Activists are urging the government to form an independent commission made up of civilian “wise men” to push for a legal settlement of Indonesia’s historic human rights abuses to bring justice to the victims and their families. The commission’s members must be representatives of the public and not public officials from institutions involved in the violations, the human rights advocacy ... Read More »
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Govt Remains Indecisive Over Resolving Historic Rights Abuses
The government said on Tuesday that it had yet to decide on what actions to take to resolve historic human rights abuses as several mechanisms were still being considered. Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki said that the government was still discussing what would be the best format for the solutions, whether it will take judicial or non-judicial measures. He ... Read More »
Indonesia: Missed Opportunities to Protect Rights
(Jakarta) – Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s first year in office produced a mixed record on human rights that lacked major initiatives to tackle the worst abuses, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2016. In the 659-page World Report 2016, its 26th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries. In his ... Read More »
Govt should not rely on MUI fatwa in handling Gafatar
The government should adhere to the 1945 Constitution in handling the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar), an organization allegedly involved in recent missing person cases, and not issue any related regulations based on a fatwa from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), human rights activists have said. Setara Institute deputy chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos said since Gafatar had never declared itself as ... Read More »
Local Administrations Main Violators of Religious Freedom
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has not delivered on his promise to protect religious freedom, according to human rights advocacy group the Setara Institute. The organization estimates that cases of religious intolerance metastasized by more than 50 percent in 2015 in comparison with 2014. In its report on religious intolerance, the Setara Institute recorded 197 cases and 236 incidents of violence, ... Read More »
Setara Institute: Terrorism Stems from Intolerance
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Hendardi, chairman of human rights advocacy group Setara Institute, said that terrorism is final result intolerance. Therefore, Hendardi called for intolerant behavior to be eliminated. “I invite all elements of society to continuously reject intolerance,” said Hendardi on Monday, January 18, 2016. Bonar Tigor Naipospos, researcher of Setara Institute, said that intolerance can be divided into two ... Read More »
Jakarta attacks a clear warning to Australians on travel risks
THE deadly Islamic State attacks in Indonesia are merely a precursor for what’s to come in the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Our closest northern neighbour is preparing for further terror attacks in the capital as well as the tourist hotspot, Bali. Just as we did after the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people and seriously injured hundreds more, ... Read More »
Groups Challenge Problematic Regional Election Law
Civil society groups are looking to challenge Article 158 of Law No. 8/2015 on regional elections, which they believe sets a limit on candidates who want to lodge complaints about vote rigging in the Dec. 9 balloting. The article stipulates that the Constitutional Court may register complaints regarding possible vote rigging only from political parties or pairs of candidates who ... Read More »
Approach to Papua Must Change
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Setara Institute National Council secretary Benny Susetyo or known as Romo Benny said the military approach towards the Papuan must be changed into dialogue approach. “Sincere and honest dialogue must be built to end violence,” said Benny on Wednesday, December 9. Benny said dialogue is the only way to end separatism in Papua. He continued that the ... Read More »
Jokowi’s Human Rights Promotion Disappoints: Survey
The President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo administration has failed to deliver on its campaign promise of human rights protection in its first year, a study has revealed. The Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace recorded a slight fall of 0.04 points from 2014 to 2015 on the achievement index of human rights promotion, which is rated from 0 to 7, with ... Read More »
Gauging the ISIS Threat in Indonesia
So far, although 100-odd Islamic fighters have returned from the Middle East, the threat remains small Concern is rising in Jakarta that Indonesia could be the first Southeast Asian nation hit by an Islamic State-style attack from the 100-odd Islamic fighters who have returned from the Middle East in recent months although the fundamentalists so far are disorganized and small ... Read More »