Uwazi

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.

"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.

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.

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."

Pria bernama Persada Bhayangkara Sembiring diduga disiram dengan air keras oleh orang tidak dikenal (OTK). Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI) Sumatera Utara (Sumut) mengatakan Persada merupakan pemimpin redaksi (pemred) salah satu media lokal di Medan.

"Mengecam tindak kekerasan kembali terjadi terhadap wartawan yang bertugas di lingkungan Kota Medan khususnya, dan Sumatera Utara umumnya," kata Ketua PWI Sumut Hermansjah kepada wartawan, Senin (26/7/2021).

Herman mengatakan peristiwa ini terjadi pada Minggu (25/7) pukul 22.00 WIB. Herman mengatakan pihaknya mendapatkan informasi peristiwa ini terkait pemberitaan tentang perjudian.

"Diduga sering menaikkan berita perjudian, lalu ditelepon, jumpalah di Simpang Selayang. Setelah jumpa, lalu tiba-tiba diduga Pemred Jelajahperkara disiram air keras ke wajahnya," tutur Herman.

Herman mengatakan pihaknya akan membentuk tim untuk mendampingi korban dalam menjalani kasusnya. Herman juga mengingatkan agar wartawan berhati-hati dalam menjalankan tugas.

"Apapun beritanya, wartawan harus mengutamakan keselamatan daripada jiwa jadi taruhan kawan-kawan saat menjalankan tugas di lapangan," ucapnya.

Rekan dari korban, Bonni Manulang, mengatakan dirinya dihubungi Persada usai peristiwa itu terjadi. Bonni kemudian membawa Persada untuk berobat ke RS Adam Malik Medan.

"Untuk kondisi korban setelah wajah disiram air keras, tampak sangat parah, mengerikan di sekitar wajah tersiram air keras, wajah langsung bengkak (tembem) dan menguning, tapi tidak sampai melepuh. Tetapi setelah ditangani tim medis, kondisi fisik sudah semakin baik dan bisa melihat," tuturnya.

Bonni mengatakan Persada saat peristiwa itu sedang menunggu seseorang di lokasi kejadian. Dari keterangan Persada, menurut Bonni, dia disiram dua orang yang menggunakan sepeda motor.

"Tiba-tiba datang dua orang pria mendekat dengan menggunakan sepeda motor. Tanpa berbicara apa-apa, satu orang pria itu turun dari motornya dan langsung menyiramkan sesuatu ke bagian wajahnya yang belakangan diketahui adalah air keras," jelasnya.

Safii Wakabiro Indo rubrik.com Kabupaten Asahan dan juga sebagai Ketua Pimpinan Anak Cabang (PAC) Pemuda Pancasila Kecamatan Sei Kepayang Timur bersama Hamdan Sinaga Wartawan Indo rubrik.com dan juga Sebagai Sekretaris PP mendapat perlakuan yang sangat keji dari Oknum berseragam bersama dengan rekan-rekannya para Preman berkisar pada Pukul 01.00 Wib Malam Sabtu 24/7/21.

Hal tersebut dikatakan Korban Safii dan Hamdan Sinaga pada Wartawan di klinik menteri Udin Jalan Tomat Minggu 25/7/21, yang mana Oknum berseragam dan para Preman yang melakukan penganiayaan datang dengan mengenderai Dua (2) unit Mobil dan Tiga (3) Unit Sepeda motor, yang mana oknum tersebut diketahui berinisial CDR Oknum TNi Al yang bertugas di Kabupaten Batubara.

CDR dengan rekan-rekannya para oknum preman meminta Kartu Tanda Anggota (KTA) dari kedua Wartawan tersebut dan berusaha untuk membakar KTA itu.

Dimana bermula Dua wartawan dan rekan-rekannya yang sedang melaksanakan tugas mengambil Fhoto sebuah Truk Tangki yang berada persis di depan Polres Asahan diduga membawa minyak Ilegal yang akan dibawa ke Kota Tanjungbalai.

Dan kedua Wartawan yang bertugas di Kabupaten Asahan tersebut ditegur oleh oknum-oknum tersebut dengan berkata mengapa kau Fhoto-fhoto itu dan dengan secara Spontan langsung mengejar serta menganiaya Safii dan Hamdan Sinaga.

Ke Dua Wartawan Asahan yang sedang bertugas tersebut dipukuli serta ditendang,dan tidak sampai disitu oknum-oknum tersebut juga melakukan penculikan dengan membawa kedua Wartawan ke dalam mobil.

Untuk selanjutnya Dua (2) Wartawan yang sudah diculik disekap pada sebuah Hotel yang ada di Kisaran,dan disana mereka diperlakukan secara tak manusiawi, setelah puas melakukan penganiayaan tersebut kedua korban dipaksa serta diintimidasi untuk menanda tangani sebuah surat perjanjian yang isinya sudah ada perdamaian antara kedua belah pihak, sekitar pukul 06.00 Wib kedua Korban yang sudah babak belur dilepaskan oknum-oknum tersebut.

Menanggapi hal tersebut Ketua Persatuan Wartawan Republik Indonesia (PWRI) Kota Tanjungbalai Yusman Kumis sangat menyesalkan hal tersebut dan mengutuk keras aksi yang dilakukan oleh Oknum TNI AL tersebut dan juga para Preman suruhan dari CDR.

Untuk itu kita meminta agar persoalan tersebut dapat diusut secara tuntas karena Indonesia adalah Negara Hukum jadi siapapun yang melawan Hukum harus dihukum,apa lagi Wartawan yang sedang melaksanakan tugas yang sudah dilindungi dan diatur dalam UU pokok Pers Nomor 40 Tahun 1999, Ungkap yusman dengan nada geram.

