INDONESIA: Dedek Khairuddin disappeared by Military; family remains in the dark

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-045-2015
ISSUES: Administration of justice, Enforced disappearances and abductions, Right to fair trial,

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the enforced disappearance of Mr. Dedek Khairuddin (30), a resident of Pangkalan Brandan Village, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Dedek was forcibly abducted from his home by seven soldiers, and has not been seen since. The government has not conducted serious efforts to locate Dedek and has failed to ensure proper judicial process in the case. Six perpetrators from the Indonesian Navy have been convicted with light punishment, and one soldier of the Indonesian Army has been released, without clear reason. To date, Indonesia has not ratified the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

CASE NARRATIVE:

Mr. Dedek Khairuddin (30) was forcibly abducted from his home on November 28, 2013. The perpetrators include a soldier of Indonesian Army of Regional Command, KODIM, Intelligence 011/ LW Pangkalan Brandan, North Sumatera Province. Beside this soldier, seven soldiers of Indonesian Navy are also involved.

The AHRC has learned that that the reason behind the enforced disappearances is that Dedek was accused of knowing about the whereabouts of Mr. Fendi Tato, a suspect who brutally attacked Mr. Jul, a marine member of Pangkalan Brandan.

The soldiers accused Dedek of being associated with Fendi, and forcibly abducted him from his home to force him to disclose the whereabouts of Fendi.

According to Dedek’s wife, Mrs. Sahrol Bariah (27), her husband was forcibly abducted from their home by the soldiers who wanted him to show them the location of Fendi Tato. Sahrol also witnessed that the soldiers carried a rifle. Two hours after Dedek was abducted, Sahrol could still phone her husband. After this time, the phone could not be reached anymore. As Dedek never returned home, Sahrol filed a report to Tangka Marine office. However, the officer that received the report informed her that Dedek was not detained in that office.

On the different day, on January 30, 2014, Sahrol filed a report with the police again, and the report was finally accepted, as report No. TBL-/I/2014/15. Nevertheless, since Sahrol filed the report, she has not received any progress report from the police.

On October 10, 2014, following public and media pressure, the Indonesian Military brought the alleged perpetrators to the Military Court of Medan City, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Six soldiers of Indonesian Navy were tried. The judges sentenced five soldiers with very light punishment, as stated on the verdict letter no 75-K/PM I-02/AL/VI/2014. Please see link here.

The six members of the Navy punished are:

1. Mr. Muliadi Wintoro, Sergeant 1st Class of Marine: 1 year, 3 months
2. Mr. Hari Subandi, Lance Corporal: 1 year, 2 months
3. Mr. Didik Utomo, Private in charge of Marine: 1 year, 3 months,
4. Mr. Wahyu Cahyono, Private in charge of Marine: 1 year, 4 months
5. Mr. Karso, Private in charge of Marine: 1 year, 2 months
6. Mr. Bambang Trinugroho, Marine Captain: 1 year, 5 months 

One of the perpetrators, Mr. Mardiansyah, a soldier of Indonesian Army was releasead without any punishment. AHRC notes that Mardiansyah must be held accountable, because of his role in convincing Dedek before Dedek was abducted that Dedek would return back home safely. Other perpetrators also said they will bring home Dedek back in good physical condition; Dedek has yet to return. 

AHRC would like to note that the military judges have not delved deeper into information on the whereabouts of the victim. Despite the Military court trial being held, the AHRC has learned that Dedek’s family was never informed so that they could attend the trial. The information on trial schedules were never clearly displayed to the public. Several times the trial was suspended with no clear reason. And, according to information received by the AHRC, the person who monitored the trial was prevented to use all form of recorders (such as a voice and video recorder). 

Even after the court issued the verdict No. 74-K/PM I-02/AL/VI2014, Dedek’s family was never informed about the verdict. The AHRC has also learned from Dedek’s family that Bambang Trinugroho’s wife offered a guarantee of providing financial support for Dedek’s children. However, since the Dedek’s family signed the reconciliation letter, the responsibility that was offered by Captain Bambang’s wife has not been fulfilled. 

