ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAU-008-2016
April 14, 2016
(Re: AHRC-UAC-022-2016 : Man found dead after being arrested and detained by anti-terror police unit)
---------------------------------------------------------------------INDONESIA: Independent autopsy reveals anti-terror unit tortured victim to death
ISSUES:
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Update: AHRC-UAU-008-2016
14 April 2016
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(Re: AHRC-UAC-022-2016 : Man found dead after being arrested and detained by anti-terror police unit)
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INDONESIA: Independent autopsy reveals anti-terror unit tortured victim to death
ISSUES: Fair trial, torture, remedy, impunity
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Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the death of Mr. Siyono while in the custody of Indonesia’s anti-terror police unit (Densus 88). Without proper investigation or court verdict, the police arrested Siyono on allegations of terrorism and tortured him to death. Subsequently, the police gave money as compensation to Siyono’s wife.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
The police arrested Siyono on 10 March 2016, and informed Siyono’s wife that her husband has passed away on March 11. At the end of March, the police gave IDR 100.000.000 (one hundred million rupiah) equal to USD 7,619 to Siyono’s family, an alleged terrorist who died under suspicious circumstances in police custody (the media had previously reported the amount as IDR 200.000.000). According to the police, the money is aid to the family, not any kind of bribe.
Siyono’s wife then took the money to Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second largest Muslim organization. She requested the group to take up her husband’s case and get an independent autopsy done on his body, which had already been buried, in order to ascertain the true cause of his death.
Muhammadiyah organized independent doctors from various hospitals to conduct Siyono’s autopsy, after digging up his grave in Pogung village, Cawas, Klaten, Central Java. To legitimize the autopsy, Muhammadiyah invited the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to monitor the process. The police were also informed of the independent autopsy.
The result of the autopsy was announced by Muhammadiyah together with Komnas HAM and other civil society organizations. According to the doctors, there were no bullet wounds on the body, but Siyono had been hit by a blunt object that broke five ribs on the left side and one on the right side of his chest. One of the bones pierced his heart, which led to his death. Another wound was also found on his head. The result of the autopsy emphasizes that the police had lied in saying that Siyono died from fighting against Densus 88 personnel.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Since its establishment in 2003 after the 2002 Bali bombing, the anti-terror police unit (Densus 88) has conducted various anti-terror operations, resulting in the death of countless people. According to local sources, approximately 121 innocent people have died in Densus 88’s operations.
Over the last ten years, there has been no effective control upon the Densus 88. There has been no evaluation of the anti-terror war or the Unit’s standard operational procedure. Siyono’s case is only one of the controversial cases that have occurred, which have never been seriously investigated by the police. Rather, the police are kept busy with media clarifications that Densus 88 did not violate its standard operational procedure.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that proper investigation is conducted into the death of Siyono. Further, the government and the parliament must evaluate the performance of Densus 88 without undue delay. Moreover, the government should ensure that adequate remedy is provided to Siyono’s family.
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 appeal, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ………………..,
INDONESIA: Independent autopsy reveals anti-terror unit tortured victim to death
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 while in the custody of Indonesia’s anti-terror police unit (Densus 88). Without proper investigation or court verdict, the police arrested Siyono on allegations of terrorism and tortured him to death. Subsequently, the police gave money as compensation to Siyono’s wife.
The police arrested Siyono on 10 March 2016, and informed Siyono’s wife that her husband has passed away on March 11. At the end of March, the police gave IDR 100.000.000 (one hundred million rupiah) equal to USD 7,619 to Siyono’s family, an alleged terrorist who died under suspicious circumstances in police custody (the media had previously reported the amount as IDR 200.000.000). According to the police, the money is aid to the family, not any kind of bribe.
Siyono’s wife then took the money to Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second largest Muslim organization. She requested the group to take up her husband’s case and get an independent autopsy done on his body, which had already been buried, in order to ascertain the true cause of his death.
Muhammadiyah organized independent doctors from various hospitals to conduct Siyono’s autopsy, after digging up his grave in Pogung village, Cawas, Klaten, Central Java. To legitimize the autopsy, Muhammadiyah invited the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to monitor the process. The police were also informed of the independent autopsy.
The result of the autopsy was announced by Muhammadiyah together with Komnas HAM and other civil society organizations. According to the doctors, there were no bullet wounds on the body, but Siyono had been hit by a blunt object that broke five ribs on the left side and one on the right side of his chest. One of the bones pierced his heart, which led to his death. Another wound was also found on his head. The result of the autopsy emphasizes that the police had lied in saying that Siyono died from fighting against Densus 88 personnel.
Therefore, I respectfully call upon the Indonesian government to ensure that proper investigation is conducted into the death of Siyono. Further, the government and the parliament must evaluate the performance of Densus 88 without undue delay. Moreover, the government should ensure that adequate remedy is provided to Siyono’s family.
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. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)