Seorang aktivis mahasiswa Universitas Pattimura Ambon, Risman Soulissa ditangkap polisi. Aktivis Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI) Cabang Ambon ini ditangkap terkait seruan aksi unjuk rasa mencopot Presiden Joko Widodo, Gubernur Maluku, Murad Ismail dan Wali Kota Ambon yang diunggah di media sosial. Risman dijemput sebuah mobil lalu ditangkap oleh sejumlah Anggota Polresta Pulau Ambon dan Pulau-Pulau Lease di sekitar tempat tinggalnya di kawasan Poka, Kecamatan Teluk Ambon pada Minggu malam (25/7/2021). “Benar. Yang bersangkutan telah ditangkap dan saat ini telah resmi ditahan,” kata Kapolresta Pulau Ambon dan Pulau-Pulau Lease, Kombes Pol Leo Surya Nugraha Simatupang kepada Kompas.com via telepon seluler, Senin (26/7/2021). Ditetapkan tersangka ujaran kebencian Setelah ditangkap, mahasiswa tersebut langsung diperiksa oleh penyidik di kantor Polresta Pulau Ambon. Dia kemudian langsung ditetapkan sebagai tersangka dalam kasus ujaran kebencian.“Saat ini sudah ditetapkan sebagai tersangka. Nanti kalau soal teknisnya silahkan ke Kasat Reskrim saja,” katanya. Unggah seruan aksi di Facebook Kepala Sub Bagian Humas Polresta Pulau Ambon dan Pulau-Pulau Lease, Ipda Isack Leatemia menjelaskan, penangkapan terhadap Risman dilakukan setelah tersangka mengunggah dua gambar berisi seruan aksi unjuk rasa di akun Facebook miliknya pada 21 Juli 2021 lalu. Dalam unggahan itu ada seruan untuk mencopot Presiden Joko Widodo, Gubernur Maluku dan juga Wali Kota Ambon. “Tersangka memposting dua gambar berserta keterangannya yang memuat ujaran kebencian,” katanya saat dihubungi secara terpisah. Isack menerangkan, perbuatan tersangka itu telah menyalahi ketentuan Pasal 45A sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 45 ayat 3 Undang-undang Nomor 19 Tahun 2016 tentang perubahan kedua atas UU nomor 11 tahun 2008 tentang Informasi dan Transaksi Elektronik dan atau Pasal 14 ayat 2 UU Nomor 1 Tahun 1946 tentang peraturan hukum pidana. “Perbuatan tersangka menyebarkan ujaran kebencian sebagaimana diatur dalam undang-undang,” katanya.

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.

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.

Aksi mengeluarkan paksa alat berat yang ada di lokasi galian C tepat di area Bendung Wae Cebong yang dilakukan warga Desa Compang Longgo, Kecamatan Komodo, Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) berbuntut panjang.

Dua warga Compang Longgo yang ikut dalam aksi yang menyuarakan kekhawatiran munculnya dampak lingkungan seiring aktivitas galian C itu malah dilaporkan ke Polres Manggarai Barat.

Dua warga tersebut adalah Leonardus Suhardiwan dan Heronimus Taji. Keduanya akan diperiksa oleh Satreskrim Polres Manggarai Barat pada Kamis (8/7/2021) besok.

Jajaran Satreskrim Polres Manggarai Barat menerbitkan surat Undangan Klarifikasi dengan Nomor B/1336/VII/2021.

Rujukan yang dipakai polisi adalah a) Pasal 184 Ayat (1) huruf a Undang-Undang No.8 Tahun 1981 tentang KHUAP, b) Undang-undang Nomor 2 tahun 2002, tentang Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia, c) Undang-Undang Nomor 3 Tahun 2020 Tentang Perubahan Atas Undang-undang Nomor 4 Tahun 2009 Tentang Pertambangan Mineral dan Batubara.

Dalam undangan tertuang Unit Tipidter Satuan Reskrim Polres Manggarai Barat sedang melakukan penyidikan terhadap dugaan Tindakan Pidana “Menghalang-halangi kegiatan Pertambangan Galian C di Wilayah Desa Compang Longgo yang memiliki ijin”.

Tokoh pemuda setempat, Leonardus Suhardiwan menyayangkan kriminalisasi aksi yang merupakan bentuk keprihatinan terhadap lingkungan. Hal ini dinilai kian menegaskan arogansi pengusaha galian C dalam merespon aksi keprihatinan warga. Sebelumnya, warga juga beberapa kali mengupayakan mediasi dengan pengusaha galian C milik Kelompok Handel Berseri itu. Namun selalu berakhir buntu.

“Dan tiba-tiba mereka (pengusaha galian C) malah membuat laporan ke polisi. Ini yang kita sayangkan, berhadapan dengan masyarakat tapi caranya seperti ini,” kata Leo sapaannya saat ditemui Baranewsaceh.com di kediamannya pada Rabu (7/7) malam.

Sebelumnya, penolakan dilakukan warga dengan cara mediasi. Tak sampai di situ, warga juga berkirim surat penolakan galian C ini terhadap pemerintah kabupaten, provinsi dan pusat yang ditanda tangan ratusan warga Compang Longgo.

“Itu aksi spontanitas warga. Karna dua minggu terakhir ini tidak ada aktivitas disana (seputar lokasi Bendung Wae Cebong). Tiba-tiba kemarin pagi, muncul eksa dan mobil lagi”, ungkap Leo.

Kalau begini ceritanya, besok kami siap hadir memenuhi panggilan itu, tutup Leo dengan nada santai.

Diberitakan sebelumnya, Puluhan warga Desa Compang Longgo Kecamatan Komodo, Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), mengeluarkan paksa alat berat yang ada di lokasi galian C tepat disamping area Bendung Wae Cebong. Aksi warga yang sempat memanas ini merupakan bentuk penolakan warga terhadap penambangan tersebut.

Warga menilai, dampak dari penambangan di lokasi tersebut akan merusak lingkungan dan mengganggu aliran air yang masuk ke Bendung Wae Cebong berakibat fatal pada lahan pertanian milik warga di persawahan Walang. Pasalnya, sebagai besar merupakan petani yang menjadi mata pencarian warga.

Kapolres Kampar AKBP M Kholid dilaporkan ke Divisi Propam Polri terkait dugaan kriminalisasi petani sawit yang tergabung dalam Koperasi Petani Sawit Mandiri (Kopsa M) dalam perkara sengketa lahan dengan PTPN V. Pelaporan dilakukan Setara Institute.

"Sejak 2017 petani melalui Ketua Kopsa M Pak Antony Hamzah melakukan perlawanan melaporkan ke Bareskrim dan KPK, sejak itu kriminalisasi terjadi terhadap Pak Antony, dan itu dibiarkan oleh Polres Kampar," kata Disna Riantina, Pengacara Publik, Koordinator Tim Advokasi Keadilan Agraria-Setara Institute, di Jakarta, seperti dilansir dari ANTARA.

Antony Hamzah adalah Ketua Kopsa M yang sejak 2017 melakukan upaya-upaya hukum membela hak 979 anggota koperasi atas pengelolaan lahan perkebunan sawit yang dikerjasamakan dengan PTPN V, di Desa Pangkalan Baru, Siak Hulu, Kabupaten Kampar, Riau.

Sebuah media massa di Pekanbaru Riau, Kamis (10/6) menuliskan berita Ketua Kopsa M Antony Hamzah ditetapkan sebagai tersangka dalam perkara sengketa tanah dengan PTPN V.

Namun, ketika dikonfirmasi ke Polres Kampar, berita tersebut dinyatakan sebagai kabar bohong (hoaks). Hanya saja, Polres Kampar dalam hal ini Kapolres dan penyidik Satreskrim Polres Kampar tidak menganulir berita yang beredar tersebut atau tetap membiarkan berita tersebar tanpa ada penyataan resmi polisi yang menyatakan berita tersebut kabar bohong.

