling for her father's release. Amnesty welcomes the release of Filep Karma. We hope he enjoys full freedom of travel including internationally. We join our friend Filep in asking the Indonesian government to unconditionally release all others imprisoned for non-violent expression of opinion. Help free other prisoners of conscience by signing up for this year's Write for Rights. Your words have the power to change lives. Sign up today
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Source
[Jakarta Globe]Jakarta Globe | Amnesty International
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 11, 2010
- Event Description
After undergoing a seven-hour questioning session, former National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji was detained at the National Police headquarters after being named a suspect in a bribery case. The National Police move triggered speculation the detention was a form of "revenge" against Susno, who has testified about judicial corruption involving several police generals. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang, confirmed Susno had been named a suspect Anticorruption for fraud involving a Riau-based arowana fish-farming company. "Detectives have found enough evidence to declare him a suspect. We are professionals," he told reporters. Edward denied the allegation that Susno's detention was a form of "revenge". "Do you think this investigation is a game?" he said. Susno was charged with bribery under the 2002 Anticorruption Law for allegedly receiving Rp 500 million (US$55,000) in bribes from suspected case broker Sjahril Djohan. The bribe was allegedly intended to "settle" the arowana case, which was under investigation by the police during Susno's tenure as chief detective. A recently leaked document, an alleged police dossier on Sjahril, stated the former diplomat met Susno at his house in December 2008 to hand over the bribe. Sjahril said the money was from Haposan Hutagalung, a lawyer for a company involved in the alleged fraud. Sjahril said Adj. Sr. Comr. Syamsurizal Mokoagouw, an antinarcotics police officer, was in Susno's house when he accepted the bribe. Edward said that Sjahril, Haposan and Syamsurizal had been questioned before naming Susno a suspect. One of Susno's lawyers, Mohammad Assegaf, said detectives only had testimonies from witnesses, but no hard evidence. "Testimonies are weak in a legal case. The detectives have no convincing proof," he said. Assegaf said he was surprised to learn that Monday's questioning resulted in Susno's detention. "The warrant says the questioning is for Pak Susno as a witness. This is a trap," he said. Immediately after the arrest, Susno's family members held a press conference at his house in Cinere, Depok, West Java. Susno's cousin, Husni Maderi, said the arrest was unfair. "We will never stop supporting Pak Susno.[The police move] is part of efforts to conceal the truth. If the police want to enforce fair treatment, please investigate the police general who has more than one wife. It's a violation of the police's code of ethics," he said. A high-ranked police officer who requested anonymity recently told The Jakarta Post that a police general at the National Police headquarters had four wives. Two of them were in Jakarta, one in Bogor, and the other one in Bandung, the source said. "Some of the wives are case brokers that handle promotion and further education enrollment at the police force," the source said. A 1990 government regulation prohibits any male civil servant from having more than one wife without permission from a related authority. Last week, Susno reported "unfair" treatment by the police to the National Commission on Human Rights. On Friday, Susno also sought protection from the Witness and Victim Protection Agency as he felt the arowana case would harm him. The arowana case first emerged after Susno himself released it to the public through an open hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission III on legal affairs last month. He said it was another case of judicial corruption, larger than the one that implicated low-ranked tax officer Gayus Tambunan, which involved Rp 28 billion in Gayus' account. The Gayus case has so far implicated eight suspects including a judge, police officers, a lawyer, a businessman and another tax officer. His testimony also alleged that Sjahril was a big-time case broker at the National Police who, according to Susno, worked for a now retired three-star general.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jan 7, 2010
- Event Description
A court in military-ruled Myanmar has sentenced a monk to 15 years in prison for "anti-election" activities, his lawyer said Tuesday.Oakkan Tha was convicted on Monday in a special court at Yangon's Insein prison for breaching the Electronic Act and the Publication Act, and for disturbing the security and peace of the state, said lawyer Khin Htay Kywe. "The authorities accused him of sending information to the Mon News Agency after they found anti-election documents from him. The authorities seized his laptop and cameras," Khin Htay Kywe said. The agency, formed by former students and democratic activists, is a vocal critic of the Myanmar junta. The monk, who is in his early 30s and has been forcibly disrobed by the authorities, was arrested on January 7 in Thanbyuzayet Township in Mon State. His lawyer said an appeal was planned. Myanmar is gearing up for its first elections in two decades, set for November 7, but the vote has been widely criticised by activists and the West as a charade aimed at putting a civilian cloak on military rule. The court sentencing came on the third anniversary of a crackdown on the "Saffron Revolution" monk-led protests. At least 31 people were killed by security forces while hundreds were beaten and detained in a crackdown by the authorities on the rally. Today more than 250 monks are imprisoned, thousands have been disrobed and key monasteries remain under constant watch for their role in the September rebellion, according to rights activists. Monks have no right to vote in the November polls, the first in the military-ruled country in 20 years.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jul 28, 2010