According to Dedek’s wife, the reason behind their signing the agreement with Captain Bambang’s wife is that after Dedek disappeared the family does not have a source of income; it was only Dedek who worked and provided for the family. Dedek’s wife is a housewife and does not have any job. Therefore, Dedek’s family has been facing serious economic problems. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Under the Soeharto’s dictatorship (1966-1998) enforced disappearances occurred widely in Indonesia. Though Soeharto was forced to step down in 1998, enforced disappearances are still occurring; one such victim is Mr. Dedek Khairuddin. Indonesia has not yet ratified the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Indonesian human rights groups have made much effort, however the government is still reluctant to ratify the Convention.

The enforced disappearances of Mr. Dedek Khairuddin is in violation of the Constitution of Republic of Indonesia (UUD 1945), which, in Article 28 A, states: “[e]very person shall have the right to live and to defend his/her life in existence.” Furthermore, Article 28, paragraph 1, states “[e]very person shall have the right of recognition, guarantees, protection and certainty before a just law, and of equal treatment before the law.”

At the national level, Indonesia has a national law, No 39 of 1999, on Human Rights. Article 4 of this law states “[t]he right to life [….] under the law are human rights that cannot be diminished under any circumstances whatsoever. And, Article 5, paragraph 1, states the following: “[e]veryone is recognized as an individual who has the right to demand and obtain equal treatment and protection before the law as befits his or her human dignity. “ 
Indonesia is a party to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), with the promulgation of the National Law No. 12 of 2005, concerning Ratification of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 4, paragraph 1, of the ICCPR states that “[e]very human being has the inherent right to life….”

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the listed authorities below, asking them to ensure that the Government of Indonesia takes the responsibility of locating Mr. Dedek Khairuddin, and to ensure that the family gets justice and remedy properly without undue delay. 

The government must ensure that the family is able to appeal the verdict to and that all the perpetrators are tried without exception, including that of the possibility of involvement of higher ranked military officers. 
The AHRC is writing separately to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of judges and lawyers.

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

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear ………………..,

INDONESIA: Dedek Khairuddin Disappeared by Military; family remains in the dark

Name of victim: Mr. Dedek Khairuddin (30)
Names of alleged perpetrators: 
1. Mr. Muliadi Wintoro, Sergeant 1st Class of Marine;
2. Mr. Hari Subandi, Lance Corporal;
3. Mr. Didik Utomo, Private in charge of Marine;
4. Mr. Wahyu Cahyono, Private in charge of Marine;
5. Mr. Karso, Private in charge of Marine:
6. Mr. Bambang Trinugroho, Marine Captain
7. Mr. Mardiansyah, a Soldier of Indonesian Army 
Date of incident: November 28, 2013
Place of incident: Pangkalan Brandan Village, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding enforce disappearances against Mr. Dedek Khairuddin [30] by Indonesian military.

Mr. Dedek Khairuddin (30) was forcibly abducted from his home on November 28, 2013. The perpetrators include a soldier of Indonesian Army of Regional Command, KODIM, Intelligence 011/ LW Pangkalan Brandan, North Sumatera Province. Beside this soldier, seven soldiers of Indonesian Navy are also involved.

I have learned that that the reason behind the enforced disappearance is that Dedek was accused of knowing about the whereabouts of Mr. Fendi Tato, a suspect who brutally attack Mr. Jul, a marine member of Pangkalan Brandan

The soldiers accused Dedek of being associated with Fendi, and forcibly abducted him from his home to force him to disclose the whereabouts of Fendi.