"Tindakan-tindakan jajaran Polres Kampar bukan hanya bertentangan dengan peraturan perundang-undangan, tetapi mencoreng citra Polri dan menjadi ukuran keseriusan Polri memberantas mafia tanah," kata Disna.

Disna mengatakan Antony bersama petani sawit sedang memperjuangkan hak-haknya melalui jalur hukum, dan saat ini mendapat ancaman kriminalisasi melalui skenario peristiwa hukum yang melibatkan PTPN V, PT Langgam Harmuni, akibat peristiwa tindak pidana perusakan yang dilakukan oleh sekelompok preman di lahan milik anggota Kopsa M, sehingga saat ini Ketua Kopsa M menghadapi ancaman menjadi tersangka.

Atas tindakan perusakan di lahan saat ini menjadi objek pelaporan ke Bareskrim Polri dan Satgas Mafia Tanah Polri, jajaran Polres Kampar sejak Januari 2021 terus melakukan pemeriksaan terhadap sejumlah petani dengan cara-cara yang tidak prosedural, disertai tekanan dan ancaman, katanya lagi.

Menurut dia, Polres Kampar menutup mata atas ketidakjelasan pelaporan yang tidak memiliki 'legal standing', laporan polisi Nomor LP/332/X/2020/Riau Res Kampar tertanggal 16 Oktober 2020 adalah persekongkolan pihak-pihak untuk melemahkan dan membungkam petani Kopsa M guna menutupi penyerobotan lahan dan hilangnya kebun-kebun petani serta dugaan tindakan korupsi di PTPN V.

"Perilaku jajaran Polres Kampar yang secara insinuatif dan menyudutkan Kopsa M melalui media-media massa termasuk mendramatisir peristiwa perusakan secara hiperbolik adalah tindakan tidak profesional dan menggambarkan obsesi mengkriminalisasi Ketua Kopsa M tanpa dasar," kata Disna.

Aliansi Keadilan Agraria-Setara Institute dan Kopsa M melaporkan dugaan korupsi di PTPN V yang menyebabkan kebun gagal dan 979 petani tidak memiliki lahan.

Selain laporan dugaan korupsi ke Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) pada 25 Mei 2021, aliansi juga melaporkan dugaan tindak pidana penyerobotan lahan ke Bareskrim Polri pada 27 Mei 2021. Kopsa M juga telah melaporkan peristiwa perampasan hak ini kepada Presiden Joko Widodo pada 23 Februari 2021.

Antony Hamzah yang juga Dosen Universitas Riau saat ditemui di Kantor Setara Institute, di Jakarta, mengatakan pada tahun 2003 Kopsa dan PTPN V membuat perjanjian kerja sama pembangunan kebun sawit pola Kredit Koperasi Primer Anggota (KKPA) untuk anggota koperasi yang direncanakan 2.000 hektare. Nota kesepahaman waktu itu ditandatangani oleh Kopsa M dan Mardjan Ustha selaku Direktur SDM PTPN V.

Perkebunan dibangun dengan memakai pinjaman dari bank dengan PTPN V sebagai avalis. Nominal pinjaman saat itu Rp115 miliar.

Pada tahun 2017, saat Antony dipilih menjadi Ketua Kopsa M, meminta kejelasan luas lahan perkebunan saat ini yang telah dihibahkan petani seluas 4.000 hektare.

"Dari hasil penelusuran dan pengukuran luas lahan menyusut menjadi 1.400 hektare," kata Antony.

Dari 1.400 hektare tersebut, lanjut Antony, hanya 300 hektare lahan yang bisa dipanen, sisanya gagal, satu hektare hanya bisa panen kurang dari satu ton. Petani hanya mendapatkan hasil Rp50 ribu per bulan dalam hasil panen.

Di bawah kepemimpinan Antony, Kopsa M menolak menandatangani surat pengakuan utang, karena belum jelas hak petani atas lahan perkebunan.

Kopsa M juga memiliki bukti ada lahan hibah petani yang diperjualbelikan oleh oknum di PTPN V.

"Yang kami perjuangkan, lahan petani yang dicaplok ini, utang tumbuh lahan hilang," kata Antony.

Direktur Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Semarang, Eti Oktaviani menceritakan, proses nonton bareng (nobar) film ‘The End Game’ sempat mengalami gangguan dari sejumlah pihak yang mengaku ‘intel’ sehingga harus dibubarkan. Kejadian ini, menurutnya, terjadi saat LBH Semarang bersama Gerakan Rakyat Menggugat (Geram) melakukan kegiatan nobar film ‘The End Game’ pekan lalu. “Memang saat itu pada saat pelaksanaan ada distraksi-distraksi ya, yang itu berasal dari intel. Karena yang bersangkutan mengaku intel, kemudian memaksa agar penayangan atau diskusi untuk review film End game ini tidak dilaksanakan saat itu,” kata Eti dalam konferensi virtual, Minggu (13/6/2021). Eti menjelaskan, protokol kesehatan Covid-19 menjadi isu utama untuk membubarkan kegiatan nobar tersebut. Karena besarnya pemaksaan agar kegiatan nobar dibubarkan, Eti mengatakan, akhirnya pihak LBH Semarang pun membubarkan kegiatan tersebut. “Dengan proses yang cukup panjang dan kemudian ada pemaksaan-pemaksaan oleh aparat sehingga sekitar 15 atau 10 menit sebelum film itu selesai, akhirnya dengan sangat terpaksa kami memberhentikan, karena sudah cukup panas situasinya saat itu,” ucap dia. Padahal, apabila aparat mengkhawatirkan penerapan protokol kesehatan, Eti menyebut, seharusnya mereka tidak perlu sampai membubarkan kegiatan nobar. Menurut Eti, pihak aparat penegak hukum dapat memantau dan memastikan protokol kesehatan Covid-19 bisa terlaksana “Nah kemudian di sini seharusnya menjadi satu hal yang cukup sangat terlihat atau terpampang nyata ya bahwa memang ada hal yang dicapai itu bukan hanya sebatas menghindari penyebaran Covid-19 tetapi ada hal lain yang memang agar diskusi atau pemutaran film ini tidak bisa terlaksana saat itu,” ucap dia. Eti pun menegaskan, pihaknya berkomitmen untuk melakukan nobar film ‘The End Game’ 10 kali setelah sempat dibubarkan aparat. Menurut dia, banyak mahasiswa dan organisasi non-pemerintah yang mengikuti kegiatan nobar tersebut. “Dengan adanya pembubaran itu, kawan-kawan merespons dengan satu kali proses nobar dibubarkan maka kami berkomitmen untuk menyelenggarakan 10 kali lagi, apa, layar atau menancapkan layar nobar film End Game,” ungkapnya. Diketahui, tidak lolosnya 75 pegawai KPK dari Tes Wawasan Kebangsaan (TWK) yang merupakan alih status kepegawaian menjadi aparatur sipil negara (ASN) menjadi polemik di masyarakat. Sebagai bentuk perlawanan dan upaya menyelamatkan KPK, WatchDoc merilis film dokumenter berjudul The End Game. Film dokumenter ini bercerita soal kesaksian para pegawai KPK yang dinyatakan tak lulus TWK. Sejak dirilis, kedua trailer film ini telah ditonton puluhan ribu orang di YouTube. Trailer pertama menceritakan kesaksian sejumlah pegawai yang dinyatakan tak lulus wawasan kebangsaan. Mereka yang tak lulus berasal dari sejumlah kelompok dan latar belakang agama yang berbeda. Sementara, trailler film kedua menceritakan kesaksian 16 penyidik dan penyelidik, terkait sejumlah kasus yang mereka tangani di KPK. Mereka antara lain, Novel Baswedan, Kasatgas Penyelidik KPK Harun Al Rasyid, Ketua Wadah Pegawai KPK Yudi Purnomo, dan sejumlah nama lain.

