Uwazi

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.

About the Human Rights Defender: Mr. Abdul Rashid is a resident of Kirdoli village in Sikar district of Rajasthan. He has filed RTIs with regards to development works in his village and has helped victims of atrocities seek justice. Background of the Incident: Approximately three months ago, Mr. Rashid had filed RTIs seeking information on the allotment of pattas (land titles) in his village of Kirdoli. On November 14, 2021, the first appeal officer provided information on the same which showed that the pattas had been allotted to benefit the current sarpanch of the panchayat at Kirdoli, Ms. Haseena and her family. The RTI also revealed that the inquiry officer at district development office had found the panchayat guilty of the act. Details of the Incident: On November 15, 2021, Mr. Rashid and his friend Mr. Javed were on their way to Sikar from their village Kirdoli. At around 9 AM, about 200 meters from Chailasi Bus Stand, a white SUV (Scorpio) overtook their car and blocked their way. At the same time, another SUV (Bolero) blocked the path of the car from behind. Around 10 - 12 men emerged from both the SUVs armed with sticks, iron rods and pipes. They pulled the HRD out and started beating him with the intent to kill. They also smashed his car. One of the assaulters that the HRD could identifi was Mr. Imran, who tried to hit the HRD on the head, but the HRD managed to shield himself by raising his arms. His friend tried to stop the attackers but was also beaten up by the group. The group inflicted multiple blows to the HRD’s hands and legs. The attackers openly told the HRD that they had been sent my Mr. Maksood, who is the husband of the Sarpanch Ms. Haseena. During the attack men in the group told him that the attack was a consequence of his RTIs against them. The brutal attack rendered the HRD unconscious. His friend, Mr. Javed, called up other friends and relatives and the HRD was rushed to SK Hospital in Sikar. The doctors stated that his situation was grave and shifted him to Sawai Mansingh Hospital in Jaipur, where he received treatment for his injuries. Bones in both his hands and legs were broken as result of the attack. He is currently recovering from his injuries. On November 15, 2021, since the HRD was in an unconscious state, his friend, Mr. Javed, filed an official police complaint based on which the police registered an FIR (0400) at Sikar police station under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 323 (causing voluntary hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 327 (voluntarily causes hurt, for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer), 427 (Mischief leading loss and damage). Till date, the police have only arrested two persons involved in the incident, while the Sarpanch and her family continue to be out. According to the HRD, among the group of men there were nephews of Mr. Maksood - Mr. Ekram and Mr. Nizamuddin. Mr. Nizamuddin’s son Mr. Javed was also part of the group. The way the attack was carried out shows a clear intent to kill the HRD. The police, however, have not shown the alarm and urgency that such a heinous assault should register. The attackers should be booked and arrested under section 307 (attempt to murder), which is a non-bailable offence as well as a cognizable offence.

A student at Prince of Songkla University’s Hat Yai campus has been arrested on a royal defamation charge while receiving a Covid-19 vaccine at the university’s vaccination centre.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that Supakorn Khunchit, a student from the Faculty of Economics, Prince of Songkla University, was arrested by a group of plainclothes police officers in the parking lot in front of the Songklanagarind Hospital’s sport complex after he went to receive his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Supakorn said that, at first, a man called out to him in the parking lot. He thought the man wanted to ask for some information, so he walked over, but was then surrounded by 3 – 4 other men who said they were police officers and presented a warrant issued by the Phatthalung Provincial Court on a royal defamation charge under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, a sedition charge under Section 116 of the Criminal Code, and a charge of entering into a computer system data which is an offense relating to national security under Section 14 of the Computer Crimes Act.

7 – 8 more plainclothes officers then came out of a vehicle and surrounded him. Supakorn said that he was shocked, and asked the officers for the opportunity to contact a lawyer and his friends. He was allowed to do so, but the officers did not allow him to wait on campus for his lawyer to arrive as they wanted to take him to a police station to record the arrest immediately.

Supakorn also asked the officers why an arrest warrant has been issued for him, since he had never received a summons, but the officers who arrested him said they did not know.

Supakorn was held overnight at Muang Phatthalung Police Station. A lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), along with Suthichai Ngamchuensuwan, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prince of Songkla University, went to meet him on Wednesday morning (24 November).

According to the inquiry officer, Supakorn was charged because he was allegedly part of a group of people who took pictures of various locations in Phatthalung and posted them on the Facebook pages ‘Free Phatthalung’ and ‘Democracy of Southern Thailand’ along with messages which the police claimed were insulting towards the King and the Queen and aimed to incite unrest among the people.

TLHR said that the inquiry officer did not specify which messages were the offending ones in the temporary detention request, but included them in the interrogation record. TLHR also noted that many of the messages, including “1 2 3 4 5 fuck you,” “Down with feudalism. Long live the ducks,” “The people own the country” do not correspond to the accusation.

The inquiry officer then took Supakorn to court for a temporary detention request. They were later granted bail using Suthichai’s academic position as security.

Supakorn said that he found the process of his arrest unacceptable, since he was arrested by a large group of officers even though he has never received a summons and he had just reported to the police on charges relating to another protest but did not receive an arrest warrant for this case. He was also held in the police station holding cell, which was in poor condition, and was not allowed visitors, since the officer claimed that his photograph would be taken and used to incite conflict, but other detainees were allowed visitors.

TLHR also said that an arrest warrant has also been issued for 2 other student activists on charges relating to the same incident, and that they would be reporting to the police on Friday (26 November).

According to TLHR, at least 160 people are facing royal defamation charges since November 2020. Several activists are also facing several counts of the charge, including Parit Chiwarak, who faces 22 counts, Anon Nampa, 14 counts, Panupong Jadnok, 9 counts, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, 9 counts, and Benja Apan, 6 counts.

Parit, Anon, Panupong, Panusaya, and Benja are detained pending trial on the royal defamation charges, along with activist Jatupat Boonpattararaksa.

Villagers in a commune in north-central Vietnam are pushing back hard against a developer’s plans to build a cemetery and crematorium near their homes, saying they fear pollution and have not been consulted on the project, RFA has learned.

Residents of the Hung Tay commune in Nghe An province’s Hung Nguyen district posted a Facebook video on Monday showing police officers violently dispersing villagers who had gathered to protest at the entrance to the site.

The cemetery project at Dai Hue mountain is located uphill and only 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) from the nearest residential area, and villagers had already put up tents at the cemetery’s entrance to stop construction work from moving ahead, local sources said.

“The distance from the project’s fences to where we live is not great enough and it isn’t safe,” one resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This will affect our lives, and especially our sources of water and wind,” he said.

Though developers say that area residents have already consented to the project, no papers exist to document their agreement, RFA’s source said. “We never signed anything saying we had been consulted, and without this document, the provincial government should never have approved this project.”

Claims by developers that VND 40 billion (U.S. $1,765) has already been paid in compensation for 32.5 hectares of land handed over by government authorities for the project are also false, the source said.

“In fact, we haven’t received any notification about the land that was acquired, about who will receive compensation for the land, or even how much they will receive,” he said. “Where is that VND 40 billion now, and who is holding it?” he asked.

Commune residents have asked provincial authorities and the project’s developers for answers to these questions, but have so far received no response, he said.

'Provoked to protest'

A video of Monday’s clash between residents and police circulated widely on social media this week, with many viewers commenting that villagers had been provoked into launching their protests. Speaking to RFA, one resident said their blockade of the worksite was not aimed at opposing government authority, however.

“All we did was to set up some tents to prevent construction and protect the land,” he said. “That’s all this was, there was nothing else.”

“However, the authorities did send some policemen in, and so a few minor clashes with the residents occurred,” he said, adding that no one had been arrested in the clash.

Attempts to reach Hung Tay commune authorities for comment received no response, and RFA was unable to independently verify reports from another source that police had used weapons to disperse the crowd.

According to state-run Nghe An Television, a majority of the province’s residents have agreed to construction of the cemetery and crematorium, though a few individuals may still oppose the plan due to a “lack of understanding” of the project.

While all land is ultimately held by the state, land confiscations have become a flashpoint as residents accuse the government of pushing small landholders aside in favor of lucrative real estate projects, and of paying too little in compensation.

On Thursday night (18 November), police from Thonglor Police Station raided a live painting event organized by the Cross-cultural Foundation (CrCF) at WTF Gallery & Cafe and ordered them to erase the painting claiming that it is “insulting.”

CrCF director Pornpen Khongkachonkiet said that the event took place between 18.00 – 19.00. After the event ended, two police officers came to the venue to inform them of a noise complaint, but she told them that the sound they used was not loud and that they were already about to leave.

Around 20 plainclothes and uniformed officers from Thonglor Police Station then arrived and blocked the entrance to the alleyway. Pornpen said their behaviour was intimidating and prevented participants from taking their motorcycles out of the alleyway. An officer then came to tell them to erase the painting on the wall and asked her to go talk to him about the event.

