Indonesia: Targeting of four human rights defenders

Yan Christian Warinussy, one of the four human rights defender targeted

Front Line is deeply concerned for the safety of human rights defenders, Frederika Korain, Priest Perinus Kogoya, Yan Christian Warinussy and Albert Rumbekwan who were subjected to intimidation, threats and attacks following meetings with the United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani on her official visit to Indonesia on 7 June 2007.

Frederika Korain and Priest Perinus Kogoya work with the Peace and Justice Commission for the Diocese of Jayapura (SKP Jayapura). Yan Christian Warinussy is the Executive Director of the Institute of Research, Analysis and Development for Legal Aid (LP3BH), in Manokwari, and Albert Rumbekwan is the head of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas Ham), in Papua Province.

On 8 June, Frederika Korain and Priest Perinus Kogoya were returning from a public hearing with Ms Hina Jilani in Jakarta when a car rammed the vehicle they were traveling in. Two men got out of the car and stated that they were intelligence commanders for the military regional command of Trikora. Police who witnessed the incident did not attempt to apprehend or question the men.

On the following day, 9 June, Yan Christian Warinussy noticed a car parked in front of his house for 20 minutes. The same car reportedly returned later that night. Yan Christian Warinussy requested accompaniment from Peace Brigades International (PBI). On 16 June, Yan Christian Warinussy and two PBI personnel noted a metallic coloured car parked outside the human rights defender's house. It left after 20 minutes and then passed by the house later that night. The vehicle is registered to the Manokwari Telkomsel telephone company but is reportedly regularly borrowed by a member of the Indonesian Navy who is believed to be an intelligence officer for the Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) in Manokwari.

On 11 June 2007, Albert Rumbekwan received a threatening text message stating: “You who are reporting about the human rights situation in Papua are trying to destroy the people. You want evidence of people being killed, I will kill your tribe, your family and your children will become only bones to show that there is only a zone of peace in Papua”.

On 14 June Albert Rumbekwan received five threatening text messages from the same mobile phone number. He also received a phone call from the same number requesting that he meet the caller at a hotel that night. He did not go. Later that day unidentified persons, in three separate cars parked close to his office. The individuals reportedly began shouting in an attempt to get Albert Rumbekwan to come outside his office to see them. He remained in the building and the individuals stayed outside. When Albert Rumbekwan left the office three cars followed him to his home. Front Line believes Frederika Korain, Priest Perinus Kogoya, Yan Christian Warinussy and Albert Rumbekwan were targeted on account of meetings with the United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani where she was informed about human rights abuses in West Papua. Front Line also believes these acts of intimidation, threats and attacks constitute an attempt to prevent them from reporting on their findings and from carrying out their legitimate human rights activities. Front Line urges the Indonesian authorities to carry out an immediate investigation into the intimidation, threats and attacks on Frederika Korain, Priest Perinus Kogoya, Yan Christian Warinussy and Albert Rumbekwan with a view to bringing those responsible to justice.