|
Statements of AFAD
Proceedings:
Articles on the Proceedings on the AFAD Leadership Training
Jan. 27 - 31, 2003, Philippines
AFAD Second Congress Resolutions
August 2003
Remembering Munir
AFAD Second Congress
August 26-30, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand
AFAD’s Mid-Year Report
Ding Zilin's
Message To
Hong Kong
Again, The KONTRAS – IKOHI Office Was Attacked
“ If they are dead, tell us”!
My sons, where are they? |
Turning the Table Against the
Accusers
The pervasiveness of the climate of impunity provides
not only a shield to perpetrators of human rights violations to escape
prosecution and accountability but it also gives them the means to
subvert the judicial process in order to launch a legal offensive
against human rights defenders. The accused is now turning the table
against the accusers.
Maj. Gen. (ret) Muchdi Purwopranjono is the former deputy chief of the
National Intelligence Agency (or BIN) who was acquitted from all
charges in connection with murder of human rights activist, Munir Said
Thalib when the Indonesian Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the
Jakarta District Court early this year. Major General Muchdi recently
charged Mr. Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of KontraS and
Secretary of KASUM for defamation and slander for accusing the
former of ordering the killing of Munir by arsenic poisoning while
traveling from Jakarta to Amsterdam on September 7, 2004.
The use of criminal and civil defamation charges against a human rights
defender is becoming a convenient legal means to hinder human rights
work by repressing the basic right to free expression. This is an
obvious ploy to subvert court procedures and rules on evidence that
undermine the rule of law and is aimed only to guarantee continuing
impunity.
Mr. Usman Hamid, Munir’s co-worker and friend who appeared during the
trial is only discharging his civic duty to uncover the truth behind
Munir’s murder and to bring those responsible to justice. Even if the
court believes otherwise, charging him is not only an affront to civil
and political rights but a travesty of justice with the malicious
desperate attempt to cover-up the real issue behind the still unresolved
murder of Indonesia’s staunchest human rights defender.
The failure of the court to render justice on Munir’s murder trial and
the prosecution of Usman Hamid are roadblocks to the country’s path
towards democratization. The Indonesian government of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono who has received a landslide victory in the recently
concluded presidential elections and will soon officially receive a new
mandate in October 2009, is duty-bound to fulfill its commitment for
human rights as well as to guarantee protection for human rights
defenders. To do so, the Indonesian government must never leave any
stone unturned to ferret out truth and to apply the full extent of the
law against the masterminds of Munir’s treacherous murder. It should
also fulfill its promise to sign and ratify the UN Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Ratifying this
treaty would be an act that will manifest political will to combat
impunity and prevent repetition of human rights violations. It is also
high time for the Indonesian government to seriously and decisively act
on the recommendations submitted by Ms. Hina Jilani, the Special
Representative of the UN Secretary General who visited Indonesia in June
2007 to look into the situation of human rights defenders. One of her
recommendations was to institute procedures to prevent the persecution
of human rights defenders thus, preventing them from conducting
activities that are legitimately a part of their function for the
defense of human rights.
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) firmly
stands that threats of reprisals, intimidation and harassment will
neither cow us to silence nor will these make us surrender to fear.
Instead, these will only strengthen our unwavering commitment to
continue the quest for truth and justice.
Signed by:
|
MUGIYANTO |
MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO |
| Chairperson |
Secretary-General |
|