Pornpen said that the police did not tell them why the painting needed to be erased and did not charge them. She said that the wall belongs to a privately-owned building that is often used for art events, and that they will have to wait and see whether they will be charged, but she believes that the police see even art as sensitive.

A Facebook live broadcast by one of the participants who confronted the police showed the officers arriving at the venue and ordering those who still remained in the area to erase the messages written around the painting, claiming that they are “insulting.”

The event was part of CrCF’s Safe in Custody Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about torture and inhuman treatment of detainees. During the event, artist Tawan Wattuya painted a portrait of young protesters arrested at a protest at the Din Daeng intersection while speaking about detainees’ experience. He also let other participants write messages around the painting.

The messages included “Fuck The King Kong” “Fuck The PoPo” “No God No K!-" "Only Humans” and “Royally Bestowed Bullet."

The Citizens’ Network to Protect the Monarchy, the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy and the Thai Raksa group have submitted a letter at Government House urging the Prime Minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, to check whether the international human rights NGO Amnesty International has damaged the security of the nation and monarchy.

On 25 November, a pro-monarchy group of 50 people were led by Noppadol Phrompasit and Anon Klinkaew to ask the PM to check Amnesty International (AI) Thailand’s operations and sources of finance.

The group was welcomed and admitted to Government House, unlike the network of musicians and entertainment workers who on 23 November were blocked by police from submitting a petition.

The group’s representatives said that AI’s Write for Rights campaign invites members around the globe to write to the Thai government asking for lèse majesté charges to be dropped against Panussaya Sitthijirawattanakul, one of the pro-democracy student activists. This, they claim, may be considered as interference in Thailand’s domestic affairs by a foreign entity and ignoring a Constitutional Court ruling.

This last charge refers to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on 11 November that found that calls for monarchy reform were unconstitutional.

The group urged that the government urgently look into AI’s activities. If evidence of domestic interference are found, AI must be expelled from the Kingdom.

Seksakol Atthawong, a former red shirt now assistant to the Prime Minister's Office came to receive the group’s letter. He said if he could not oust AI from Thailand, he would quit his post. He also said pressure to get rid of AI can be made via the law and people who are loyal to the monarchy.

On 23 November, in the face of pressure against them, AI Thailand posted “6 Facts that you may not know about Amnesty International” on Facebook, pointing out that it is a non-partisan, human rights NGO that receives no funds from any government. It is financed by donations and membership fees from human rights supporters. And its HQ is in London, not in the US.

AI set up an office in Thailand in 1996 and Amnesty International Thailand was registered as an association under Thai law in 2003. It faced a public backlash in 2018 when it campaigned publicly against the execution of a death row prisoner in the Kingdom. Death threats and threats of violence and rape were made online and at the AI office against staff and their family members.

The Taliban must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on journalist Ahmad Baseer Ahmadi and do everything in their power to protect the safety of members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

At about 5:30 p.m. on November 18, in Kabul, the capital, two unidentified men beat and attempted to shoot Ahmadi, a presenter at the privately owned broadcaster Ayna TV, according to a report by the local broadcaster TOLO News and a person familiar with the incident, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal by local armed groups.

Ahmad was walking home when the men, whose faces were covered by black handkerchiefs, shouted, “Reporter! Wait and stop,” and demanded to see his identification card and asked him where he worked, that person said.

When Ahmadi asked the men who they were, they told him not to ask questions and demanded he unlock his phone and open his WhatsApp and Facebook accounts; when Ahmadi refused, the men beat him with pistols on his head, hands, shoulders, and back, the person said.

Ahmadi called for help and the men shot at him, but missed as the journalist fell to the ground; they then kicked him, breaking his jaw and teeth, and fled the scene, the person told CPJ.

“The Taliban has repeatedly failed to uphold its stated commitment to press freedom, as violent attacks against journalists continue and proper investigations or accountability are nowhere to be found,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “The Taliban should reverse this trend by thoroughly investigating the attack on Ahmad Baseer Ahmadi, and holding the perpetrators accountable.”

Ahmadi was hospitalized for two nights following the attack, the person familiar with his case told CPJ.

That person said Ayna TV had stopped broadcasting following the Taliban takeover and recently resumed work in Afghanistan, and its content is now controlled by the Taliban. CPJ was able to locate examples of Ahmadi’s work at Ayna TV before the Taliban took control of the country; in June, he interviewed officials with the former Afghan government, and spoke to experts regarding violence against women and natural disasters. CPJ was unable to find examples of the journalist’s work after the Taliban takeover in August.

He previously reported on topics including the National Security Forces of the previous government for the privately owned broadcaster 24 TV.

Taliban deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi did not respond to CPJ’s request for comment sent via messaging app.

In October, unidentified gunmen injured journalists Abdul Khaliq Hussaini and Alireza Sharifi in separate attacks in Kabul, and Taliban members beat and detained Zahidullah Husainkhil, as CPJ documented at the time.

A high-school teacher who was arrested in southern Rakhine State’s Toungup Township early Saturday morning has not been heard from since, according to local residents.

Neighbours of Cherry Thet Shey say that plainclothes officers took the 40-year-old schoolteacher into custody at her home in Toungup’s Kanpai ward at around 9am on Saturday.

“We heard that she was being arrested, and when we went outside to check, we saw that she was already in a car,” said a local woman who witnessed the arrest.

Another resident of the area told Myanmar Now that the reason for the arrest was not clear, although it was known that Cherry Thet Shey had been taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) against military rule since February.

“She joined the CDM soon after the coup. She had also resigned from her job at the state education department. But we still don’t know why she was arrested,” said the neighbour, noting that no charges had been filed against her at the local police station.

“If taking part in the CDM was the reason for her arrest, they would have taken her away a long time ago,” he added.

Other residents expressed concern about the teacher’s elderly mother and two teenaged sons, who all depend on her for care.

“There’s nothing we can do right now but worry about her. We don’t even know where to go to ask about her,” said one woman living near the family’s home.

“I really want justice to prevail. We’re also worried about her being tortured,” the woman added.

Although the reaction to the coup has been relatively muted in Rakhine State, a number of people in southern parts of the state have been arrested on suspicion of involvement with the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF).

Sein Chit, a member of the Arakan Front Party, was arrested in Thandwe Township early last month for allegedly helping a local PDF group. Ye Naing Oo, a colleague who did charity work with Sein Chit, was arrested on the same charges later the same day.

About a week later, 23-year-old writer Min Dipar was taken into custody, also on suspicion of having PDF ties.

At least 10 local leaders of the ousted ruling party, the National League for Democracy, have also faced prosecution in the state on various charges. The party enjoys strong support in the state’s southern townships.

Earlier this month, two women and a teenaged girl were arrested in Thandwe Township and charged under the Counterterrorism Law after being accused of financing PDF operations.

Alternative news Pinoy Weekly has been subjected to another wave of cyberattacks, leading to the shutdown their website for almost two days.

In a statement issued by its publisher Pinoy Media Center, the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks happened on Nov. 17 and 18, where at least 10 gigabytes of requests were made to their server. While the website is now back online, the Pinoy Media Center said they “fear it may again be subject to an attack in the next few hours and days.”

DDoS refers to the flooding of a website server until it becomes inaccessible to its readers. PMC’s Board of Trustees assailed this as a press freedom violation.

Among the stories that were published around the time of attacks were an editorial on the ongoing alliance between the son of the dictator’s namesake Marcos Jr. and the president’s daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, an in-depth report on price hikes, and a news analysis on the people’s agenda for the 2022 elections.

Back in 2018 and 2019, Pinoy Weekly was among those subjected to continuous DDoS attacks along with other alternative online news such as Altermidya, Bulatlat, and Kodao. Sweden-based digital rights advocacy group Qurium Foundation later traced the attacks to two Philippine IT firms.

This year, amid another round of cyberattacks, Qurium’s forensic investigation on the attacks against Bulatlat and Altermidya led them to the doors of the Philippine government, particularly the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Army.

“We condemn these attacks against alternative and independent media groups like Pinoy Weekly of Pinoy Media Center. We call on the public to join us in resisting attempts to muzzle our voices online, and make these attacks accountable to law and the people,” the PMC said.

Pinoy Weekly, like other alternative media outfits in the Philippines, has been red-tagged by the government’s anti-communist task force and the Philippine National Police.

“We warn those responsible for the cyberattacks that we will not be cowed by attempts to silence us. We will not be intimidated and will fight back with everything at our disposal. We will soon take legal and other actions to make them accountable,” they added.

Karapatan today expressed disappointment over the Calamba City Regional Trial Court Branch 37’s denial of elderly human rights worker Nimfa Lanzanas’ omnibus motion to quash search warrants and suppress evidence in a resolution released on November 24, 2021.

Lanzanas, 61 years old, was among those arbitrarily arrested on March 7 this year in what has been dubbed as the “Bloody Sunday” raids of State forces in Southern Tagalog, where nine activists and indigenous farmers were killed and four including Lanzanas were arrested.