Kontributor TV One Ilham Zulfikar diintimadasi dan mendapat ancaman oleh oknum humas PT.Brahmakerta Adwira selaku pelaksana proyek pembangunan jembatan lintas nasional Idi Rayeuk, Aceh Timur, Aceh, Rabu (23/06).

Saat itu, Ilham bersama wartawan monologis.id Ihsan dan Koordinator LSM LAKI Aceh Timur Saiful Anwar tengah mewawancari warga Desa Keude Blang, Idi Rayeuk terkait badan sungai akibat proyek tersebut. Tiba-tiba didatangi seorang pria.

Oknum yang kerap disapa Tekong itu lalu menyanyakan identitas wartawan sambil marah-marah. Lalu dia mencoba menendang Ilham sebanyak dua kali, namun Ilham berhasil mengelak.

“Sambil marah-marah dia mengayunkan kaki sebanyak dua kali namun tidak mengenai karena saya mengelak sambil merekam kejadian itu,” kata Ilham.

Usai melakukan hal itu, Tekong meninggalkan lokasi sambil menghina dengan memaki-maki wartawan.

Sementara itu, Koordinator Taslim Wilayah PT. Brahmakerta Adwira sebagai rekanan pelaksana pemenang tender duplikasi Jembatan Idi Rayeuk dari Kementerian PUPR melalui Balai Pelaksana Jalan Nasional (BPJN) Sumatera 1 menjelaskan secara teknis jumlah item kegiatan yang sedang mereka lakukan.

Taslim juga menyebutkan bahwa pekerjaan mereka sebenarnya sudah sesuai spesifikasi.

“Jika anda ingin melihat lebih rinci, kita ada gambar,” tegas.

Terkait permintaan RAB dan spesifikasi yang diminta LSM LAKI Aceh Timur, tidak bisa ditawarkan jika tidak kepada auditor eksternal BPK RI.

Pihak LAKI Aceh Timur sendiri merasa tidak puas atas penjelasan dari pihak rekanan.

"Sebenarnya perusahaan telah mencoba untuk mengungkapkan informasi yang menjadi hak publik dalam melaksanakan proyek Pemerintah dan ini bertentangan dengan Undang-Undang No.14 tahun 2008 tentang informasi publik karena proyek jembatan tersebut akan digunakan oleh masyarakat sebagai pengguna jalan," kata Koordinator LSM LAKI Aceh Timur Saiful Anwar.

Tindakan tegas pembubaran aksi demo mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), dilakukan gabungan Polisi, TNI dan Satpol PP Sukoharjo, Rabu (16/6/2021) sore.

Pembubaran dilakukan sewaktu-waktu massa peserta aksi keluar dari kampus UMS di Pabelan, Kartasura, menuju titik aksi di pertigaan Jl Ahmad Yani, Pabelan, Kartasura. Jarak kampus dengan titik aksi sekitar 200 meter.

Belum sempat menggelar orasi, massa langsung dihalau ratusan petugas gabungan untuk diminta kembali ke dalam kampus. Pembubaran dilakukan untuk mencegah terjadinya serta mengantisipasi kemacetan arus lalu lintas yang akan ditimbulkan.

Kapolres Sukoharjo AKBP Bambang Yugo Pamungkas yang turun langsung memimpin dilapangan bersama Dandim 0726/Sukoharjo Letkol Inf Agus Adhy Darmawan mengatakan, tindakan tegas mencegah melonjaknya penyebaran Covid-19 di Kota Makmur yang oleh.

"Kemarin kami rapat luar biasa di Pemkab bersama jajaran instansi terkait lainnya. Bahwa melihat situasi Solo Raya saat ini, angka kasus Covid-19 meningkat. Termasuk Sukoharjo juga meningkat dengan adanya (Covid-19) varian baru,".

Dengan adanya peningkatan kasus corona, maka seluruh jajaran yang terlibat dalam penanganan Covid-19 harus waspada terhadap segala kegiatan masyarakat untuk menurunkan angka penyebaran virus.

"Seperti kegiatan (aksi demo) ini, melibatkan orang dari luar daerah. Maka harus diingatkan untuk tidak berkumpul. Kami akan memulai dengan himbauan, jika masih membandel akan diberikan sanksi. Kami angkut untuk selanjutnya diberi sanksi," tegas Kapolres.

Pantauan hariankota.com dilapangan, aksi demo dilakukan oleh puluhan mahasiswa, mendesak Presiden Joko Widodo (Jokowi) mengeluarkan Perppu UU No.9 Tahun 2019.

Selain itu, menuntut dikembalikannya marwah dan independensi Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK. Cabut SK Pimpinan KPK No. 652 Tahun 2021, dan demo massa aksi juga menuntut Ketua Umum KPK Firli Bahuri diberhentikan.

Puluhan mahasiswa perwakilan Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM) Universitas se Eks Karisidenan Surakarta turun ke jalan di Kartasura. Para mahasiswa yang mengatasnamakan “Aliansi Soloraya Menggugat” menuntut Ketua KPK cabut SK Pimpinan KPK Nomor 652 Tahun 2021.

Aparat Kepolisian sebelum aksi dimulai sudah melakukan penyekatan dan menghalau peserta aksi disejumlah titik masuk Kartasura. Meski sudah dihalau, massa dari sejumlah BEM universitas ini tetap berdatangan. Titik kumpul yang sedianya di lapangan Ngabeyan Kartasura lalu menuju Tugu Kartasura, berubah di halaman sebuah ruko di Jalan Slamet Riyadi Kartasura, atau sekitar 1 km dari lokasi sebelumnya.