- Event Description
On 28 July 2012, Mr. Ardiansyah Matra'is, journalist, had been reported missing, His motorbike and helmet were found at the Wali-Wali bridge of Merauke in Papua. On 30 July 2010, his body was found naked and handcuffed floating in the Maro River of Merauke in Papua, Indonesia. Mr. Ardiansyah Matra'is was a journalist who regularly reported on corruption and illegal logging practices in Papua. His articles were published in Jubi magazine and his videos were shown on [Tabloid Jubi](http://tabloidjubi.com until early this year. On 20 August 2010, after a post-mortem examination of the body, Indonesian police revealed that Mr. Ardiansyah Matra'is was murdered and drowned in the river. Signs of torture were also found on Mr. Ardiansyah Matra'is' body. It is believed that his murder may be linked to his work covering controversial issues such as corruption and illegal logging in Papua. It may also be linked to his coverage of the regional election that took place on 2 August 2010.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to liberty and security, Right to life
- Source
Tabloid Jubi Jubi Magazine is where Mr. Ardiansyah Matra'is published his work
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jun 11, 2019
- Event Description
JAKARTA - A former officer in Indonesia's special forces has filed a complaint with the country's press council and police against prominent news magazine Tempo. In his filing Tuesday, Former Major General Chairawan Kadarsyah Nusyirwan said the magazine reported the involvement of former members of the Tim Mawar or the Rose Team, in riots last month. Chairawan's lawyer, Herdiansyah, said the former soldier "feels harmed personally because he was a part of the (Rose Team)", according to the news site Kompas. The Rose Team is notorious for its involvement in several kidnappings of activists in 1997 and 1998, during the era of the so-called New Order under authoritarian President Suharto. Several of the unit's members, including Prabowo Subianto, who lost this year's presidential election to incumbent President Joko Widodo, were subsequently fired. One of those named in Tempo's report on last month's riots is Fauka Noor Farid, one of Prabowo's underlings in the special forces. The magazine reported Fauka had said it would be beneficial if there were to be a confrontation between protesters and officers. The May 21 and 22 riots began as a peaceful protest against irregularities in this year's elections, but devolved into violence that left eight dead and more than 700 injured. The magazine also reported cases of arms dealing and assassination attempts against several current Indonesia ministers. Arif Zulkifli, Tempo magazine's editor-in-chief, told VOA his team's reports are "airtight, journalistically." He said, "We've had police reports on us relatively often. It's fine as long as the Press Council decides that we did nothing wrong." This is not the first time Tempo has been attacked for its work. In 2010, the 48-year-old magazine uncovered graft allegations of some high-ranking police officers that led unidentified people to fire bomb Tempo's office in Jakarta. Tempo was temporarily disbanded in June 1994, along with two other publications, and its circulation was halted for four years after it published an investigation on Indonesia's dubious purchase of war ships. Indonesia's press freedom Tempo's history is emblematic of Indonesia's struggle for press freedom, granted finally in 1999 with the enactment of the Press Law. During the authoritarian New Order era, stretching from 1966 to 1998, press freedom was virtually non-existent. It was not until 1998 that the special government-issued press license regulation was jettisoned by Suharto's replacement, President B.J. Habibie. Though democracy restored press freedom, questions about uninhibited freedom linger. "In the past couple of years that we've seen demonstrations in Jakarta, there were cases of violence against journalists. This was never resolved by the state apparatus," said Wisnu Prasetya Utomo, a researcher at the Digital Media and Communication Research Center (Decode) of the University of Gadjah Mada, "This is what makes our press freedom so fragile." According to a report by the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists, there were 64 cases of violence directed at journalists in 2018. The Reporters Without Borders' annual World Press Freedom Index puts Indonesia at 124 out of 180 countries listed. The country also maintains restrictive access for foreign reporters on the easternmost island of Papua, a hotbed for military violence and struggles for independence. Indonesia also enforces the electronic information and transactions law, the closest legal standing it has to an online defamation law. Today's print journalism in Indonesia is dogged by tighter competition with online media that led to the closure of more than 20 print publications from 2015 to 2017. But intimidation and litigation against news outlets has persisted since the New Order era, as shown by the case of Tuesday's police report. "Because the cycle of impunity continues, this will keep happening," said Wisnu.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Offline
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 19, 2019
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 6, 2019
- Event Description
