INDONESIA: Man found dead after being arrested and detained by anti-terror police unit

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-022-2016
ISSUES: Impunity, Right to fair trial, Right to remedy,

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the death of Mr. Siyono, who was arrested and detained by the anti-terror police unit (known as Special Detachment 88), on accusation of being a terrorist. The police initially stated that Mr. Siyono died while attacking a police officer guarding him at the police office. Recently however, the police revised its statement, saying Mr. Siyono died from being hit by a hard object on the back of his head.

CASE NARRATIVE:

On 10 March 2016, the police arrested Mr. Siyono and searched his house in Pogung village, Cawas sub district, klaten Regency, Central Java province. The house also functions as a kindergarten, and the searching scared the children who were studying there.

On March 11, Siyono’s family received information from the secretariat of Pogung village that Siyono has passed away, and the family should go to Jakarta to verify the information. The head of Pogung village was also ordered by the police to prepare Mr. Siyono’s burial site. His family and the village head were concerned at Siyono’s death, as he had no health problems prior to being arrested by the police.

According to the autopsy of the Kramat Jati Hospital in Jakarta, Mr. Siyono died from bleeding in the brain due to being hit by a hard object. Finally, at a press conference on March 14, police spokesman Inspector General Anton Charliyan confirmed the autopsy result, and further acknowledged that the police had breached procedure in handling terrorist suspects.

Siyono’s family also noted that before the burial, Siyono’s head was still bleeding.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

War against terrorism in Indonesia conducted by the anti-terror police unit, Special Detachment 88, has never been seriously evaluated over the last ten years. In many cases, the unit breached standards of procedure, even going as far as torture, wrongful arrest and fabricated charges. Under these circumstances, the government should comprehensively evaluate the Detachment, and strengthen internal and external oversight upon it. Most importantly, the government must ensure that any violation or crimes conducted by the Detachment are handled according to the law, thus avoiding human rights abuses against innocent civilians and impunity.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute police officers involved in this case, and ensure that the police along with the government should comprehensively evaluate the war against terrorism in Indonesia.

The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for their intervention into this matter.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear ………………..,

INDONESIA: Man found dead after being arrested and detained by anti-terror police unit

Name of victims : Siyono (39)
Names of alleged perpetrators: Special Detachment Anti-Terror (Densus 88)
Date of incident : 10 -11 March 2016
Place of incident : Pogung village, Klaten Sub-disrict, Central Java province

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the death of Mr. Siyono, who was arrested and detained by the anti-terror police unit (known as Special Detachment 88), on accusation of being a terrorist. The police initially stated that Mr. Siyono died while attacking a police officer guarding him at the police office. Recently however, the police revised its statement, saying Mr. Siyono died from being hit by a hard object on the back of his head. 

On 10 March 2016, the police arrested Mr. Siyono and searched his house in Pogung village, Cawas sub district, klaten Regency, Central Java province. The house also functions as a kindergarten, and the searching scared the children who were studying there.

On March 11, Siyono’s family received information from the secretariat of Pogung village that Siyono has passed away, and the family should go to Jakarta to verify the information. The head of Pogung village was also ordered by the police to prepare Mr. Siyono’s burial site. His family and the village head were concerned at Siyono’s death, as he had no health problems prior to being arrested by the police.

According to the autopsy of the Kramat Jati Hospital in Jakarta, Mr. Siyono died from bleeding in the brain due to being hit by a hard object. Finally, at a press conference on March 14, police spokesman Inspector General Anton Charliyan confirmed the autopsy result, and further acknowledged that the police had breached procedure in handling terrorist suspects.

Siyono’s family also noted that before the burial, Siyono’s head was still bleeding. 

Therefore, I respectfully request you to ensure that comprehensive investigation is undertaken to prosecute police officers involved in the case, and ensure that the police along with the government comprehensively evaluate the war against terrorism in Indonesia.

The government should provide remedy for the victim’s family and ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.

I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.

Yours Sincerely,

……………….

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Joko Widodo 
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id

2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095

3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH., MH
Director General of Human Rights
Office of the Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095

4. General Badroedin Haiti 
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id

5. Mr. Luhut Binsar Panjaitan 
Chairperson National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id

6. Professor. Amzulian Rifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia 
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05

7. General Gatot Nurmantyo 
Chief of Indonesian Military 
Mabes TNI Cilangkap Jakarta Timur
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 84595576, +62 21 8459-5326
Fax: + 62 21 84591193 
Email: ppidtni@puspen.tni.mil.id

8. Mr. Mahfudz Siddiq 
Chairperson of the Commission one of the House of Representative [DPR]
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Tel : +62 21 5715.520, +62 21 5715.518 / 581
Fax : +62 21 5715. 328 / +62 21 571 5687
Email : bag_pengaduan@dpr.go.id

9. Dr. HM. Azis Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representative 
Ketua Komisi III DPR RI 
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566

10. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai 
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection 
Lembaga Perlindungan Sakdi dan Korban (LPSK) 
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881

11. M. Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson National Human Rights Commission
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : AHRC-UAC-022-2016
Countries : Indonesia,
Issues : Impunity, Right to fair trial, Right to remedy,