“Kami hanya ingin menyerukan save KPK, selamatkan KPK, pecat Filry dan cabut UU nomor 19 tahun 2019,” ungkap Widi Adi Nugroho selaku Koordinator umum dari UMS dalam orasinya, Rabu (30/6).

Dalam aksi itu, setidaknya 50 an mahasiswa dari BEM UMS, UNS, Uniba, Unisri dan Universitas Raden Mas Said (IAIN) turun ke jalan. Dengan mengenakan almamater masing tampak mengusung keranda bertuliskan RIP KPK.

Setidaknya, ada lima tuntutan yang dibacakan, yakni mendesak Ketua KPK Firli Bahuri untuk mencabut SK Pimpinan KPK Nomor 652 Tahun 2021, Mendesak Presiden RI untuk mengganti ketua KPK Firli Bahuri, Menuntut DPR untuk mencabut UU No. 19 tahun 2019 tentang KPK, Menuntut KPK untuk segera menyelesaikan kasus korupsi yang ada di Indonesia. Dan mengajak kepada seluruh elemen masyarakat untuk mengawal dan melawan pelemahan tindak pidana korupsi.

Aksi para mahasiswa tersebut mendapat pengawalan ketat dari Polres Sukoharjo yang di backup Polresta Surakarta dan Polres Karanganyar, dibawah kendali Kapolres Sukoharjo AKBP Wahyu Nugroho didampingi Dandim 0726/Sukoharjo Letkol Inf Agus Adhy Darmawan.

“Tidak diperkenankan ada kegiatan berkumpul jadi wajib dibubarkan. Kami minta mahasiswa pulang kembali kerumah masing-masing,” ungkap KBO Polres Sukoharjo Kompol Agus Pamungkas, mewakili Kapolres Sukoharjo, AKBP Wahyu Nugroho.

Selang 30 menit dibubarkan, mendadak ada massa susulan dari HMI dengan membawa bendera dan berorasi di seberang jalan. Aparat pun dengan sigap membubarkan mereka dan menghalau masuk ke dalam kampung untuk diminta pulang ke rumah masing-masing juga.

“Mengingat situasi Sukoharjo tidak aman, kita tidak akan menoleransi apapun kegiatan yang menimbulkan potensi kerumunan,” tegasnya.

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.

Rektorat Universitas Indonesia (UI) memanggil pengurus Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM) UI terkait postingan "Jokowi: The King of Lip Service" di Instagram, @bem_official, Sabtu (26/6). Dalam surat yang ditandatangani Direktur Kemahasiswaan, Tito Latif Indra, terdapat 10 mahasiswa yang dipanggil pihak rektoriat pada hari Minggu ini. Kepala Biro Humas dan Keterbukaan Informasi (KIP) UI, Amelita Lusia membenarkan adanya pemanggilan tersebut. "Ya, betul," ujar Amelita kepada Kompas.com, Minggu sore.

Amelita menyebutkan, pemanggilan tersebut sebagai langkah urgen akibat permasalahan yang timbul sehari setelah postingan BEM UI mulai ramai dibicarakan. Amelita menegaskan, pemanggilan itu merupakan bagian dari langkah pembinaan. "Pemanggilan ini adalah bagian dari proses pembinaan kemahasiswaan yang ada di UI," ujar dia. BEM UI mempublikasikan postingan berjudul Jokowi:The King of Lip Service di akun media sosialnya. Dalam postingan tersebut, BEM UI mengkritik Presiden Joko Widodo yang kerap kali mengobral janji.

Postingan itu juga menyindir sejumlah janji dan keputusan Jokowi, mulai dari rindu didemo, revisi UU ITE, penguatan KPK, dan rentetan janji lainnya. Pihak kampus menilai, postingan BEM UI tersebut kurang tepat. Amelita menyebut postingan tersebut telah melanggar beberapa peraturan yang ada. "Hal yang disampaikan BEM UI dalam postingan meme bergambar Presiden Republik Indonesia yang merupakan simbol negara, mengenakan mahkota dan diberi teks Jokowi: The King of Lip Service, bukanlah cara menyampaikan pendapat yang sesuai aturan yang tepat, karena melanggar beberapa peraturan yang ada," ujar Amelita. Amelita menegaskan, kebebasan menyampaikan pendapat dan aspirasi pada dasarnya dilindungi undang-Undang (UU). Akan tetapi, penyampaian aspirasi tersebut seharusnya sesuai aturan yang ada.

"Perlu kami sampaikan bahwa kebebasan menyampaikan pendapat dan aspirasi memang dilindungi undang-Undang. Meskipun demikian dalam menyampaikan pendapat, seyogyanya harus menaati dan sesuai koridor hukum yang berlaku," ujar dia.

The closing of garment factories without informing the workers, retrenchment of workers and non-payment of wages on time are often causes of dissatisfaction among the workers in the readymade garment industry. In many factories, workers are still deprived of the right to form trade unions.

Workers and employees of Style Craft Garment Factory in Laxmipur area under Gazipur City have been on strike and protest since 6 July 2021, demanding payment of arrears of three years’ salary and allowances. The factory authority announced multiple dates for the payment of workers and employees, but did not pay. Due to this, workers and employees gathered at the factory gate on 18 July and went on strike and protested. As a result, the road in front of the factory was blocked. The protesting workers were outraged as the factory authorities did not take any initiative to resolve the issue and when they marched towards Chandina intersection to block the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways, the police baton charged them and fired tear gas shells and sound grenades. Six people were injured in the incident.

The closing of garment factories without informing the workers, retrenchment of workers and non-payment of wages on time are often causes of dissatisfaction among the workers in the readymade garment industry. In many factories, workers are still deprived of the right to form trade unions. On 14 July 2021, workers of Lakhsma Innerwear Ltd. in Shreepur Municipal area under Gazipur District blocked the road demanding arrears of wages. At that time, some unidentified miscreants attacked the women workers with sticks and chased the workers, trying to make them lift the blockade. Eight workers, including women, were injured in the attack. The injured workers received treatment at different hospitals.

Akhtaruzzaman, Bogura District correspondent of the daily Banijya Protidin, was picked up from his home by members of the Detective Branch (DB) of Police late at night on 17 July 2021, for publishing news about corruption in the distribution of allowances to employees working on a project in the family planning department in Bogura. At that time the family planning officer Dr. Samir Hossain Mishu and his Office Assistant Shamima Akhter were with the DB Police. Twenty hours after Akhtaruzzaman’s arrest, Shamima Akhter filed a case against him under the Digital Security Act, 2018 with Bogura Sadar Police Station.