“It has been more than eight months since Lanzanas was arrested in the wee hours of the morning, in the presence of her young grandchildren. There is absolutely no truth to the statements of the police and military officers who alleged that she is part of a band of gun runners. She has been a paralegal of Karapatan Southern Tagalog since 2014 when her son Edward fell victim to almost the same kind of injustice that she faces now. We hope that the court will reconsider its decision and enable the release of Lanzanas, after months of being unjustly incarcerated,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.

In her motion, Lanzanas stated that the place searched was not covered by the search warrants issued by Manila City 3rd Vice Executive Judge Jason Zapanta, and asserted the important defect in the warrant on the particularity of the place of search. Lanzanas also averred that police and their alleged informant stated deliberate falsehoods during the application for search warrants, showing inconsistencies in their statements. She also questioned how probable cause was not established during the application of search warrants.

Lanzanas and her family have stated that the alleged evidence found in their home were planted by the soldiers and cops who conducted the raid. “It is highly improbable that guns and explosives were stored in that small house with three small grandchildren of Lanzanas. There were several instances during the said raid when the State forces may have had the opportunity to plant these weapons,” Palabay said.

Karapatan reiterated their call for the release of all 709 political prisoners, including Lanzanas and the 57 other elderly political prisoners, all of them victims of the same modus of planted evidence and perjured testimonies.

Majelis hakim Pengadilan Negeri Ambon memvonis mahasiswa Universitas Pattimura Ambon Risman Soulissa yang menyerukan demonstrasi menurunkan Presiden Joko Widodo dan Gubernur Maluku Murad Ismail. Aktivis Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI) Cabang Ambon ini divonis selama delapan bulan penjara oleh majelis hakim yang diketuai Lucky Rombot Kalalo di Pengadilan Negeri Ambon pada Jumat (23/10/2021). Dalam sidang dengan agenda pembacaan putusan itu, majelis hakim menilai perbuatan Risman telah melanggar ketentuan dalam pasal 14 ayat (2) UU RI Nomor 1 tahun 1964 Undang-undang Informasi Teknologi Elektronik. Tanggapan penasihat hukum Menanggapi putusan hakim tersebut, salah satu panasihat hukum terdakwa, Hamid Fakaubun mengaku kecewa dengan putusan hakim yang memvonis kliennya 8 bulan penjara dipotong masa tahanan. Menurut Hamid putusan hakim tersebut tidak mempertimbangkan sejumlah fakta persidangan. “Kita kecewa dengan vonis yang diberikan, karena hakim tidak mempertimbangkan fakta-fakta persidangan. Tentu selaku penasehat hukum dengan melihat semua fakta persidangan kita berharap klien kita bebas dari segala tuntutan tapi faktanya dia dihukum,” kata Hamid kepada Kompas.com, Selasa (26/10/2021). Hamid menjelaskan, saat ini tim kuasa hukum sedang membahas masalah tersebut guna memutuskan apakah akan melakukan banding terkait putusan hakim atau tidak. “Sebentar ini kita akan rapat untuk membahas masalah ini karena kemarin saat ditanya hakim kita menjawab masih pikir-pikir. Kita juga sudah koordinasi dengan keluarga dan keluarga menyerahkan sepenuhnya kepada tim PH, jadi kita tunggu direktur LBH sebentar dan kita akan putusan langkah selanjutnya,” ungkapnya. Risman sendiri sudah tiga bulan menjalani penahanan di Lapas Ambon. Apabila tim kuasa hukum memutuskan menerima putusan hakim, maka hukuman yang harus dijalani Risman Solissa tersisa lima bulan. Karena status Risman saat ini mahasiswa semester akhir di Universitas Pattimura, maka pihaknya akan berkoordinasi dengan pihak Lapas untuk mempermudah studi kliennya itu. “Kita akan bicara dengan pimpinan lapas dulu karena Risman ini statusnya mahasiswa semester akhir agar dia bisa melakukan aktivitas studinya juga karena ada hal-hal yang urgen yang harus dilakukan di kampus,” ungkapnya. Diberitakan sebelumnya, mahasiswa di Ambon bernama Risman Soulissa ditangkap sejumlah polisi di kawasan Poka, Kecamatan Teluk Ambon pada Minggu (25/7/2021) malam. Dia ditangkap setelah menyerukan aksi unjuk rasa menolak Pemberlakuan Pembatasan Kegiatan masyarakat (PPKM) di akun media sosial. Saat itu Risman juga menggunggah seruan mencopot Presiden Joko Widodo, Gubernur Maluku dan Wali Kota Ambon. Risman kemudian diperiksa kurang lebih delapan jam dan akhirnya ditetapkan sebagai tersangka pada Senin pagi. Polisi menjerat tersangka dengan 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.

Jerit tangisan ibu-ibu tak tertahan lagi, saat sejumlah anggota Brimob bersenjata AK 101 memborogol mereka. Para ibu dari Suku Adat Rendu di Desa Rendu, Kabupaten Nagekeo, NTT tersebut, menggelar aksi penghadangan petugas yang akan mengukur tanah adat mereka untuk Waduk Lambo.Masyarakat adat di Desa Rendu, masih belum setuju dengan rencana pemerintah membangun Waduk Lambo, karena bakal menenggelamkan tanah adat, makam keramat, dan tempat sakral untuk kegiatan ritual masyarakat adat.Para ibu rumah tangga yang bersikukuh melakukan penghadangan pengukuran tanah adat ini, kaget begitu melihat anggota Brimob yang mengendarai sejumlah motor trail, lengkap dengan senjata laras panjang, helm baja, dan rompi anti peluru menghampiri serta langsung memborogol tangan para ibu peserta aksi.Petugas pengukuran lahan langsung menyerobot masuk ke lokasi yang rencana akan dibangun waduk tersebut. Para ibu rumah tangga itu menangis histeris, menyaksikan petugas mulai mengukur tanah adat mereka dengan pengawalan ketat anggota Brimob.

Hermina Mawar, salah seorang ibu rumah tangga yang turut diborgol tangannya oleh anggota Brimob, mengaku sangat kecewa tanah adat yang secara turutn-temurun ditempati masyarakat adat Rendu bakal ditenggelamkan oleh pembangunan waduk. "Itu tanah ulayat. Tanah adat. Tanah leluhur kami. Di tanah itu ada makam leluhur kami yang selalu kami hormati. Tempat itu juga menjadi lokasi ritual adat kami. Sampai kapanpun kami akan menolak pembangunan waduk," tutur Hermina Mawar.

Hingah saat ini, masyarakat Adat Rendu masih terus berjaga-jaga di pintu masuk desanya. Mereka bersiap menghadang berbagai upaya untuk pembangunan waduk tersebut, karena sebagian tanah adat di lokasi yang akan dibangun waduk, mereka nilai sebagai tanah suci.

Kriminalisasi terhadap 2 petani yang tergabung dalam Koperasi Petani Sawit Makmur (Kopsa M) atas laporan PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) V dan proses tidak prosedural Polres Kampar, menunjukkan bahwa cara-cara lama perusahaan BUMN berkolaborasi dengan penegak hukum belum berubah.

"Praktik ini seharusnya menjadi masa lalu. Tetapi faktanya di lapangan masih banyak terjadi. Klaim bahwa PTPN V compliance dengan standar sustainability policy dan standar bisnis dan HAM dalam tata kelola perkebunan, ternyata hanya menjadi slogan untuk dagang Sawit ke dunia internasional," ungkap Ketua Setara Institute Hendardi di Jakarta, Selasa (14/9/2021).

Petani yang menjual hasil kebun sendiri, kata Hendardi, justru dituduh menggelapkan barang oleh PTPN V dan Polres Kampar dengan drama merampas truk milik koperasi dan melaporkannya kepada Polres Kampar.

Dalam sekejap, kurang dari 24 jam, Polres Kampar telah menetapkan tersangka. Kasus rekayasa dengan nomor LP/434/IX/2021/SPKT/POLRES KAMPAR/POLDA RIAU, tanggal 1 September 2021 ini, telah menjerat Kiki Islami Parsha (pada 2/9/2021) dan Samsul Bahri (pada 7/9/2021).

"Atas ancaman kriminalisasi tersebut, perwakilan 997 petani yang sedang memperjuangkan hak-haknya yang dirampas PTPN dan pihak swasta lainnya ini mendatangi Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK). LPSK telah menetapkan petani-petani Kopsa M berada dalam status perlindungan lembaga negara ini," kata Hendardi.

Petani-petani ini, lanjut Hendardi, adalah saksi dan korban dari tata kelola PTPN V yang tidak akuntabel dan memperdaya rakyat dalam skema kerja sama yang tidak setara.

"Penggunaan instrumen hukum untuk membungkam petani adalah tindakan indisipliner dan kesewenang-wenangan aparat yang tidak boleh dibiarkan," cetus Hendardi. Menkopolhukam Mahfud Md dan Kapolri Jenderal Listyo Sigit Prabowo, menurut Hendardi, harus menghentikan kriminalisasi yang memalukan institusi-institusi negara dan BUMN. "Komplonas dan Bareskrim Polri harus mengawasi secara langsung dan seksama atas peragaan kesewenang-wenangan aparat Polri. Visi Polri yang Presisi dari Kapolri harus dipatuhi jajaran kepolisian di level Polda, Polres dan Polsek di seluruh Indonesia," tandas Hendardi.