New Delhi, May 9, 2019 -- The chief election officer of West Bengal should immediately intervene to prevent attacks on journalists covering the ongoing elections in the state, and the state government should ensure that those involved in the attacks are held accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 6, supporters of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress party threw stones and bricks at cars carrying journalists from news channels NewsX, Zee News, and R Plus, and the Indian Express and Sambad Pratidin newspapers, injuring several, while the journalists were covering elections in West Bengal, according to statements from the Editors Guild of India, the Indian Express, and Sambad Pratidin. "We are concerned about the multiple attacks against journalists trying to report on elections in West Bengal and urge the election commission and authorities to hold the perpetrators to account," said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez, in New York. "Journalists must be able to do their jobs safely for there to be free and fair elections." Joyprakash Das of the Indian Express told CPJ that while he and other journalists were covering the arrival of a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate to a polling place in Barrackpore, supporters of the Trinamool party, some yelling slogans in support of the party and others carrying the party flag, blocked the way of the candidate and the journalists' vehicles and started throwing stones. "It was like a shower of stones. All the windows of our car broke as my photographer Shashi Ghosh and I crouched inside the car to save ourselves," Das said. He told CPJ that broken glass cut his face and Ghosh was hit in the head by a stone; the pair went to a local hospital for treatment and were discharged later that day. The crowd also threw stones at NewsX reporter Tapas Sengupta, hitting him in the head, and photographer Rony Santra, injuring his hand, according to Indian news portal Newslaundry. The journalists went to a local hospital where Sengupta was given a CT scan before both were discharged, according to Newslaundry. R Plus reporter Sharnendu Das was also hit by stones thrown by the crowd, the reporter told CPJ. Glass from the broken car windows cut his hand; yesterday, doctors removed pieces of glass from his hand at a hospital, he said. Komolika Sengupta, a reporter with Zee News, was injured as groups of Trinamool and Bharatiya Janata Party supporters threw rocks at one another while her car was nearby, as seen in video broadcast by Zee News. Her hand was injured and her car windows were broken, according to the broadcast. In another incident on May 6, in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, a crowd of people shouting slogans against a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate attacked reporter Nabyendu Hazra and cameraman Rajiv Dey of the Bangla news daily Sambad Pratidin while they were covering the election, according to a report by their employer. The crowd "specifically targeted journalists" near the polling station, punching and kicking Hazra, he said in the report. "We had to plead to them to let us go." The journalists filed a complaint at the local police station before leaving the area, the report said. The Editors Guild of India statement also alleged that journalists from Kolkata-based broadcaster ABP Ananda were attacked in West Bengal on May 6. CPJ called the broadcaster, but a representative declined to comment on the incident. The chief election officer of West Bengal, Ariz Aftab, who is charged with maintaining order during the elections, acknowledged that at least five journalists were injured on May 6, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. The Election Commission of West Bengal and the All India Trinamool Congress party did not respond to CPJ's requests for comment via email and text message. CPJ's text message to Derek O'Brien, the Trinamool Congress leader in the upper house of the Indian parliament, did not receive a response. General elections are currently ongoing throughout India, and CPJ has issued special advisories for journalists covering the elections, available in English, Hindi and Telugu.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 19, 2019
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 22, 2019
- Event Description
Following the government-led internet shutdown in Indonesia’s eastern provinces of Papua and West Papua a journalist has been doxxed and harassed online. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia have condemned the attack on the journalists and called on the local authorities to ensure the media are protected as they work.
Victor Mambo, a journalist with Koran Jubi and jubi.co.id, as well as a member of AJI’s executive committee was harassed and doxxed online on Thursday, August 22, after the internet shutdown continued into a second day. In one tweet from user @antilalat Victor was linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and accused of being an informer for Papuan lawyer, which was followed by a second tweet giving out Victor’s home address.
Doxxing refers to publishing private or identifying information about a person on the internet, typically with malicious intent. This is not the first time that Victor has been targeted online. The same user had threatened Victor in July, 2019.
On Saturday, Victor proceeded with an urgent appeal to UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, regarding the internet shutdowns in the provinces.
In a statement, AJI said that the harassment and doxxing of Victor are an attempt to intimidate him. As a journalist, Victor has done his job to report objectively and complied with the journalism code of ethics in his verification processes.
“AJI would also like to remind to the social media users as well as authorities that journalists on their duty are protected by the Law No.40/1999 on the Press. If anyone thinks there is incorrect journalistic material published in the media, the Press Law has the mechanism through right to reply and correction and filing of complaints to the Press Council,” AJI said.
The IFJ said: “The harassment and doxxing of Victor Mambo is a blatant attempt to silence critical voices, and intimidate him. He is a respected journalist and was simply doing his job, reporting of the current internet shutdown in Indonesia. We urge the Indonesian authorities investigate the ongoing attacks, and take steps to guarantee Victor’s safety.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 4, 2019
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