On 8 February 2021, Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, a Professor of Dhaka University and Chairperson of the Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Unit (RMMRU), an organisation working with migrant workers and expatriates, gave an interview in the daily Prothom Alo entitled “Remittance flow and expatriates do not match reality”. She was summoned before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance on 23 September to explain her comments in the interview. In addition, due to the pressure on the media, various incidents and occurrences are not published there, but they have been published on social media. Thus, the government and ruling party leaders and activists have now brought the social media under extensive surveillance.

About the Human Rights Defenders: Mr. Ba Singh Hassa is a resident of Dadgama village in Khunti block of Khunti district. An activist with Adivasi Adhikar Manch – a civil society group that protects the land, water and forest rights of indigenous groups, Mr. Hassa has organised and participated in numerous peaceful movements, demonstrations and meetings in Khunti and other places in the past decade, including in the Pathalgadi movement in 2018-19, and ongoing protests against the new farm laws. He is well-educated and offers advice and support to innocent villagers falsely accused of being Maoists.

Details of the incident: On July 14, 2021, Khunti Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Mr. Sayyed Riyaj Ahemed issued a notice under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (which allows an Executive Magistrate to show cause any person likely to disturb peace or disturb the public tranquillity). It mentioned the names of 25 people, including Mr. Ba Singh Hassa and his brothers/ cousins Mr. Bahadur Hassa, Mr. Kinu Hassa and Mr. Jugal Munda, who were likely to disturb peace and security in the area according to information with the SDO. All 25 persons were asked to report to the SDO court in Khunti on July 22, 2021 and show cause why they should not be asked to furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 and two supporting witnesses. Mr. Bahadur Hassa received a call from the Khunti Police Station on July 17, 2021, when he was informed about the notice. He collected the notice from the police station the next day, and reported to the SDO court with Mr. Ba Singh Hassa and other brothers/ cousins on July 22, 2021, and two more subsequent hearings. On September 24, 2021, the day of the fourth hearing, Mr. Ba Singh Hassa, Mr. Kinu Hassa, Mr. Jugal Munda and Mr. Bahadur Hassa reached the court at around 10 AM, whereas their turn came up at 2.30 PM. When they presented themselves before SDO Mr. Ahemed, he asked them not to leave the court premises without his permission. He then called someone from his phone and said that three absconding accused in the murder case (FIR no 88/2018) were sitting in front of him. At around 4.30 PM, Khunti PS Officer in Charge Mr. B Thakur reached the court in civil clothes with three other policemen in uniform. They arrested Mr. Ba Singh Hassa, Mr. Kinu Hassa and Mr. Jugal Munda from inside the court premises. The HRD and his relatives were not informed about why they were arrested, nor shown any arrest warrant or allowed access to a lawyer. All provisions of the DK Basu guidelines were violated. Mr. Hassa and others were taken to the Khunti Police Station in a police vehicle and detained there overnight. They were taken for medical examination at 2 PM, produced in court at around 4.30 PM on September 25, 2021, and remanded to Khunti jail. We firmly believe that the HRD and his relatives were ensnared by the SDO and arrested by police in a case that was over three years old in violation of due procedures. The SDO referred to them as absconding even though Mr. Ba Singh Hassa had communicated and met several police and government officials in his capacity as an activist and participated in many public programmes in Khunti and Ranchi in the intervening period. He was also detained and interrogated by police in Khunti in April 2019. Whereas, the notice against the HRD and his arrest coincided with his active involvement in peaceful meetings and protests against the new farm laws in Khunti. This indicates that the action against Mr. Hassa and others is an act of political vendetta, and aimed at muzzling the freedom of speech, expression and assembly, which are guaranteed under national and international legal frameworks.

The Observatory has been informed about the arbitrary detention and ongoing judicial harassment of Ms. Benja Apan, a student and pro-democracy activist with the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) [1], on lèse-majesté charges in relation with the August 10, 2021 pro-democracy protest.

On October 7, 2021, Benja Apan was arrested at the Lumpini Police Station, Bangkok, where she had gone to hear a charge of violating the Emergency Decree for participating in a pro-democracy protest on September 3, 2021, at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection. The police arrested Ms. Benja on the basis of another outstanding arrest warrant issued against her under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code (“lèse-majesté”) [2], the Emergency Decree [3], and the Communicable Diseases Act. These charges stem from Ms. Benja’s participation in a pro-democracy protest on August 10, 2021, in front of the Sino-Thai Tower building on Asoke Road in Bangkok, during which she gave a speech that criticized the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and called for the reform of the Thai monarchy. Later on October 7, police took Ms. Benja to Bangkok’s Thong Lo Police station where she was detained overnight after being denied bail.

On October 8, 2021, Benja Apan appeared before the Bangkok South Criminal Court, which denied her bail arguing that the offenses of which she is accused carry a heavy penalty and that she previously committed the same offenses. Benja Apan was then taken to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok, where she was still being detained at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal. Ms. Benja is currently facing a total of six charges under Article 112 of the Criminal Code and she could face up to 90 years in prison, if tried and found guilty on all counts.

The Observatory notes with concern that between November 24, 2020, and October 8, 2021, 150 people, including many human rights defenders, were charged under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. Some of them - Anon Nampa, Parit Chiwarak, Panupong Chadnok, and Jatuphat Boonpattararaksa - remain detained pending trial.

The Observatory condemns the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Benja Apan, Anon Nampa, Parit Chiwarak, Panupong Chadnok and Jatuphat Boonpattararaksa,which seem to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the five human rights defenders and to put an end to the judicial harassment against them and all other human rights defenders in the country.

Chiang Mai University student and performance artist Withaya Khlangnin is facing another royal defamation charge for staging a performance in front of the university on 1 May 2021 to demand the release of detained activists.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that, according to the police, Withaya’s performance amounts to royal defamation because it involved climbing onto the university sign, above which was a portrait of the King and a sign saying “Long live the King.” Withaya also poured red paint all over himself, which the police said was unsightly, and spilled paint over the university sign and the image of the King. The police also said that the gestures Withaya used during the performance, such as standing with a paint bucket over his head, and lying down with one foot pointing up at the portrait of the king, was disrespectful.

Withaya went to Phuping Rajanivej Police Station on Tuesday (5 October) to hear the charges. He was dressed as Luffy from the Japanese manga One Piece, and staged a short performance before going to meet the inquiry officer.

TLHR reported that at least 60 police officers were stationed in the area, while the police station was surrounded with metal fences. The police also tried to stop a small crowd of supporters from going inside the police station area. Officers were taking photos and videos of people, and repeatedly made announcements that gatherings are prohibited under the Emergency Decree. Withaya was released after his meeting with the inquiry officer. He has to report to the police again in 12 days, and has to submit further testimony in 20 days.