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:

1. Aksi dalam rangka memperingati Roma Agreement yang ke-59.
2. Mendesak Presiden Joko Widodo menarik anggota TNI-Polri yang ada di Papua karena membuat situasi masyarakat Papua tidak nyaman
3. Bebaskan tahanan politik Victor Yeimo yang mengalami sakit dan ditahan di Mako Brimob Jayapura
4. Menolak perpanjangan otsus karena dianggap sudah gagal menyejahterakan masyarakat Papua
5. Berikan hak untuk penentuan nasib sendiri (referendum)
6. Menolak Rrasisme dan tuntaskan pelanggaran HAM di Papua.

Sedikitnya ada delapan orang tergabung dalam Front Perjuangan Rakyat (FPR) sempat diamankan polisi ketika melakukan aksi di depan Istana Negara, Jakarta Pusat. Namun, polisi mengklaim telah memulangkan mereka. "Terhadap mereka yang kami amankan adalah rekan-rekan dari FPR sejumlah delapan orang," ujar Wakapolres Metro Jakarta Pusat, Ajun Komisaris Besar Polisi Setyo Heriyatno kepada wartawan, Jumat 24 September 2021. Polisi telah memeriksa kedelapan orang tersebut. Kemudian, mereka dapat edukasi dari pihak kepolisian. Setelah itu, polisi memulangkan kedelapan orang tersebut. "Untuk saat ini mereka telah kami pulangkan dengan dijemput oleh orangtuanya," kata dia. Setyo berdalih pengamanan yang dilakukan terhadap mereka merupakan langkah antisipasi terjadinya kerumunan. Pasalnya, mereka demo tapi tak menyampaikan pemberitahuan dulu ke polisi. "Berdasarkan UU nomor 9 Tahun 1998 tentang kemerdekaan menyampaikan pendapat dimuka umum, Pasal 6 yaitu dalam penyampaian pendapat di muka umum berkewajiban mentaati hukum dan ketentuan peraturan UU yang berlaku. Selain itu juga diatur dalam Inmendagri nomor 43 tahun 2021 tentang PPKM level 4, level 3 dan level 2 melarang setiap bentuk aktivitas atau kegiatan yang dapat menimbulkan kerumunan," ujar dia. Maka dari itu, Setyo mengatakan kalau apa yang mereka lakukan tidak lain dalam rangka menegakkan protokol kesehatan COVID-19.

"Dengan berdasar aturan tersebut tindakan Polres Metro Jakarta Pusat lakukan dalam hal ini adalah untuk menegakkan protokol kesehatan COVID-19 mengingat saat ini jumlah masyarakat yang terkonfirmasi positif COVID-19 di wilayah DKI Jakarta masih fluktuatif. Oleh karena itu yang kami lakukan mengacu kepada Adagium Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto yaitu keselamatan rakyat adalah hukum tertinggi," kata dia lagi.

Kunjungan Presiden Joko Widodo ke Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) diwarnai penangkapan 10 mahasiswa, Senin (13/9). Mereka ditangkap setelah membentangkan poster di Jalan ir Sutami yang dilalui Presiden Jokowi.

Dalam rilis yang diterima CNNIndonesia.com, aksi tersebut digelar mewakili Presiden dan Wakil Presiden BEM se-UNS. Poster berisi kritik tersebut ditujukan kepada Presiden Jokowi yang akan menghadiri Forum Rektor se-Indonesia di Auditorium Fakultas Kedokteran UNS. "Dalam peristiwa tersebut setidaknya ada 10 mahasiswa yang ditangkap oleh aparat," demikian menurut rilis yang dikirim oleh Presiden BEM UNS, Zakky Musthofa.

Mahasiswa yang pertama ditangkap bernama Daffa. Ia membentangkan poster di halte bus di dekat pintu masuk UNS sekitar pukul 10.59 WIB. Sekitar 11.13 WIB, Daffa dibawa oleh aparat ke dalam mobil hitam.

Dua orang mahasiswa bernama Khanif dan Tekwo sempat menghampiri Daffa sebelum memasuki mobil.

"Mereka berdua dibawa pula ke dalam mobil," katanya.

Aparat juga menggeledah tas milik Afif, Prama, Tema, dan Ammar. Aparat bahkan sempat memberhentikan motor yang dikendarai Tema dan Ammar sebelum menggeledah isi tas mereka. "Empat mahasiswa tersebut dibawa oleh aparat dengan mobil putih," katanya.

Selain tujuh mahasiswa tersebut, polisi juga menangkap tiga mahasiswa lain. Mereka yaitu Mishbakh, Wicak, dan Raden yang ingin menyuarakan aspirasinya.

"Mereka bertiga turut dibawa oleh aparat," katanya.

Zakky mengaku heran dengan penangkapan yang dilakukan aparat kepolisian. Pasalnya, mahasiswa memiliki tanggung jawab membela aspirasi rakyat.

"Kami pertanyakan apa yang jadi kesalahan teman-teman? Kami sebagai mahasiswa punya tanggung jawab membela rakyat. Ternyata tidak diberi kesempatan," katanya melalui telepon.

Apalagi, Zakky menilai aksi yang dilakukan BEM cukup santun seperti yang diminta oleh Jokowi.

"Poster kita kan enggak barbar. Isinya sama sekali enggak kasar," katanya. Sebelumnya, Gabungan BEM se-UNS juga sempat meminta waktu melalui pihak UNS untuk menyampaikan aspirasi secara langsung secara tatap muka dengan Presiden Jokowi. Sayangnya, permintaan tersebut ditolak.

"Ternyata kami tidak diberi kesempatan, baik secara akademis maupun di jalanan. Padahal kami tidak membuat aksi yang besar yang menimbulkan kerumunan," katanya.

Aksi mahasiswa yang tergabung dalam Gerakan Mahasiswa Nasional Indonesia (GMNI) dan Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI) dibubarkan paksa aparat kepolisian. Sejumlah mahasiswa bahkan dipukul mundur saat berorasi di kantor Badan Pertanahan Nasional (BPN) Kabupaten Sukabumi.

Pantauan di lokasi aksi massa berjumlah puluhan orang itu awalnya berjalan kondusif, massa mulai berdatangan sekitar pukul 13.30 WIB menggunakan mobil komando yang dilengkapi alat pengeras suara.

Sekitar 20 menit aksi demonstrasi berjalan, aparat kepolisian kemudian mengeluarkan peringatan menggunakan pengeras suara. Polisi menyebut aksi demonstrasi tersebut tidak mengantongi izin. Sekitar pukul 14.00 WIB, polisi mulai tegas memukul mundur mahasiswa dan SPI.

Aksi saling dorong terjadi pada saat polisi memaksa mundur sehingga terjadi kericuhan antara massa pengunjuk rasa dengan polisi. Petugas dari Sabhara Polres Sukabumi terus memaksa massa untuk membubarkan diri sehingga massa dari pengunjuk rasa mundur memenuhi Jalan Suryakencana, Kota Sukabumi.

"Aksi gabungan SPI - GMNI, berkaitan dengan hari tani nasional 2021. Namun aksi dibubarkan, persoalan dibubarkan bukan persoalan polisi yang benar atau kita yang benar tapi yang pasti seharusnya polisi mengatur karena jumlah kita sedikit. Tinggal diatur tanpa harus pembubaran paksa," kata Rozak Daud, perwakilan SPI kepada awak media, Jumat (24/9/2021).

Rozak juga membandingkan aksinya dengan giat vaksinasi yang digelar di Gedung Juang, menurutnya aksi itu juga menimbulkan kerumunan. "Vaksinasi Gedung Juang, di dalam halaman Gedung Juang tertata tapi di luar itu bagaimana tetap kerumunan. Bagaimana polisi tidak adil dalam mengatasi persoalan ini, kalau memang jumlahnya sedikit polisi lebih mudah mengatur," ungkap Rozak.

"Soal tidak ada izin, saya tidak sepakat sejak kapan aksi harus ada izin, kita harus mengirim surat pemberitahuan kita sudah dua kali mengirim surat pemberitahuan tapi tidak diterima oleh pihak kepolisian, kalau izin itu untuk keramaian aksi ini kan bisa pemberitahuan bukan izin, pemberitahuan sudah sejak hari Senin," sambung Rozak.

Dalam aksi kali ini, Rozak menyoroti keberpihakan BPN kepada petani yang dinilai tidak ada terlebih kepada tanah-tanah bermasalah di Kabupaten Sukabumi. Pihak SPI juga menyebut BPN Kabupaten Sukabumi adalah sumber masalah.

