Fears for Safety of Indonesian Rights Activist

Fears for Safety of Indonesian Rights Activist

5 August 2011

Human rights defender Yones Douw has received medical treatment after he was beaten by military officers on 15 June. However, he continues to fear for his safety and the safety of his family after he received information that he is under surveillance by members of the Indonesian security forces.

On 1 July Yones Douw travelled to Jayapura, Papua province in Indonesia, to seek medical assistance for the injuries he sustained while monitoring a demonstration on 15 June. X-rays revealed a blood clot in his head and a fracture to his hand. He is still receiving medical treatment for these injuries and continues to feel pain at the back of his head and in his hand. He also suffers from frequent headaches.

While he was travelling to Jayapura for treatment, Yones Douw received information that a senior police officer in Nabire had contacted police intelligence officers in the district by SMS asking “Has Yones left Nabire, please check and keep a close eye on him". On 15 July he was informed by a credible source that the Nabire District Police Station had ordered officers to monitor Yones Douw's movements in Nabire. Since then Yones Douw has seen strangers waiting in the vicinity of his house and heard motorcyclists revving their engines as they pass by. Human rights groups have raised concerns in the past about individuals and groups being hired to intimidate human rights defenders, minority groups and others. Yones Douw fears for his safety, and the safety of his family.

Yones Douw was beaten while monitoring a demonstration calling for accountability for the stabbing and killing of Papuan Derek Adii on 14 May, reportedly by military officers. To Amnesty International’s knowledge there has been no investigation into the death of Derek Adii.

Please continue to write in English, Indonesian or your own language:

Urge the authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of Yones Douw, in accordance with his wishes;

Call for an immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the unnecessary and excessive use of force used against Yones Douw, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice in fair trials;

Call on the authorities to initiate an independent investigation into the possible unlawful killing of Derek Adii, and ensure that, should the allegations be verified, those responsible be brought to justice in fair trials and the victims receive reparations;

Call on the authorities to ensure that all members of the police and military are made aware of the legitimate role of human rights defenders and their responsibility to protect them, as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA21/014/2011/en

ENDS

© Scoop Media