Withaya is currently facing 2 counts of lèse majesté under Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. Along with Yotsunthon Ruttapradid, another Chiang Mai University student, he was previously charged under Section 112 and the 1979 Flag Act for a piece of installation art during a protest on 14 March 2021, which featured a mannequin wrapped in plastic in the middle of two red and white strips, on which participants at the 14 March protest were invited to write down messages. The messages were seen as defaming the King, and since the piece looks like a Thai flag without the blue stripe, which represents the monarchy, it was taken to mean that the artist does not wish the monarchy to exist in the country.

Bangladesh authorities and United Nations officials should take urgent measures to protect Rohingya refugees facing threats and violence in the Cox’s Bazar camps, Human Rights Watch said today. Rohingya community leaders and volunteer workers told Human Rights Watch that alleged members of armed Islamist groups were increasingly targeting them for extortion and other crimes.

On September 29, 2021, unidentified gunmen shot and killed Mohib Ullah, 46, chair of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), in Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar. His associates said that Mohib Ullah had repeatedly reported threats from armed groups operating in the camps to Bangladesh officials but received insufficient support from the authorities.

“Mohib Ullah’s flight from mass atrocities in Myanmar to then be killed in his place of refuge speaks volumes about the risks that Rohingya activists face every day,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Bangladesh authorities should take urgent measures, with international assistance, to protect Rohingya activists who are defending the rights of refugees.”

Human Rights Watch interviewed nine people, including Rohingya activists and Mohib Ullah’s family members, who said that the authorities did not adequately investigate Mohib Ullah’s concerns or provide protection for him and other vulnerable activists. “The Bangladesh government deployed many security forces in the camps, but they were busy subduing and controlling refugees instead of protecting them,” said one activist.

At least a dozen activists have come forward to seek protection from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and Bangladesh officials since Mohib Ullah’s killing because of renewed threats from armed groups and other risks of violence. Humanitarian workers said that the environment inside the camps has become increasingly dangerous for Rohingya activists.

Mohib Ullah had served as a leader among the nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. He began receiving death threats in 2019 as his prominence grew, representing the Rohingya at the UN Human Rights Council and with the United States government. His organization said that the threats were from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and other armed groups that contested his leadership role.

In the months before his death, Mohib Ullah had expressed concern about the growing threats, activists and his family members said. In August, he sent a letter to the Bangladesh government Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, with copies to the camp-in-charge official and Special Branch in Cox’s Bazar, outlining the death threats that he and his colleagues had been receiving and requesting the office take action against the assailants, which the letter identifies as ARSA members.

One member of Mohib Ullah’s group was told in July that he would be killed if he returned to the group’s office, and that “very soon we will kill your leader.” Mohib Ullah’s colleagues said the letter received no reply.

A Bangladesh police official told Reuters they had received no reports from Mohib Ullah about any threats or requests for protection.

ARSA condemned the killing in written and audio statements and demanded authorities bring those responsible to account.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that Mohib Ullah’s death “is a clear example of the insecurity in the camp, and the apparent attempts to silence moderate civil society voices.”

UNHCR said that, in response to the killing, it “has enhanced its staff presence in the camps to ensure that the Rohingya refugees have direct access to support services and can report their concerns.” However, activists close to Mohib Ullah said that they have not been provided with adequate protection.

On October 3, police reported that they had arrested five men in connection with the killing. Mohib Ullah’s associates, however, have said that those allegedly responsible for the killing are still openly operating in the camp.

An activist with his group said, “Even this morning [October 3] some people visited my shelter and threatened my family saying, ‘Ask your son to be ready because the same fate is awaiting him, like Mohib Ullah. He is on the hit list of 10 people.’ I informed camp-in-charge, who assured me of safety, but I am worried because the police are not there all the time. If they really want to kill me, I’m an easy target for them.” Mohib Ullah’s wife said that she was worried for her daughters since her husband’s killing because of recent threats demanding that they marry members of the armed group.

Some refugees alleged that Bangladesh security forces and camp authorities seemed to underplay threats from armed Islamist groups. “When we complain to the authorities about ARSA’s crimes, they don’t pay any attention,” an activist said.

Another activist alleged collusion between some officers of the Armed Police Battalion deployed in the camps and members of the armed group. He said he went into hiding after receiving threats from ARSA but returned to his shelter when police promised protection, only for them to hand him over to the militants. “I was always being threatened by ARSA members since I started working as an activist, and I finally went into hiding. A few months later, two police officers lured me to come back to the camp and then handed me over to ARSA. I had to go through inhuman torture, until I paid ARSA a heavy ransom.”

ARSA members have attacked Christians and Hindus living in the camps alongside the predominantly Muslim Rohingya. Armed groups have also targeted women working as volunteers with humanitarian agencies. Hasina, a 26-year-old activist who works on women’s empowerment, said she was a victim of extortion by ARSA members.

Bangladesh authorities should fully investigate all those who might be responsible for Mohib Ullah’s killing and work with UNHCR to respond promptly when refugees are reporting imminent threats and provide immediate and effective protection, Human Rights Watch said. Concerned governments should ensure that activists and other refugees at heightened risk are priorities in planning around refugee assistance, protection, and resettlement.

“The Bangladesh government needs to address safety in the Rohingya camps both by developing better security and taking necessary action against groups engaged in illegal activity,” Ganguly said. “These refugees fled horrific abuses and are entitled to support from Bangladesh and other governments to live in the camps without fearing for their lives.”

An anti-logging activist was on Tuesday convicted of assault against an alleged timber trader, as rights groups linked the verdict to ongoing harassment and intimidation against environmentalists in the country.

The Kampong Thom Provincial Court sentenced Chan Thoeun, who is in hiding, to two years’ imprisonment, but suspended the sentence, according to his lawyer Sam Sokong.

Sokong said the judge had also downgraded the charge from attempted murder to intentional violence with aggravating circumstances.

Thoeun has previously said that he saw a timber trader hauling timber from a community forest in July last year, but was threatened at knifepoint when he pulled out his phone to capture footage, alleging that he was the victim, not the aggressor.

Sokong said that although the two-year sentence was suspended, he considered the court’s decision unfair because his client was the victim. “We see that [the court] has not yet been given justice to the client,” he said.

Thoeun, who is a member of the Prey Lang Community Network in Kampong Thom province, said he would appeal the conviction.

“It is an injustice against me. When it comes to many huge crimes of timber [trafficking], they do not prosecute them. But they sue me and accuse me, and it is unjust,” he said. “I do not accept it because I did not do anything wrong and they came to take my phone and prosecuted me. I will appeal to the Appeal Court. The decision is unacceptable since I am a victim.”

Cambodian Center for Human Rights executive director Chak Sopheap said members of the Prey Lang Community Network have been facing harassment as well as physical and legal threats. Environmentalists should not be facing such actions under a democracy, she said.

“I hope that the government should reconsider its commitment to the protection of natural resources, and that commitment can only be achieved with the participation of local communities,” Sopheap said. “As long as local communities that are active in protecting the environment remain under threat, it contradicts the government’s claimed commitment.”