"BPN menjadi sumber masalah pertanahan, selama ini yang kita alami, setiap persoalan lokasi perkebunan. BPN selalu berkolaborasi dengan pihak perusahaan kongkalingkong, jarang BPN berpihak ke petani," kata perwakilan SPI, Rozak Daud kepada awak media, Jumat (24/9/2021).

SPI dijelaskan Rozak menggelar aksi dalam rangka peringatan hari tani 2021 pihaknya mengusung isu persoalan adanya 137 lahan di daerah yang saat ini sarat dengan konflik.

"Kita tarik ke persoalan di daerah ada 137 lahan konflik, sudah berdasarkan surat dari staf presiden. Dari jumlah itu ada 3 lokasi di Sukabumi, kami aksi hari ini jangan sampai lokasi ini bermasalah lagi dengan yang di wilayah Kecamatan Warungkiara. Itu sih yang kami bawa untuk mengingatkan pemerintah," ujar Rozak.

Rozak menyebut sejumlah lokasi yang berstatus konflik, dari tiga lokasi itu persoalannya disebut Rozak tidak kunjung usai. Bahkan BPN dinilai tidak proaktif menyelesaikan konflik tersebut.

"Tiga lokasi lahan itu ada dj Kecamatan Caringin, Desa Pasir Datar, kemudian Kecamatan Jampang Tengah, perkebunan dan Lengkong, perkebunan PT Jaya. Ingin segera dituntaskan dipersiapkan sejak dini setelah surat dari SPI. Selama ini BPN tidak bisa menanggapi secara serius, padahal BPN tahu 3 lokasi itu dimana, tidak ada respon setelah surat itu makanya kita melakukan aksi," tegas Rozak.

Sejumlah awak media mencoba mengkonfirmasi tuntutan massa aksi ke pihak BPN, namun hingga petang tadi tidak ada unsur pimpinan maupun staf kantor tersebut yang bersedia memberikan keterangan kepada media.

Sementara itu Wakapolres Sukabumi Kota, Kompol Wisnu Pradana mengatakan pembubaran paksa dilakukan pihaknya karena saat ini kondisi Kota Sukabumi masih dalam PPKM. Ia juga menegaskan bahwa aksi demonstrasi yang dilakukan mahasiswa tidak mengantongi izin.

"Kita kedatangan mahasiswa unras di kantor BPN, dalam hal ini kami mengapresiasi, aspirasi adalah hak masyarakat. Namun ketentuan diatur dalam perundang-undangan dengan kondisi sekarang masa PPKM dimana kami sedang berusaha keras menekan laju peningkatan COVID-19. Oleh karena itu kami sudah sampaikan tiga peringatan kepada rekan-rekan kami, kepada mahasiswa untuk dapat membubarkan diri," kata Wisnu.

Wisnu juga menyampaikan terimakasih karena bantuan dan kerjasama peserta aksi demo untuk menjaga situasi kamtibmas dan keselamatan masyarakat.

"Untuk kejadian tadi sangat disayangkan, sudah 3 kali peringatan, kegiatan tersebut tidak memiliki izin, kedua kegiatan dilakukan pada masa PPKM dimana orang dilarang berkumpul atau berkerumun oleh karena itu kami mendorong keluar dari tempat unjuk rasa. Sifatnya pembubaran kerumunan massa karena memang kita utamakan keselamatan masyarakat," pungkas Wisnu.

Sungguh naas nasib yang menimpa Hend, seorang jurnalis salah satu media online di Dumai, ia babak belur hingga alami lebam akibat diduga karena dihajar oleh anak buah salah satu pengusaha mafia BBM yang berada di pinggir jalan lintas perwira, kejadian Kamis (23/9/2021), sekitar pukul 11.20 WIB siang saat korban pulang liputan dari Gedung DPRD Kota Dumai, ia melintas di Jln. Perwira, Kelurahan Bagan Besar, Kecamatan Bukit Kapur.

Dari keterangan korban kepada wartawan menjelaskan, saat itu ia turun ke lokasi tempat kejadian peristiwa (TKP) dan saat itu, ia melihat Mobil Tangki bermuatan BBM, les Merah Putih bertuliskan Pertamina, di salah satu lokasi, diduga mafia penampungan BBM inisial EPH. Hend kemudian mengambil foto mobil tangki yang diduga sedang melakukan aktivitas ilegal (bongkar muatan/kencing BBM).

Saat pengambilan foto, Hend di hampiri 4 orang berpakaian preman penjaga gudang, dan spontan melakukan intimidasi/penyerangan, dengan memukulnya, akibatnya, pipi sebelah kanan memar, bibir sebelah atas kanan pecah luka, dan ada pukulan helm mendarat di kepalanya. Kemudian Foto barang bukti di hapus dan HP milik Hend pecah.

Selanjutnya kata Hend, ia dibawa ke belakang WC oleh oknum preman penjaga gudang dilokasi tersebut dan diminta untuk membuat pernyataan diatas kertas materai 10 ribu. Isi pernyataan, agar tidak menuntut di belakang hari dan akan dikenakan sangsi jika lakukan penuntutan.

“Kemudian saya diberi uang Rp 100 Ribu untuk biaya perobatan,” katanya.

Karena merasa tidak adil atas apa yang ia alami yang sudah babak belur akibat dihajar oleh oknum preman penjaga gudang mafia BBM, Hendri menolak dalam hati ia tidak terima di perlakukan seperti ini dan diberi uang Rp 100 tersebut untuk biaya perobatan.

“Saya kemudian kembali ke Kota dan menceritakan ke rekan-rejan Jurnalis atas kejadian yang menimpa saya. Rekan-rekan Jurnalis langsung merespon,” terang Hend.

Atas kejadian yang menimpa dirinya, Hend akhirnya melapor ke Polres Dumai dan dilakukan visum dan dimintai keterangan atas kejadian yang menimpa dirinya.

Sementata Ketua PWI Kota Dumai Bambang Rio saat di mintai tanggapan, ia mengaku masih fokus mendampingi korban.

“Nanti ya, masih mendampingi korban buat laporan,” ujarnya.

Untuk diketahui, sesuai UU Pers no 40 Tahun 1999, Pasal 4 Ayat 1 sebagai landasan hukum kegiatan jurnalistik, Kemerdekaan Pers dijamin sebagai hak asasi warga negara. Ayat 3, untuk menjamin kemerdekaan Pers, Pers Nasional mempunyai hak mencari, memperoleh, dan menyebarluaskan gagasan dan informasi.

Sementara, Pasal 18 ayat 1 mengatur Sanksi Pidana, berbunyi “Setiap orang yang secara melawan hukum dengan sengaja melakukan tindakan yang berakibat menghambat atau menghalangi pelaksanaan ketentuan Pasal 4 ayat (2) dan ayat (3) dipidana dengan pidana penjara paling lama 2 (dua) tahun atau denda paling banyak Rp.500.000.000,00 (lima ratus juta rupiah)”.

Aksi Peringatan Hari Oligarki dan G30S/TWK oleh Aksi Kamisan yang tergabung dalam Aliansi Semarang Raya di Kantor Gubernuran, Kamis (30/09) berakhir ricuh. Dalam Press Release yang dilaksanakan pada Kamis (30/09) pukul 19.30 WIB, disebutkan bahwa terdapat tujuh massa aksi yang mendapat tindakan represif dari aparat kepolisian, yakni:

G – Mahasiswa Undip
RH – Mahasiswa Undip
BG – Mahasiswa Undip
G – Mahasiswa Undip
MS – LPM Hayam Wuruk
NC – Walhi Jawa Tengah
CG – PBH LBH Semarang

Kericuhan ini dinilai karena pembubaran paksa oleh aparat, mengingat dalam Pasal 6 ayat (2) Perkap Nomor 9 Tahun 2008 telah diatur bahwa aksi di tempat terbuka dapat dilakukan pukul 06.00 – 18.00 WIB, lalu dilanjutkan Pasal 13 ayat (1) huruf b Undang-Undang Nomor 9 Tahun 1998 tentang koordinasi antara koordinator aksi dengan Polri apabila aksi dilaksanakan hingga larut malam. Dalam kericuhan tersebut, polisi menangkap mahasiswa yang dianggap sempat meneriaki polisi dengan kata-kata yang tidak pantas.

“Tadi mereka meneriaki kami dengan kata-kata tak pantas,” terang Wakasat Sabhara Polrestabes Semarang, Kompol R Justinus, dikutip dari TribunJateng.com.

Pernyataan ini mendapat tanggapan dari CG, salah satu massa aksi yang mendapat tindakan represif dari aparat. Menurutnya, mahasiswa tidak dapat dianggap sebagai penyebab kericuhan mengingat upaya pembubaran oleh aparat telah dilakukan sejak pukul 17.45 WIB.

“Sebelum jam berakhir, ancaman pembubaran sudah ada. Kalau disebutkan penyebabnya mahasiswa dan berakibat represif, tidak masuk akal. Kami juga tidak mengucapkan kata-kata kasar kepada polisi, melainkan kepada UU Ciptaker,” jelasnya.