According to Dedek’s wife, Mrs. Sahrol Bariah (27), her husband was forcibly abducted from their home by the soldiers who wanted him to show them the location of Fendi Tato. Sahrol also witnessed that the soldiers carried a rifle. Two hours after Dedek was abducted, Sahrol could still phone her husband. After this time, the phone could not be reached anymore. As Dedek never returned home, Sahrol filed a report to Tangka Marine office. However, the officer that received the report informed her that Dedek was not detained in that office.

On a different day, January 30, 2014, Sahrol filed a report with the police again, and the report was finally accepted, as report No. TBL-/I/2014/15. Nevertheless, since Sahrol filed the report, she has not received any progress report from the police.

I now know that on October 10, 2014, following public and media pressure, the Indonesian Military brought the alleged perpetrators to the Military Court of Medan City, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Six soldiers of Indonesian Navy were tried. The judges sentenced five soldiers with very light punishment, as stated on the verdict letter no 75-K/PM I-02/AL/VI/2014.

The six members of the Navy punished are:

1. Mr. Muliadi Wintoro, Sergeant 1st Class of Marine: 1 year, 3 months
2. Mr. Hari Subandi, Lance Corporal: 1 year, 2 months
3. Mr. Didik Utomo, Private in charge of Marine: 1 year, 3 months,
4. Mr. Wahyu Cahyono, Private in charge of Marine: 1 year, 4 months
5. Mr. Karso, Private in charge of Marine: 1 year, 2 months
6. Mr. Bambang Trinugroho, Marine Captain: 1 year, 5 months 

Surprisingly, one of the perpetrators, Mr. Mardiansyah, a soldier of Indonesian Army was releasead without any punishment. Mardiansyah must be held accountable, because I am aware of his role in convincing Dedek before Dedek was abducted that Dedek would return back home safely. Other perpetrators also said they will bring home Dedek back in good physical condition; Dedek has yet to return. 

It seems the military judges have not delved deeper into information on the whereabouts of the victim. Despite the Military court trial being held, Dedek’s family was never informed so that they could attend the trial. The information on trial schedules were never clearly displayed to the public. Several times the trial was suspended with no clear reason. And, according to information received, the person who monitored the trial was prevented from using all form of recorders (such as a voice and video recorder). 

Even after the court issued the verdict No. 74-K/PM I-02/AL/VI2014, Dedek’s family was never informed about the verdict. The AHRC has also learned from Dedek’s family that Bambang Trinugroho’s wife offered a guarantee of providing financial support for Dedek’s children. However, since the Dedek’s family signed the reconciliation letter, the responsibility that was offered by Captain Bambang’s wife has not been fulfilled. 

According to Dedek’s wife, the reason behind their signing the agreement with Captain Bambang’s wife is that after Dedek disappeared, the family does not have a source of income; it was only Dedek who worked and provided for the family. Dedek’s wife is a housewife and does not have any job. Therefore, Dedek’s family has been facing serious economic problems. 

I therefore request you to ensure that the government of Indonesia launches an investigation to locate the whereabouts of Mr. Dedek Khairudin and immediately ratifies the Convention for the Protection of All Persons Against Enforced Dissapearances. The government must be urged to bring justice with regard to Dedek and his family.

I look forward to your immediate attention 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. Mrs. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo
General Director of Human Rights
Ministry 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. General Badroedin Haiti 
The Chief of National Police 
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

4. Mr. Nur Kholis 
Chairperson of the 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

5. General Moeldoko
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

6. Mr. Suparman Marzuki 
Chairperson of The Judicial Commission 
Jalan Kramat Raya No. 57 Jakarta Pusat 
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3905876
Fax: +62 21 3906215
Email: pengaduan@komisiyudisial.go.id

7. Mr. Danang Girindrawardana 
Chairperson of Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia 
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan 
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05

8. Mr. Mahfudz Siddiq 
Chairperson of the Commission one of the House of Representative 
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

Thank you.

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

Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : AHRC-UAC-045-2015
Countries : Indonesia,
Issues : Administration of justice, Enforced disappearances and abductions, Right to fair trial,