The network, which works to protect the massive Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, has been banned from conducting patrols since last year. Environmentalists have been arrested in the protected area, and the U.S. this year pulled funding to the government for Prey Lang-related projects, citing continued logging, failure to prosecute timber traders and silencing of environmentalists. Other environmentalists have also been jailed and charged with plotting against the government.

Ming Yu Hah, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for campaigns, said Thoeun should never have been charged or tried, and his conviction fit a pattern of silencing and intimidating environmental activists in Prey Lang and across Cambodia.

“Chan Thoeun and the PLCN have been standing up against powerful illegal logging interests for years,” Hah said. “They have defended the Prey Lang forest while the Cambodian authorities have turned a blind eye to the rampant destruction of this vital ecosystem, which is an essential part of the culture of indigenous Kuy communities.”

Junta authorities arrested the teenaged president of the Basic Education Students’ Union of Naypyitaw’s Zabuthiri Township at his home earlier this week, according to the group.

Tun Aung Kyaw, age 15, was taken into detention by two police officers and two local administrators, a spokesperson for the Naypyitaw Students’ Union said.

It is said that the military units arrested Tun Aung Kyaw, the president of the basic education students’ union of Zabuthiri township, Naypyidaw, at his home on October 3 evening.

“He is technically a minor, so they said that they just had some questions to ask and that they’d let him go soon,” he told Myanmar Now.

At the time of reporting, the boy was still being held at the No. 3 police station in Zabuthiri and had not been allowed contact with his family, the student union representative said.

At 10pm on Tuesday, military troops reportedly ransacked his house.

Myanmar Now called the police station for comment on Tun Aung Kyaw’s arrest but the calls went unanswered.

Another Naypyitaw student leader, Yan Paing, was arrested by the military on May 2 and died on October 1 during an interrogation, according to a statement released by the Naypyitaw Students’ Union.

According to the statistics reported by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), there have now been at least 7,104 civilians detained by the junta since the February 1 coup and at least 1,158 civilians killed during that same period.

As they have been active in participating in anti-coup demonstrations, student union members have been frequent targets of military arrests, but the exact number of students in detention is not known.

Most recently, four students preparing to protest against the junta were arrested near the Pathi dam in Taungoo Township, Bago Region on the evening of September 19.

Wai Yan Phyo Moe, the vice president of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was charged with violating Section 505a of the Penal Code for incitement at the Mayangone Township court in Yangon this week, according to his lawyer.

Lawyer Thet Naung told Myanmar Now that they heard about new charges against Wai Yan Phyo Moe during his other hearings in the Kyauktada and Kamayut township courts on Tuesday.

“We haven’t seen him for a while as the offices and prisons have been closed. We only learnt briefly about this Section 505 charge during his court hearings at Kyauktada and Kamayut courts,” he said.

The lawyer said he has not submitted a power of attorney document for the new charge, which would allow him to represent Wai Yan Phyo Moe at hearings in Mayangone.

Wai Yan Phyo Moe was already facing charges for the violation of Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law in Kyauktada for allegedly breaking rules surrounding demonstrations, as well as for incitement in both Kyauktada and Kamayut.

If convicted, each incitement charge carries a three-year prison sentence and the Section 19 charge is accompanied by a three-month sentence and/or a fine.

Many detained anti-junta protesters have been charged in different townships where they led or participated in demonstrations on the pretext that they allegedly broke the law by taking part in rallies after the February 1 military coup.

Thet Naung said that Wai Yan Phyo Moe had been held in Insein Prison since his arrest in March.

He noted that his client was in good health but that he was concerned because Wai Yan Phyo Moe had initially been placed in a cell with violent offenders instead of other political prisoners.

“We’ve requested that the prison authorities move him and they agreed to, but they haven’t actually moved him yet. It’s been too long already,” Thet Naung explained.

Wai Yan Phyo Moe was one of around 500 civilians arrested during a crackdown on the General Strike Committee’s protest column in Yangon’s Tamwe Township on March 3.

Seven detained student activists including Wai Yan Phyo Moe were placed in solitary confinement for one week after they refused to read the prison rules out loud on April 22, a punitive measure typically demanded of inmates by prison officials. They were later sent to the prison ward where those convicted of violent crimes are held, and have reportedly been asked for bribes, forced to do hard labour, and have received death threats.

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.

House committee on good government and public accountability chairman Michael Aglipay unceremoniously removed Rappler journalist Rambo Talabong from a Viber group with reporters on Monday, September 27.

Aglipay kicked out Talabong after the journalist wrote a story on the DIWA representative’s latest defense of the Duterte administration.

Aglipay's comment was about the Senate hearing's revelation that the production stickers on the face masks procured by the government from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation were tampered. The tampering of the production stickers effectively also changed the expiry dates.

For Aglipay, the changing of expiry dates was not a problem, as he asked a Department of Health (DOH) official if the alleged expired face masks hurt or killed any of the health workers who used them. DOH undersecretary Carolina Taino said no.

This exchange was the subject of Talabong’s story, which included a video excerpt on Aglipay’s interpellation during the good government and public accountability panel hearing.

Aglipay then singled out Talabong during the hearing – even if CNN Philippines also published a similar article with the same angle.

The congressman argued Talabong’s article was “one-sided” as it did not include DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III’s remarks that the shelf life of face shields was 36 months.

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“So it is one-sided, and I’m calling him out to be balanced, because they are claiming to be a balanced organization, but this article of his never mentioned that Secretary Duque said that the shelf life is 36 months, and he only focused on my comment, making it appear that we are one-sided here, and covering up the government,” said the ally of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. The House's line of questioning in its hearings veers at countering findings at the Senate, defending the Duterte government's deals with Pharmally.

Shahid Zehri, a reporter for a local TV news channel Metro News 1 was killed on October 10 when a bomb exploded in his car in the Hub area of Balochistan province. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), urge the Pakistan government to ensure those involved in the attack are promptly brought to justice.

Journalist Zehri, 35, and friend, were travelling to Karachi by car when a bomb detonated around midnight on October 10. Both suffered critical injuries. CCTV footage confirms the bomb was attached to the journalist’s car where it exploded. Some reports suggested it was a homemade device.

The injured journalist and friend were initially taken to Hub Civil Hospital then subsequently brought to Karachi for treatment. The journalist, Zehri, was declared dead at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi.

Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility of the attack. The group also claimed that the journalist was spying on them. IFJ understands Zehri was a strong voice for the Hub Chowki, often reported on unrest in the region. Pakistan’s Baluchistan province has not enacted any legislation protecting journalists.

According to the IFJ’s South Asia Press Freedom Report 2020-2021, nine journalists were murdered in Pakistan in 2020-2021.