Selain itu, polisi menuding kegiatan aksi ini tidak memiliki izin. Gusti sebagai salah satu massa aksi menyangkal tudingan tersebut dengan mengatakan bahwa dalam pasal 10 Undang-Undang Nomor 9 Tahun 1998 tidak disebutkan perlunya izin dalam aksi, melainkan pemberitahuan tertulis yang ditujukan kepada Polri.

“Kami sudah mengirimkan surat pemberitahuan pada 29 September siang,” ujarnya saat diwawancarai langsung oleh awak Manunggal.

CG menyayangkan tindakan aparat yang langsung membubarkan paksa massa aksi, alih-alih berkoordinasi dengan koordinator aksi. Padahal, dalam pasal 7 Undang-Undang Nomor 9 Tahun 1998 tentang Hak dan Kewajiban dijelaskan bahwa aparat pemerintah berkewajiban dan bertanggung jawab untuk melindungi hak asasi manusia, menghargai asas legalitas, menghargai prinsip praduga tak bersalah, dan menyelenggarakan pengamanan.

“Polisi membubarkan massa aksi dengan tindakan kekerasan. Beberapa di antaranya: pukulan pada pelipis mata, muka, kepala bagian belakang, tendangan ke arah perut dan bagian rusuk,” tutup CG.

Aksi yang dilakukan di Gubernuran Jawa Tengah tersebut bertepatan dengan pemecatan 58 pegawai Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) yang tidak lolos Tes Wawasan Kebangsaan (TWK).

Perwakilan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Semarang, Dhika, mengatakan aksi dimulai sekitar pukul 16.00 WIB dengan titik kumpul di patung kuda Pleburan.

“Lagi-lagi negara mengerahkan kekuatan berlebih untuk memberangus kebebasan berpendapat,” ucapnya dalam rilis yang dibagikan, dikutip Pikiran-Rakyat.com, Jumat, 1 Oktober 2021.

Setelah berkumpul, massa kemudian melakukan long march ke titik aksi di Kantor Gubernur Jawa Tengah.

Pada aksi ini, massa melakukan berbagai kegiatan seperti orasi, musikalisasi puisi, dan aksi teatrikal.

“Sekitar 17.45 WIB, sesaat sebelum aksi teatrikal dimulai, aparat Kepolisian keluar dari gerbang kantor Gubernur dan memaksa massa aksi untuk bubar, dengan alasan sudah lewat waktu yang ditetapkan Undang-Undang,” tutur Dhika.

Padahal, berdasarkan penjelasan Pasal 13 ayat (1) huruf b UU Nomor 9 Tahun 1998 tentang kemerdekaan menyampaikan pendapat di muka umum, anggota Polisi diwajibkan berkoordinasi dengan koordinator aksi.

THE NATIONAL Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested human rights activist Khurram Parvez in Srinagar in connection with a case filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including terror funding.

Earlier in the day, the NIA raided Parvez’s residence and also carried out searches at the office of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) in Srinagar. Parvez is the programme coordinator of the JKCCS, a federation of human rights groups and individuals working in J&K founded in 2000 by human rights lawyer and activist Parvez Imroz.

While Parvez was initially detained for questioning, the NIA formally arrested him in the evening. The arrest memo says he was arrested in the case, FIR RC-30/2021/NIA/DLI filed on November 6, under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging, attempting to wage, abetting waging of war against the government), and 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by Section 121); and Sections 17 (raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy), 18B (recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act) and 40 (raising funds for a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Sources said Parvez’s family was informed about his arrest in the evening, and he is likely to be taken to New Delhi on Tuesday. The arrest memo says his brother, Sheikh Shaharyar, was informed about his arrest.

In October last year, the NIA had raided Parvez’s residence and office in Srinagar, along with the residences of several activists and journalists. Following the protests after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in 2016, Parvez was booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) by the then Mehbooba Mufti-led government.

Nine lawyers, including President of the Nepal Bar Association Chandeshwor Shrestha and NBA Central Committee member Prakash Maharjan, were injured today when police used force against the protesting lawyers who were staging a sit-in at the main entrance of the Supreme Court.

While Shrestha suffered minor injuries, Maharjan was hit in the head and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, according to a press release issued by the NBA.

Senior Advocate Sabita Bhandari Baral, Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association Rishiram Ghimire, advocates Kapilchandra Ghimire, Yubaraj Banjade, Nitesh Shrestha, Raman Lal Karna, and Gopal Sapkota were also injured in police action.

The lawyers were protesting in front of the Supreme Court in Kathmandu demanding Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana’s resignation.

The lawyers on Thursday also vowed not to let Rana enter the Supreme Court. They have been trying to stop the chief justice from reaching office since Friday. However, Rana was using another gate to enter his office, while lawyers staged their sit-ins in front of the main gate.

On Thursday, according to court officials, the lawyers moved towards another gate that Rana had been using, only to be stopped by security personnel. Some were injured in the scuffle.

Rishi Ghimire, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association and advocates Kapil Chandra Pokhrel and Yubaraj Banjade were also injured in the incident.

The protest in the Supreme Court first started on October 25 after justices refused to attend a full court meeting called by Rana. The justices accused Rana of not taking initiatives to bring reforms in the judiciary. The Supreme Court Bar Association and Nepal Bar Association then joined in. Hearings were affected, as judges boycotted benches.

But on Monday, five justices decided to return to benches, and four of them did hear cases assigned by Rana.

Lawyers, however, have said they will continue their protest as Rana’s resignation is their bottom line.

Justices now appear to have toned down their protest and are keen on returning to benches if cases are assigned through a raffle system. One of the demands of the protesting justices is that the chief justice should not prepare the cause list–which is a list of cases assigned to various justices.

After Thursday’s scuffle with police, the Nepal Bar has demanded that the Supreme Court administration remove security personnel other than those deployed for security of the court.

A teacher from Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin Township who had been taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was arrested on Wednesday afternoon. Within hours, his family was notified that he had died at an interrogation centre.

Zaw Min Aung, 40, was a high school teacher participating in a general strike across Myanmar in accordance with the CDM, which aims to topple the junta that seized power in February’s military coup.

He was arrested from his home in Myintha village at around 11am by a large group of soldiers and policemen.

A local teacher told Myanmar Now that the victim’s family was notified at around 5pm by officials from the police station in the nearby village of Kyar Nyat that he had died.

“We were only told that he died during the interrogation. We don’t know the exact cause of his death. His body was all wrapped up with only his face exposed,” the teacher said, adding that Zaw Min Aung was reportedly cremated at the Kyar Nyat cemetery.

Another local said that it was likely that Zaw Min Aung was wrongly flagged by a military informant as being involved in the anti-coup movement beyond his participation in the CDM, and was subsequently targeted.

“He was a very honest and quiet person. He liked to help people, too. His only political action was taking part in the CDM. I think he was tipped off to the military by an informant,” the local man said.

Another Myintha resident, 30-year-old Moe Kyaw, was also arrested for shouting warnings to villagers that junta troops had arrived on Wednesday. He was later released from the Kyar Nyat police station, but was reportedly tortured during his interrogation, another villager told Myanmar now.

Of Zaw Min Aung, the latter villager said, “it saddens me a lot to see that a teacher from our village had to face such a fate.”

Myanmar Now tried to contact the Kyar Nyat police station in Thabeikkyin regarding the arrests and the teacher’s death, but all calls went unanswered.

Zaw Min Aung leaves behind a wife and two young sons.

Other teachers participating in the CDM have been recently targeted in Mandalay Region, arrested and killed in military custody.

Thein Zaw, a teacher from Kin village in Madaya Township, was accused of supporting the anti-coup People’s Defence Force and kidnapped by the military on October 6. He was forced to guide his captors to his home three days later, and was killed en route. His body was disposed of by the junta’s armed forces near the village cemetery.

Win Lwin, from Ywar Bo village in Sintgaing Township was also arrested on November 1 and died one day later in military custody.

Villagers in Leik San Khun in Amarapura Township tore up a notice posted on the junta’s local administration office, threatening teachers with death if they did not return to work.

Soldiers responded by carrying out a raid on a group of locals preparing for a wedding, and beating those present.

Thabeikkyin Township was once the site of mass demonstrations against military rule, but the protests waned after leaders were forced into hiding by the junta’s crackdowns.

A court in Kazakhstan has sentenced an activist to one year of restricted freedom for openly supporting the banned Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement and its associated party, the unregistered Koshe (Street) party, amid an ongoing crackdown on supporters of the two opposition groups.

A court in the northwestern city of Oral sentenced Orynbai Oqasov on November 18 after finding him guilty of taking part in unsanctioned rallies organized by the DVK and Koshe earlier this year and supporting such rallies on social networks.

Oqasov rejected the charges, saying he used his right to express his thoughts and opinions. His lawyer, Zhanbolat Kolzhanov, said the court's ruling will be appealed.

Many activists across the Central Asian nation have been handed lengthy prison terms or parole-like restricted freedom sentences in recent years for their involvement in the activities of the DVK and the Koshe party, as well as for taking part in the rallies organized by the two groups.

The DVK is led by Mukhtar Ablyazov, the fugitive former head of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank and an outspoken critic of the Kazakh government. Kazakh authorities labeled the DVK extremist and banned the group in March 2018.

Human rights groups have said Kazakhstan’s law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as it requires preliminary permission from authorities to hold rallies and envisions prosecution for organizing and participating in unsanctioned rallies even though the nation’s constitution guarantees its citizens the right of free assembly.

The Kazakh authorities have insisted there are no political prisoners in the Central Asian country.

Tibetan villagers and Chinese officials clashed this month over the failure of authorities to pay compensation for land taken for a construction project, with at least one scuffle breaking out at the worksite, local sources said.

No injuries were reported in the brawl on Nov. 10 in Domda village in the Yushul (in Chinese, Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, historically a part of northeastern Tibet’s Amdo region, a Tibetan living in the area told RFA this week.

“No one was allowed to record any videos or take photos of the commotion, and no one was hurt,” RFA’s source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “However, this land issue has become very critical now, and all construction work has been halted for the time being.”

To promote local development, Chinese officials earlier this year seized a large parcel of land from Domda residents, and though authorities promised to pay compensation to the villagers whose land was taken, no money has yet been paid, the source said.

“So some local Tibetans from the village went to the construction site last week to halt the work until they are compensated for their land,” the source said, adding that villagers were threatened when they pressed their claims, leading to the clash.

China has worked for years to move large numbers of nomadic herders and other Tibetans from their ancestral lands without their consent, said Zamlha Tenpa Gyaltsen, a researcher at the Tibet Policy Institute in the Dharamsala, India.

“The Chinese government tries to justify these policies as efforts to rapidly lift the living standards of rural Tibetans and protect the environment. However, these policies have raised a lot of suspicions,” Gyaltsen said.

Tensions have risen in the Domda area, a region known for its scenic beauty and good supplies of water and electricity, since work began four years ago to demolish nomad housing and replace it with housing built for Chinese migrants and tourists, sources told RFA in earlier reports.

In August, Chinese police stopped a group of Tibetans traveling on the road to Domda, pushing one who objected to a random search into a river, where he later died, and shooting another who attempted to intervene, sources said.

Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force 70 years ago.

Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the region, restricting Tibetans’ political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment and extrajudicial killings.

Police in the coastal Vietnamese city of Danang summoned a former activist who runs a beef noodle stall for questioning Tuesday after he posted a video on social media in which he imitated a celebrity chef who had hand fed gold-coated beef to the country’s public security chief in a video that went viral this month.

The police came knocking six days after noodle vendor Bui Tuan Lam posted a video clip of himself on Facebook gyrating and spreading salt like Turkish celebrity chef and social media star known as Salt Bae, who served a pricey cut of beef to Vietnam’s top cop To Lam in early November.

Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, served a Golden Giant Tomahawk steak to To and his entourage in London, where they stopped after representing Vietnam at the United Nations climate change conference in Scotland.

A video of To’s party being fed the U.S. $1,975 piece of meat obtained by RFA’s Vietnamese Service went viral, prompting social media comments raising questions about the propriety of a Communist Party official on a monthly salary of roughly U.S. $660 eating such a luxury meal. Subsequent media reports noted the delegation had also visited the London grave of Karl Marx during the trip.

Bui, known as Peter Lam Bui among activists in Vietnam, used to be active in human rights and justice advocacy.

In his video clip, Bui calls himself “Onion Leaf Bae” after the signature move of the celebrity chef, who writhed dramatically as he sprinkled salt on To’s steak.

“This morning they came to my house — two officers from the city security agency, an officer in charge of my locality, and, of course, some plainclothes person doing filming outside,” Bui told RFA.

The reason for the summons was not clear and only said that it requested that Bui go to an office “to provide information about a criminal dealing for investigation work,” he said.

A video of the police visit recorded by Bui shows him asking officers for the reason for the summons, but he was not given one.

“I refused [to go] and said that if the reason was stated clearly in the order, I would work with them because in principle the order is related to a legal case, so it cannot be so general given that someone could be indicted based on what I said,” Bui said.

After listening to Bui’s explanation, the police officers threatened to forcefully escort him to their office, he said.

The video clip might not be primary reason for his most recent summons, Bui suggested, noting that he has received such notices in past months and ignored them.

But he added that his imitation of Salt Bae may have irritated police enough for them to follow up.

“For me, the clip’s impact, if any, is just that they are upset by having to deliver the summons,” he said. “They have had it in mind for a long time to summons me.”

Gökçe, 38, has opened 17 steak restaurants around the world, and videos of his meat-salting performances have been seen and shared by millions. When his London eatery opened in September, it was slammed for U.S. $34 desserts and U.S. $135 hamburgers in the British press, which ran features on stratospheric Salt Bae dinner tabs.

Troops on Monday raided the office of a Mandalay-based charity helping people displaced by violence and arrested its chairwoman on accusations that she had been supporting the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in its fight against the junta.

Nwe Nwe Win, 43, was taken in the evening by 10 plainclothes soldiers from the Shwe Mahar Nwe social welfare group’s office on 25th street, in the city’s Aungmyay Thazan Township.

She is reportedly being questioned at the interrogation center inside Mandalay Palace and has also been accused of supporting striking workers involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

“They accused her of financially supporting staff members taking part in the CDM, as well as the PDFs,” said a source close to the charity who wanted to remain anonymous. “They ransacked the entire office and even broke open packages of donations to the orphanage and IDP camps.”

Shwe Mahar Nwe was founded in 2014 and also organises blood donation drives, a spokesperson for the group told Myanmar Now. “We were only accepting clothes donations for IDPs as winter is coming, but they accused us of something else entirely,” he said.

Hours after Nwe Nwe Win was arrested, soldiers returned to the office in search of two other team members but were unable to find them, added the spokesperson.

On October 6 a teacher named Thein Zaw, from the village of Kin in Madaya Township, was accused of financially supporting the PDF and arrested.

He was killed three days later while travelling to his home with the soldiers, who appear to have forced him to show them where he lived, according to two local sources.

Also in October, a local philanthropist and restaurant owner from Pyin Oo Lwin Township named Po Pyae Thu was accused of supporting the CDM and the PDF and was arrested, a source close to her family said.

A man who was detained when soldiers were unable to find his nephew during a raid in Mandalay Region last week died in junta custody within hours, with his body showing signs of severe injury when his family went to collect it.

Ye Aung, 33, was taken from home to the village of Kyauktada, Madaya Township, on Friday afternoon when troops arrived searching for his 24-year-old nephew, who is a protest organiser in the village.

The family has said they do not want to disclose the name of the protest leader, who has been in hiding for several months. Soldiers also took the protest leader’s 48-year-old father, Myint Aung, who has not been heard from since.

“They both were taken at around 4pm and Ye Aung's family was notified the next morning that he had died,” a Kyauktada villager told Myanmar Now. “I heard he was sent to the interrogation center. The family had to go there to take his body back home.”

Ye Aung’s body showed signs that he had been badly beaten in custody; he had numerous injuries on his head, said the villager. Ye Aung left behind his baby and his wife, who had given birth just a few days before he was detained.

Neither of the two men who were taken took part in the underground movement against the dictatorship, the villager said.

Soldiers destroyed furniture and took computers, mobile phones and money from the house while arresting Ye Aung, locals said.

Myint Naing’s family are reportedly in fear for his life as they heard that he was also sent to the interrogation center.

Locals from Mattaya said that the military has conducted frequent raids on villages within the township since early November and arrested several teachers taking part in the Civil DIsobedience Movement (CDM).

Local resistance forces in the township have launched ambushes against military units.

On Friday a bomb exploded at a security checkpoint on the road leading into the township, killing a military captain, a private, and three police officers, said local news reports and the Madaya People's Defence Force (PDF).

Then on Saturday soldiers arrested a married couple, both teachers, who were taking part in the CDM. The couple were beaten at their home before being taken away to an undisclosed location.

“I think teachers have become their favourite targets lately. We still haven’t heard anything about the teacher couple,” said a Madaya local.

In early October 35-year-old Thein Zaw was detained by junta forces in Madaya and his body was found near his village three days later.

Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday detained relatives of two civilians killed in a controversial gunfight after the families staged a protest in Srinagar demanding that local police return the bodies for traditional burial.

The two civilians were among four people killed in a shootout with government security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this week, and their families have accused those troops of lying about how the raid unfolded.

Police say the civilians died in the crossfire between government troops and rebels. But witnesses and families of the civilians say Indian troops used those civilians as human shields during the standoff.

On Tuesday, police in the disputed region’s main city said that four people were killed in the raid.

The fight, according to police, left dead a foreign "terrorist," Hyder — whose alias, according to police, is Bilal Bhai — along with his "associate," Aamir Ahmad, and "two sympathizers," Mudasir Gul and Altaf Ahmad Bhat.

Vijay Kumar, police inspector general for the Muslim-majority Kashmir region, told reporters that police had information about the presence of militants in the area.

"The joint teams of police, central reserve police force and army set up a cordon and searched," he said, adding that when government forces knocked on the door of a room where the militants were hiding, militants shot at them, and in "self-defense, troops opened fire."

The gunfight took place inside a three-story shopping center owned by Bhat, who sold cement and hardware on the ground floor. Gul rented the first floor, where he operated a construction business and a call center where he employed Ahmad as a helper.

'Gunfight was staged'

"I believe the gunfight was staged," eyewitness Mohammad Shafi told VOA. "Police have constantly changed their statements."

Shafi disputed the police claim of killing four people, including a foreign militant.

"Following the gunfight, I saw only three bodies being taken out from the building before leaving the spot,” he said. “I wonder, who was the fourth one?"

Another eyewitness, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said he knew the three people killed, especially Bhat, who was a "classmate and neighbor." He believes all three were innocent civilians.

The eyewitness told VOA that police first rounded up everyone on the premises and led them to a nearby showroom.

"Then a few policemen asked [Bhat] and [Gul] to accompany them inside Bhat's building, and they obeyed," he said.

Police went inside and came back out multiple times before taking Gul's worker Ahmad inside as well.

Soon after, bystanders heard gunshots.

A picture of Bhat's bloodied body started circulating on local Facebook pages. Later, police tweeted that militants had been killed in the encounter.

'Human shield'

Journalist Saima Bhat, Bhat's niece, accused police of using her uncle as a human shield.

"You killed my innocent uncle Mohammad Altaf Bhat in cold-blooded murder in Hyderpora [neighborhood], you used him as human shield and now saying he was ‘OGW.’ Return us his body," she tweeted, using an acronym for "over ground workers," a regional colloquialism for people who provide logistical support to militants or terrorists.

Bhat's brother Abdul Majeed told VOA the authorities have falsely accused his brother of supporting militancy.

"I challenge the inspector general of police to prove that my brother was an OGW," Majeed said with tears in his eyes before criticizing police for risking the lives of ordinary citizens by including them in search operations.

"If [police and army] had information about the presence of militants, they should conduct their own searches without risking innocent lives," he said.

According to Majeed, Ahmad was a poor worker who did odd jobs for Gul.

"The first time government forces entered inside the building, they frisked [Ahmad] and asked him to wait downstairs,” Majeed said. “Had he been a militant, they would have nabbed him right then."

'At least return his body'

Gul, the third person killed in the fight, was a physician who had switched to the construction business. Police labelled him a "white-collar terrorist," but his family and friends called his killing "cold-blooded murder."

Gul's father, Ghulam Mohammad Rather, is calling for a judicial probe.

"My son had nothing to do with any militant organization," he said. "At least return his body so we can perform his last rites."

One of Gul's friends alleged that the police were "cooking up something" because they kept changing their statement.

Police account

Inspector Kumar says police approached the families of Gul and Bhat about participating in the burial.

"Since we have apprehensions of law-and-order problems, we cannot hand over bodies to families,” he said. “We took bodies to Handwara — some 90 kilometers from Srinagar — where burial took place."

In a statement, police said that two pistols were recovered from the site of the encounter, and that the call center in Bhat's building had been used for terrorist activities.

Police initially said both Bhat and Gul were injured and eventually killed by "terrorists firing," but later said that both men may have been caught in the crossfire between the alleged militants and police.

"I'm saying [Bhat] was killed in cross-firing,” Kumar said. “I'm not saying if he was killed by militants or if we fired at him. During the encounter, whose bullet hit him is a matter of investigation. If he was hit by a pistol bullet, then terrorists have killed him; if hit by AK rifle, then we can say he was hit by our bullet."

Demand for independent inquiry

The incident has sparked outrage across the valley, and various political parties have condemned it.

The former chief minister of Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, accused the Indian government of atrocities.

"Using innocent civilians as human shields, getting them killed in cross firing & then conveniently labelling them as OGWs is part of [the government of India's] rulebook now,” Mufti tweeted. “Imperative that a credible judicial enquiry is done to bring out the truth & put an end to this rampant culture of impunity."

Student activist Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul has been denied bail on a royal defamation charge relating to a protest on 20 December 2020, in which activists wore crop tops at Siam Paragon shopping mall to campaign for the repeal of the royal defamation law.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported on Monday (15 November) that Panusaya went to testify to the South Bangkok Criminal Court on the case, along with 4 other activists who were charged in the same case: Benja Apan, Parit Chiwarak, Panupong Jadnok, and Phawat Hiranphon. Two other activists were also charged, but since they are minors, their case is being heard separately.

The activists were charged with royal defamation under Section 112, after they walked around Siam Paragon in crop tops to campaign for the repeal of the royal defamation law and to make a statement that it is not illegal to wear a crop top, after a 16-year-old protester was charged with royal defamation for wearing a crop top to a protest and writing the message “My father’s name is Mana, not Vajiralongkorn” on his back.

Parit also wrote the message “Repeal Section 112” and “Reform the monarchy” on his arms, as well as “My mother doesn’t cheat” on his waist. Panusaya wrote “I only have one father” on her stomach. Benja wrote “My father’s name is not…” and “Are you insane?” on her stomach and waist, and walked behind Parit and Panusaya while carrying a handbag on a golden tray with pedestal.

Meanwhile, Phawat walked around with the group, bowing, saying 'Long live the King', and presenting flowers to Parit and Panusaya.

The public prosecutor claimed that their action mocked the King and that they intended to damage the King’s reputation and to cause people to lose their respect for him.

The complaint against them was filed by Acting Sub Lt Narin Sakcharoenchaikun, a member of the royalist group Thai Pakdee, which also filed a similar charge against Anon Nampa for his Facebook post of a letter to the King.

TLHR said that the 5 activists denied all charges, and noted that observers from the Embassies of Finland and Luxembourg were also present in the courtroom. The court then scheduled 2 more hearings on 26 November 2021 and 24 January 2022.

Since Panusaya was not brought to court when the public prosecutor indicted her on 29 June 2020, she has to file a bail request using a 200,000-baht security, which is covered by the Will of the People Fund, a bail fund for people facing charges for political expression.

However, the court denied her bail on the grounds that she has committed similar offenses, and is likely to repeat her offense if released. The order was signed by judge Santi Chukitsappaisan, Research Justice of the Supreme Court, temporarily acting as the Deputy Chief Justice of the South Bangkok Criminal Court.

Panusaya is detained at the Central Women Correctional Institution. This is the second time this year that she has been detained pending trial on a charge relating to pro-democracy protests, after she was previously detained for 60 days on charges relating to the 19 – 20 September 2020 protest before being released on 6 May 2021.

According to TLHR, 25 people are detained pending trial on charges relating to their participation in pro-democracy protests, 6 of them on royal defamation charges: Parit Chiwarak, Jatupat Boonpattaraksa, Anon Nampa, Panupong Jadnok, Benja Apan, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul.

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court on Friday reduced the prison sentences of three jailed activists with the environmentalist group Mother Nature, theoretically making them eligible for release.

Long Kunthea, Thun Ratha and Phuon Keoraksmey were convicted in May and handed prison sentences of 18-20 months and fines of $1,000. They had been arrested in September 2020 and accused of incitement for planning a one-person march to advocate against the filling of Boeung Tamok lake in Phnom Penh. The group has been imprisoned since then and have since been hit with additional criminal charges of plotting.

The Appeal Court, which held a hearing for the three activists in late October, announced Friday morning a reduction in their sentences to 14 months, which would allow the trio to be freed on time served. Kunthea and Keoraksmey told a VOD reporter they expected to be released Friday evening, but they have not yet left prison as of publication of this article.

Their defense lawyer, Sam Sokong, said that while the activists have completed their reduced sentences for the earlier incitement charges, they’re now being held in pretrial detention for the plotting charges. Since the trio was already serving their prison sentences when those additional charges were filed, Sokong explained, the defense had not yet asked for bail but will do so next week.

If that request for bail is granted, the activists should be able to leave prison.

Despite their reduced sentences, the two activists said they were unhappy with the court’s decision to uphold their convictions and reasserting their innocence of any wrongdoing.

“We consider the court’s decision is still an injustice for us because we have not done anything wrong as we were charged,” Kunthea said.

Ratha said their advocacy was of national interest and he would consider appealing the guilty verdict after consulting with his lawyers.

“I am still strong because this is a matter for the whole country. I am not happy with the court’s decision because I have not committed [a crime] as I was charged,” Ratha said.

The three activists are also facing a plotting charge in a case that involves three other Mother Nature activists who were arrested in June. Sun Ratha and Yim Leanghy are charged with plotting and insulting the king, while Ly Chandaravuth is charged only for plotting.

The verdict coincided with the Friday morning release of five imprisoned activists from the officially banned opposition CNRP, as well as the youth activist groups Khmer Student Intelligent League Association and Khmer Thavrak.